Excellent Article on "Natural Killers" in the military - it's not what you think!

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Dec 2014 17:26:52 -0500

Took some time to read the article below. It is pretty much spot on. While I make no claims to being one, nor would I, I do fit a lot of the personality traits listed in the article. What are your thoughts?

Here's the link: http://tacticalshit.com/natural-killers-turning-tide-battle/

"Natural Killers Constitute Less Than 4 Percent of the Force, Yet do Half the Killing.

During an impromptu meeting that ended up lasting for hours yesterday, I had the privilege to listen to a true

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Feb 11 at 2015 5:38 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:38:55 -0500

- Great article.
- Well written, thought out, and cited.
- Matches with my personal experiences and with what MAJ Dick Winters (Band of Brothers) wrote about in his book.
- Provides good insights for what an Army leader should look for and how he/she should place individuals within their formation.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Feb 11 at 2015 5:54 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:54:52 -0500

Fascinating. Interesting. Thought provoking.

I have often wondered if I could have pulled the trigger.

When I was commissioned into the Adjutant General Corps, a couple of my fellow graduates of Infantry Officer Candidate School commented that it was a good thing inasmuch as they didn't think I could kill someone.

I don't know what gave them that idea.

Should I feel complimented?

However, I did learn that I was capable of ordering others to kill.

Although I wasn't a combat officer, every base camp perimeter in Vietnam was a front line and I had occasion to lead patrols outside the wire and I gave the order to open fire on hostiles.

Is giving the order the same as pulling the trigger?

Like I said, thought provoking...

Response by SGT James Elphick made Feb 11 at 2015 6:23 PM

SGT James Elphick — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 18:23:28 -0500

SFC Private RallyPoint Member I too found that I exhibit many of the traits but I know I am no natural killer but I also think the issue is more complicated than that. I read this awhile back and while I think it is a great article I do have some issues with it. First, he seems to delineate only between 2 types of soldiers, the "natural killer" and then everyone else, who the author sees as reluctant killers. I think that there are also "thrill-seekers" if you will who, while not natural killers are motivated to participate in battle and in my opinion make up a large portion of the volunteer army (why else do you join the combat arms?) They are good fighters and good soldiers and if properly trained and motivated (as many of them are) they can constitute an effective, even thoroughly violent, fighting force with out the other issue I want to bring up.
That issue is what do you do with natural killers after you have recruited, trained, and implemented them in combat? To me this is like an animal that has tasted blood, except they can't be put down. I fear that once this force is unleashed there is no "putting it back in the bottle". I think the changes in training that came about after WWII and from SLA Marshall's work (which is referenced in the article) might be one of the reasons for the increases in PTSD and Adjustment Disorder seen in the wars from Vietnam on (there are also cultural issues but that is another story). So I am a bit leery about cultivating this asset.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2015 3:24 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 03:24:23 -0500

Interesting read and definitely thought provoking but, I am not buying all of it.

I have seen Soldiers with the exact traits mentioned completely shit the bed and shut down during contact. I have also seen the introvert, quiet, runt lay the smack down.

I have read a lot of these articles and books like On Killing and they all make good points about the "fight or flee" reaction or what makes a person kill. I believe 99% of the time nobody really knows what's going to happen until the first time the shit hits the fan.

I don't know about other people but the first time bullets came flying in my direction it scared the ever living hell out of me. Took my brain about two seconds to make the decision to fight. Does that make me a natural born killer? I think it was the training or de-sensitivity if you like and the fact that it's human nature to not want to die.

It is a good read but I don't think I would place personnel in certain positions based on it.

Response by MSgt Michelle Mondia made Feb 12 at 2015 10:24 AM

MSgt Michelle Mondia — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 10:24:45 -0500

Oliver Stone explored this topic...

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2015 12:12 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 12:12:58 -0500

A great surface review of what is hopefully a new version of "On Killing," for the modern battlefield and the social factors that go into the making of a warrior. I passed this on to my Troop and Company Commanders under the heading, "Know Your Soldiers." Properly identifying these types of people and placing them in the right spot on the battlefield is important. It also highlights what we already know. Repetition in training=more trigger pullers in combat. The pop-up, trigger squeeze response is necessary and if conditioned and rewarded, will result in a Vietnam like fighting rate.