Themistocles
04-27-2006, 16:26
The SAS Mental Endurance Handbook
By Chris McNab
I endorse this book for SF generally, and for younger SF students especially. The core theme of the book is how to develop mental strength and endurance for combat in elite units. Accordingly, it focuses on the mental, as opposed to physical, elements of preparing for combat, and provides brief tools and techniques for developing mental toughness in various situations. In my review of SF books this is one crucial topic which, to my mind, has not received nearly enough attention. Major Martin’s book did a fine job addressing this topic (especially chapters 5 and 6), but a more comprehensive treatment was desired: this book fits that need.
A brief word on its organization: though he clearly did his best to be systematic (with chapters that cover recruiting, building a team mind, leadership, SERE-topics, etc.) the book is less of a sustained argument carried out in steps, and more of a kind of piecemeal recipe-type book. It often has the following form: “If you are situation X, try Z”. As a result, the book is full of odd little facts and nuggets which can slip by if you’re not reading too closely. (For example, how to use your hand to estimate the distance of a flying jet; how to warm your fingers when you’re in the prone and cold; how the best leaders in garrison can differ strikingly from the best leaders in combat; why the Iraqis so severely overestimated the numbers of SOF troops facing them when they met in combat, etc.)
Since the core theme of the book is how to develop mental strength and endurance for combat, I’m going to proceed by first listing the causes of mental stress for elite units as described by McNab, and then I’m going to list the various tools and strategies he offers as ways to deal with that stress and build mental strength.
Some Unique Causes of Stress for Soldiers in Elite Units (24):
*High mobility –the speed of helicopters, planes, and other delivery systems is fast, can be disorienting, and can leave you deep in enemy territory surrounded by enemy troops (a very stressful situation).
*All-weather Warfare: means soldiers are fighting in the hottest, coldest, wettest, windiest, highest, sandiest, muddiest, and most dangerous terrain on earth (a lot of sources of stress here).
*Continuing War abilities: allow us to fight in low-light, low-visibility situations, which leads to long hours and sleep deprivation (another great source of stress).
*Use of high-tech stuff: demands a lot of concentration, knowledge, and attention, which can be another source of stress in combat situations.
*Intellectual demands of Special Operations: delicate political situations, subtle and vague ROE’s, shifting alliances and enemies, and ambiguous situations –all cause stress.
*Extended periods of boredom and inactivity, with no known timetables: can cause anxiety which can be problematic over time.
Techniques for Mentally Preparing for Combat and Battle-Proofing Elite Troops
*Emulate older warriors (in literature like The Iliad, etc.) (9)
*Make membership in the unit selective to get the best men for the job: fit, intelligent, good character, discrete, adaptable, trainable, have self-control, can be ruthless, and can resist physical discomfort. (Chapter 4)
*Make sure they are led by good leadership who have the qualities of loyalty, courage, integrity, respect, and self-denial (Chapter 6); for elite unit leaders, you have to have intense attention to preparation, and be so well trained you react instinctively (108).
*Go to a trauma ward for a few days and observe the operations (34)
*Keep a high level of physical fitness (34)
*Keep the unit small in number to create a sense of brotherhood (36) (which leads to unusually high levels of trust and faith in one another).
*When preparing for an operation, provide info/knowledge about the full range of the operation in order to lessen anxiety and confirm the reason behind the specific roles (34).
*Take steps to develop a ‘team mind’ through selection, training, rituals, shared experiences, and feedback; overall, you want a team with no bad apples who have character, maturity, humor, and are willing to contribute to something larger than themselves (Chapter 5)
*Use meditation and self-hypnosis for achieving composure in the face of anxiety (38) (brief comment: can you imagine jumping with a bunch of guys who had hypnotized themselves???)
*Also use mission focus and relaxation techniques to avoid anxiety (127).
*Plan and prepare for the specific mission as thoroughly as possible (119)
*Make bold, audacious plans so as to take advantage of complacent enemy: missions should be coherent, achievable, daring, and violent (120)
*Take steps to develop a ‘team mind’ through selection, training, rituals, shared experiences, and feedback; overall, you want a team with no bad apples who have character, maturity, humor, and are willing to contribute to something larger than themselves (Chapter 5)
*Lastly, one real key is training: to be good it needs two parts: first, from the standpoint of the instructors supervising the training it must be as realistic as possible, second, from the standpoint of the students they must be as motivated as possible. (53)
In style, the book is calm, mature, thoughtful, and frankly honest about the fundamental truths of combat. (That ruthlessness in action is a key characteristic of elite units –one which, of course, must be balanced by character; that in SERE-type situations it basically comes down to will and character, and that time is never on your side; and that the one with the stronger will can usually be expected –everything being equal—to winning the engagement.)
Another helpful feature is that the book also offers a number of other sources and references which one can pursue to gain a fuller grasp of a particular topic (books such as Warfighting, and War on the Mind.) Also, I am not sure what relationship McNab actually has with the SAS, but he has written a number of similar books on combatives, tracking, land nav, etc.
Overall, this is an excellent introduction to some of the challenging mental elements of SF and SF-type missions, while also outlining some strategies for dealing with those challenging elements. Less-experienced readers will find the introduction very helpful; more experienced readers may find it fruitful as something to check against their own experiences.
By Chris McNab
I endorse this book for SF generally, and for younger SF students especially. The core theme of the book is how to develop mental strength and endurance for combat in elite units. Accordingly, it focuses on the mental, as opposed to physical, elements of preparing for combat, and provides brief tools and techniques for developing mental toughness in various situations. In my review of SF books this is one crucial topic which, to my mind, has not received nearly enough attention. Major Martin’s book did a fine job addressing this topic (especially chapters 5 and 6), but a more comprehensive treatment was desired: this book fits that need.
A brief word on its organization: though he clearly did his best to be systematic (with chapters that cover recruiting, building a team mind, leadership, SERE-topics, etc.) the book is less of a sustained argument carried out in steps, and more of a kind of piecemeal recipe-type book. It often has the following form: “If you are situation X, try Z”. As a result, the book is full of odd little facts and nuggets which can slip by if you’re not reading too closely. (For example, how to use your hand to estimate the distance of a flying jet; how to warm your fingers when you’re in the prone and cold; how the best leaders in garrison can differ strikingly from the best leaders in combat; why the Iraqis so severely overestimated the numbers of SOF troops facing them when they met in combat, etc.)
Since the core theme of the book is how to develop mental strength and endurance for combat, I’m going to proceed by first listing the causes of mental stress for elite units as described by McNab, and then I’m going to list the various tools and strategies he offers as ways to deal with that stress and build mental strength.
Some Unique Causes of Stress for Soldiers in Elite Units (24):
*High mobility –the speed of helicopters, planes, and other delivery systems is fast, can be disorienting, and can leave you deep in enemy territory surrounded by enemy troops (a very stressful situation).
*All-weather Warfare: means soldiers are fighting in the hottest, coldest, wettest, windiest, highest, sandiest, muddiest, and most dangerous terrain on earth (a lot of sources of stress here).
*Continuing War abilities: allow us to fight in low-light, low-visibility situations, which leads to long hours and sleep deprivation (another great source of stress).
*Use of high-tech stuff: demands a lot of concentration, knowledge, and attention, which can be another source of stress in combat situations.
*Intellectual demands of Special Operations: delicate political situations, subtle and vague ROE’s, shifting alliances and enemies, and ambiguous situations –all cause stress.
*Extended periods of boredom and inactivity, with no known timetables: can cause anxiety which can be problematic over time.
Techniques for Mentally Preparing for Combat and Battle-Proofing Elite Troops
*Emulate older warriors (in literature like The Iliad, etc.) (9)
*Make membership in the unit selective to get the best men for the job: fit, intelligent, good character, discrete, adaptable, trainable, have self-control, can be ruthless, and can resist physical discomfort. (Chapter 4)
*Make sure they are led by good leadership who have the qualities of loyalty, courage, integrity, respect, and self-denial (Chapter 6); for elite unit leaders, you have to have intense attention to preparation, and be so well trained you react instinctively (108).
*Go to a trauma ward for a few days and observe the operations (34)
*Keep a high level of physical fitness (34)
*Keep the unit small in number to create a sense of brotherhood (36) (which leads to unusually high levels of trust and faith in one another).
*When preparing for an operation, provide info/knowledge about the full range of the operation in order to lessen anxiety and confirm the reason behind the specific roles (34).
*Take steps to develop a ‘team mind’ through selection, training, rituals, shared experiences, and feedback; overall, you want a team with no bad apples who have character, maturity, humor, and are willing to contribute to something larger than themselves (Chapter 5)
*Use meditation and self-hypnosis for achieving composure in the face of anxiety (38) (brief comment: can you imagine jumping with a bunch of guys who had hypnotized themselves???)
*Also use mission focus and relaxation techniques to avoid anxiety (127).
*Plan and prepare for the specific mission as thoroughly as possible (119)
*Make bold, audacious plans so as to take advantage of complacent enemy: missions should be coherent, achievable, daring, and violent (120)
*Take steps to develop a ‘team mind’ through selection, training, rituals, shared experiences, and feedback; overall, you want a team with no bad apples who have character, maturity, humor, and are willing to contribute to something larger than themselves (Chapter 5)
*Lastly, one real key is training: to be good it needs two parts: first, from the standpoint of the instructors supervising the training it must be as realistic as possible, second, from the standpoint of the students they must be as motivated as possible. (53)
In style, the book is calm, mature, thoughtful, and frankly honest about the fundamental truths of combat. (That ruthlessness in action is a key characteristic of elite units –one which, of course, must be balanced by character; that in SERE-type situations it basically comes down to will and character, and that time is never on your side; and that the one with the stronger will can usually be expected –everything being equal—to winning the engagement.)
Another helpful feature is that the book also offers a number of other sources and references which one can pursue to gain a fuller grasp of a particular topic (books such as Warfighting, and War on the Mind.) Also, I am not sure what relationship McNab actually has with the SAS, but he has written a number of similar books on combatives, tracking, land nav, etc.
Overall, this is an excellent introduction to some of the challenging mental elements of SF and SF-type missions, while also outlining some strategies for dealing with those challenging elements. Less-experienced readers will find the introduction very helpful; more experienced readers may find it fruitful as something to check against their own experiences.