I was on the drill team in ROTC and in the middle of one of our maneuvers where we needed to make some adjustments to the rifle strap, my buddy’s just completely fell to the ground in about 3-4 pieces. It made a huge clatter. He stood there stone faced and unmoving, at attention while the rest of the platoon finished the maneuver. The judges, three intense USMC gunnery sergeants, just stared at my friend. When the re…
But this is surely not the optimal behavior during a battle, right?
The military term is called “bearing” and what its intended to teach is to “keep your head” even in the midst of the unexpected (which pretty much defines combat). Instead of freaking out, take stock of what’s happening around you and make a decision that accomplishes the strategic directive. In close order drill, it’s maintaining discipline and conformity. In the fluidity of the battlefield, it may be different, but the mindset is the same.