In the animal kingdom, instincts are inborn, such as the natural instincts of salmon to migrate up-river. Human beings display one of two natural instincts when confronted with a threat: Fight or flight. In any type of combat, the instinct must be to survive by neutralizing the threat. All branches of the military conduct special training that teaches soldiers, sailors and pilots how instincts can help them survive in combat.
Instincts and Intuition
By definition, intuition is knowing or sensing without the use of a rational thought process. A soldier's intuition might tell him an enemy is nearby. A combat pilot's intuition might tell him an enemy fighter is about to make a certain move. Where intuition could be valuable as a warning, instincts can govern a reaction. In some instances, neutralizing a threat calls for aggressive action, while other situations may call for a passive response. Much that is designed into combat training is directed at conditioning the soldier to act logically without hesitation.
Close Combat
U.S. Army infantry, Marines and Navy Seals participate in realistic combat role-playing exercises before being deployed. This practice has been in effect for decades and continues today. Urban combat tactics include door-to-door scenarios where trainers might set pop-up targets or trip-wires. Seal Team exercises include mock rescue missions where trainees pull a downed pilot from the wreckage while under assault from grenades or gunfire. This type of training helps soldiers silence instinctual reactions of shock at seeing their comrades suffering traumatic injuries. Even though the melee of actual combat can be dramatically different, the soldier's instincts are improved through close combat training.
Air Combat
U.S. Navy Top Gun and U.S. Air Force Red Flag schools conduct air-to-air combat drills that teach pilots aggressive and evasive maneuvers. Pilots develop the skills needed to maneuver their aircraft into firing position or avoid being locked up on the enemy's radar. In some situations, the combat pilot's first instincts to be aggressive may have to take a back seat when the enemy has the advantage. Many combat pilots testify to the fact that dogfights often have a duration of seconds, rather than minutes. Combat flight training hones the pilot's ability to make split-second decisions by making them aware of their instincts.
Martial Arts
All branches of the military employ some type of martial arts training. A sudden instinct to flee might overcome a solder who is inadvertently disarmed, and this may cost that soldier his life. Martial arts and hand-to-hand combat training promotes confidence in a soldier's ability to handle eminent threats with or without a weapon.
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