U.S. Navy SEAL Guide to the Elements of Survival by Don Mann

Author:Don Mann
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-09-06T04:00:00+00:00

Who should receive this special application of stress inoculation training? Of all possible groups, this training is particularly applicable and easily adaptable to military organizations involved in survival resistance training. Over the past six years, this training method has proven to be extremely effective in real-world captivity incidents for the United States, Department of Defense, Joint Special Operations Command high-risk operators. Most recently, Dr. Jim Mitchell, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Psychologist at the US Air Force Survival School, compared a specialized application of stress inoculation resistance training with a more traditional resistance training approach on aircrew members. The results of his research show consistently higher levels of confidence in perceived ability to adhere to the Code of Conduct (in captivity) for aircrews receiving stress inoculation training as compared to aircrews who were trained by the more traditional method. Captivity occurs with great regularity for military personnel as compared with individuals in the civilian population. This is particularly the case for certain high-risk units. Because captivity is a fortuitous event, it is unrealistic to assume these high-risk operators will be exposed to the first naturalistic method of acquiring resilience.

Captivity is not a naturally occurring life event. Unlike exploration and high adventure wilderness sports, which tend to prepare participants for their unique potential survival difficulties, captivity is not a sought-after endeavor. It would be an extremely unfortunate person whose life had prepared him thoroughly for captivity. Nonetheless, military men and women consistently become captives. We have examined the consequences of thrusting unprepared individuals into extreme survival settings. We know that ideal levels of resilience in survival experiences are not inborn; they are situation-specific; if not acquired in a naturally-occurring manner, resilience must be learned. If resilience is not learned prior to captivity, resistance behavior will be much less effective or possibly inadequate. The consequences of this lack of resilience can be devastating to the captive, the captive’s government, and comrades. Without resistance training, captives must endure one of the most extreme survival circumstances possible with little or no relevant knowledge, skills, or realistic confidence. With proper training, captivity survival can be proactive. Captives will be more capable of protecting information and themselves. They will survive in a manner which preserves their ability to fight again effectively instead of rendering them less prepared for future conflict as a result of learned helplessness.

The military services of many nations recognize the need to prepare their high-risk operators for the possibility of captivity and provide training for them. I have participated in several of these training programs and, without question, they are staffed with talented instructors who provide excellent training. All of these training programs strive to give the best possible preparation to their students. Those who are placed in harm’s way in the service of their nations must be prepared. With minimal modification and staff training, these excellent programs can be even more effective. Those of us involved in the profession of survival training should constantly seek ways to improve students’ preparation. Incorporating

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