Are SF Soldiers Biologically Different?
 

Molecular Secret of Special Forces toughness
11:06 18 February 2003
NewScientist.com news service
Shaoni Bhattacharya, Denver

Special Forces soldiers have neurological differences that make them more resilient to post-traumatic stress disorder than the average soldier, say researchers.

A study of soldiers based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, found that Green Berets were much less likely to suffer symptoms of PTSD after a week of gruelling exercises that simulated being captured and interrogated by the enemy.

The elite soldiers produced more of a molecule called neuropeptide Y in their blood than regular soldiers. This molecule is generated by the body to help calm the brain in times of extreme stress, says Matt Friedmann, director of the US National Center for PTSD in Connecticut, which carried out the research.

"The Special Forces types had a greater capacity for mobilising neuropeptide Y than ordinary soldiers, and they were also able to sustain it for longer periods," he told a session on PTSD at the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual conference in Denver, Colorado. Furthermore, neuropeptide Y in Special Forces personnel returned to normal levels within 24 hours, whereas it dipped below normal in the others.

Bottle it
The greater the capacity to mobilise neuropeptide Y, the lower the likelihood of PTSD, says Friedmann. "If we could bottle this, or if we could train people to mobilise their own neuropeptide Y, that would be primary prevention for PTSD - a very exciting approach," he says.

Although the work has been going on for several years, the researchers are still uncertain whether the Green Berets' enhanced capacity to endure trauma was genetic or had been acquired through Special Forces training.

Another study discussed in the conference session revealed the extent of PTSD in the general population, following the terrorist attacks of September 11. The new work by researchers from the New York Academy of Medicine shows that 7.5 per cent of New Yorkers had PTSD symptoms in the 30 days after the attack, but that this dropped to 0.6 per cent nine months after.

The study also showed those people who lost a family member or friend were just as likely as those who did not to recover from PTSD. The researchers found that age, employment status and life stressors were more important factors in determining recovery.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3402

Perhaps, perhaps not...
 

The study compared SF Soldiers against other soldiers in SERE, including Rangers, aviators, etc.

The question is, were the SF guys some how conditioned to better handle the stress through training or were they biologically superior, as the article suggests.

Perhaps the "stress inoculation" we used throughout our training (crawl, walk, run methodology) better prepared them for what to expect and/or how to handle stress - just as a runner can condition himself to handle longer distances at a faster pace and recover from them quicker.

Somehow, I suspect it's a combination of the two...conditioning (training) and biology. Biologically, as we are drawn to this type of environment/work. Someone naturally adverse to risk (a librarian?) would take much longer to build up to that level, just as a couch potato would take much longer to get into shape.

I was just about to post the same question, but you beat me to it.

Man, I hate it..
 

Man, I hate it when they start messing with our heads and claim it's just a chemical.

Next thing ya' know all the herb stores will have bottles of "Green Beret" pills.

And "NO" you young guys, they will "NOT" help you get through SFAS.

Pete

LMAO! :D

That's hilarous!

But I guess if you break it down to the most basic element those AAA personalities might just have a slightly different chemical makeup than other folks. But I think there is a lot of heart and soul that can't be "analyzed" to define the make a QP!

I thought that's what the Green M&Ms were for...wait no, that was something else! :D

You guys are like the Jedi.

We were the ones that sent an MTT (Mobile Training Team) to teach the Jedi. That was centuries ago. (I think QRQ30 was on that mission......)

TS

Ouch! :D

:D :D The answer is in the anatomy not the biology -- bigger balls and morebrains!!:lifter

.

Dammit!!!! Some 6, 8 or so months ago, I posted a similar article, maybe the same study. There were replies from Med folks and all, that said the brainwave stuff, chemicals, electricity was BS.
OK
There was another reason I posted that article. I didn't follow up on it, cause I hate to type. The reason wasn't about brainwave nuero stuff. It was about mindset!

Great!, I now I have to go search some more.

I dont believe the instructors at JSOMT-C (now Special Warfare Medical Goup (A)) got that memo... :D

Crip

They need to do a study on our "sense of humor!"

That screws up a bunch of people...LOL:D

Take care.