On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society (1 Viewer)

[Lewey Gun Vick]

Hey All! Haven't posted in a while, anyways finished this book by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman during Jump School last month. It's an interesting read about how militaries train their soldiers to kill the enemy and how soldiers cope with the trauma of combat. I found it an interesting read since I found myself just coming off Sand Hill. Anyways, wishing you all a Happy New Year!

RLTW!
Jake

 

[hsm]

Must read for any leader in a combat unit. a very interesting read for those who are committed to martial studies- the first book- "On Combat" might be more interesting to the collector as it takes on a more historical approach- the forward is written by Keegan (RIP). Congrats on Jump School- you come of Sand Hill- I am in the sandbox-surrounded by yanks here-
Grant

Hey All! Haven't posted in a while, anyways finished this book by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman during Jump School last month. It's an interesting read about how militaries train their soldiers to kill the enemy and how soldiers cope with the trauma of combat. I found it an interesting read since I found myself just coming off Sand Hill. Anyways, wishing you all a Happy New Year!

RLTW!
Jake

 

[visigoth]

I am not a fan of much of what Grossman writes.

First, a lot of what he attributes to people not wanting to hurt other people can be as easily explained by people being afraid of being hurt themselves.

Here is an interesting link to some criticism of Grossman:

http://www.theppsc.org/Grossman/SLA_Marshall/Main.htm

Also, Grossman bases a lot of his conclusions on the much discredited work of SLA Marshall.

SLA Marshall claimed that only 20% of US Soldiers fired their weapons in Europe in WWII, but as it turns out he made the figure up, as well as fabricated some of his own military experience. According to his jeep driver and soldiers who he debriefed in Europe, he never asked this question of them. Further, recent editions of his book Men Under Fire contain a disclaimer to this effect.

Here are some other links that address SLA Marshall

http://hnn.us/articles/1356.html

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007/12/11/fire-away.html

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

Must read for any leader in a combat unit. a very interesting read for those who are committed to martial studies- the first book- "On Combat" might be more interesting to the collector as it takes on a more historical approach- the forward is written by Keegan (RIP). Congrats on Jump School- you come of Sand Hill- I am in the sandbox-surrounded by yanks here-
Grant

Cheers Grant! I'll make sure to check "On Combat" out if I get any free time during this next phase of training.
-Jake

 

[hsm]

Those articles - particularly the one downplaying the Grossman works, make weak and disjointed arguments, in a historical context. The Grossman Books are more of a pyshcological text book on the human conditon and experiences in combat and how training, and how to train has progressed to where it is now. I would be intrigued to find anyone in a shooter job downplay his work soup to nuts. As for history professors- well there are those that do, and those that teach....lol
As a note- many police agencies are arming police cars with carbines over shotguns now- I believe this is to mitigate the Ranges police officers have been killed at. No?
G