Combat Stress Response & Tactical Breathing

I recently finished the book, On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace, by former Army Ranger turned psychologist, Lt Col (ret.) Dave Grossman. Much of the supplied information is easily applied to combat performance in modern fighter pilots.

THE PHYSIOLOGY OF COMBAT

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

The ANS is divided into two sub-categories: the sympathetic system (Fight, Flight, & Freeze) and the parasympathetics (Feed & Breed). When the sympathetics are aroused, massive amounts of adrenaline spills into the blood stream.

Loss of Bowel & Bladder Control

A perception of imminent threat causes an extreme sympathetic surge. In World War II, 25% of ALL U.S. soldiers admitted to losing bladder control while 12.5% lost bowel control. This is a normal physiologic response and has nothing to do with courage.

PHYSIOLOGIC AROUSAL, FEAR, & PERFORMANCE

Grossman's 5 Conditions of Physiologic Readiness:

• Condition White: The Warrior at Rest (Normal Resting HR)
• Condition Yellow: Psychologically Prepared for Combat (Resting HR - 115 bpm)
• Condition Red: Optimal Warrior Survival (HR 115-145 bpm)
• Condition Gray: Transitional Phase (HR 145-175)
• Condition Black: Catastrophic Breakdown (HR > 175)

The fighter pilot's required combat skill-set is best suited to Condition Yellow where fine-motor control is maintained. Shoot for Mellow Yellow - maintain your HR below 115-120 if at all possible.