John Boyd was a innovative theorist. He was actually an Air Force pilot who developed a theory on how to design fighter aircraft. This theory was proven mathematically (The Energy-Maneuverability or E-M theory), and used to design today’s aircraft. In a letter former Commandant of the Marine Corps General Charles C. Krulak is quoted as saying, “The Iraq army collapsed morally and intellectually under the onslaught of American and Coalition forces. John Boyd was an architect of that victory as surely as if he’d commanded a fighter wing or a maneuver division in the desert.” Speaking of the Gulf War.
His key concept was that of the decision cycle or OODA loop. This concept is used to win air battles in war but can be applied to a variety of organizations and situations. The pilot that gets through the loop the shortest time will catch the other pilot reacting to situations that have already changed. Human beings undergo a continuous cycle of interaction with their environment. This is broken down to four interrelated and overlapping processes that we go through continuously.
O – Observation: The collection of data by means of senses
O – Orientation: The analysis of data to form our perspective
D – Decision: The determination of a course of action based on that perspective
A – Action: The act of carrying out those decisions
While these 4 things are happening the situation may be changing. Decisions may need to change based on situational changes. The faster you can get through this process as things change the better off you will be in making decisions that match the situation. In air battles, or violence, things happen very fast, and the faster you can get through this loop the better chance you have beating your opponent. This applies to business, sports, and of course battle.
We’ve talked about Jeff Cooper’s color conditions and how it’s best to stay in Yellow. (See 3/18/14 post “Yellow to Orange”) Once you move into Orange the OODA loop occurs. You will have likely gone through several Loops to arrive at Orange but Orange is where you assess “Fight or Flight” in the decision part of the Loop. This is why it is called a Loop, because things will change quickly in a confrontation (combat). There are some guidelines we should understand at this point. You do not rise to the occasion but will default to your training. This why training, and training correctly, is so important. Remember that even untrained thugs will “close and engage” even though they don’t realize it. This makes distance your friend. To do you harm, criminals will “close” or shorten their distance to the target. Even if a gun is involved, to close will increase effective engagement. 1. Maximize your distance from danger. 2. Always observe opponents hands. Regardless of weapon, hands are involved, even if hands are the weapon! If you presented your weapon (draw your gun), regardless whether you used it or not, look around before you re holster. Situational awareness in combat is important but often overlooked because of tunnel vision that can occur. 3. Scan before re holstering. Also, even if you are hit in a gunfight, most people survive being shot. 4. Do not give up because you’re injured or shot.
“Denial kills you twice. It kills you once, at your moment of truth when you are not
physically prepared: You didn’t bring your gun; you didn’t train. Your only defense
was wishful thinking. Hope is not a strategy. Denial kills you a second time
because even if you do physically survive, you are psychologically shattered by
fear, helplessness, horror and shame at your moment of truth.” Lt Col Dave Grossman
Train. Get training and practice what you learn. Not just once a month. Once a month will not give you muscle memory or something to default to in a situation. Could you give a piano recital by practicing once a month? Probably not. There are many ways to train. Going to the range is fine but remember, most situations are not 25 foot away paper targets! Be creative and learn to shoot from cover. Learn to shoot while you move. I had a instructor that taught a multi-military branch course I was taking. He pounded into us “Shoot, move, communicate”. Those are wise words. Learn what force-on-force training is and seek it out. Dry firing is cheap and can make a big difference. Make sure you dry fire safely. Read and learn. Get competent training. Practice, practice, practice! Make sure you are in front of the curve and ahead of your opponent in the OODA Loop.
Semper Paratus
Burn
No comments:
Post a Comment