Sam, first thought was how great the set up for Close Quarters Combat training had changed. Late 70’s we had “combat town” at Camp LeJeune, a series of 2 story cinder block structures. We practiced raid and some room clearing techniques but was very very rudimentary. Fire team of four, there was no door to breach, but we had two guys on the left and two on the right one low and one high. Low guys left and right threw a practice grenade on their side (sort of like skipping rock technique) and then in we went, left and or right sides. Sometimes we used CS gas for real and thus had our gas masks on. But it was a real kick the door down and just move exercise. We were not really trying to be terribly good at the hostage rescue effort, more “raid” quality, hit hard, move fast. As a platoon commander it sort of count noses when we got done running a drill. Let your Marines have all the fun! We then had to clear the second story and on it went. Seeing the kill house just sent shivers down my spine. Real hot rounds and speed…blanks and fire crackers at combat town were one thing the kill house?? Holly Hannah. But we did have purpose! To your point people need to have purpose the more primal it gets the more natural. People have horrible posture all bent over their phones and just siloed life. Cocoon living….maybe if we hand them a rake and say make this dirt into a garden we would break the cycle without having to teach them that their index finger is the ultimate “safety” on their rifle. Feels safer anyway! And, never know if they sprnkled some water on the dirt they raked something good might grow!!
Thank you, Charles. Your story of the cinder block kill house is fascinating, least of all because it was setting the stage for the current version of the kill house. The evolution has a long heritage. I can only image what it will continue to evolve into in a few decades. And I could not agree more—a rake or a shovel would do wonders to cure all too many ills at present.
It's a safe bet that none of will be in a life or death gun fight. But every day offers challenges to overcome, or to shrink from. Every day, I see people sit and wait for someone else to solve the problem.
Purpose has become a luxury...a heady pursuit for many, the outcome of (seemingly) endless choices through the prism of a phone screen. Without a connection to a struggle or trauma, the benefits of Western society turn to mush, a melancholy. Modern comfort without that perspective results in...TikTok and sleepwalking. Digging deep, purpose can be found, but life or death scenarios are the fast track. I really enjoyed this one.
Without military background I must imagine the adrenaline and focus and energy output of CQC training, not to mention the real deal! My closest experience is hunting or perhaps defensive handgun training at the gun club. Clearly, these are miles away from CQC! But I think there’s a common denominator that translates well to the civilian, or at least it ought. That common denominator is alertness. The head bowed in prayer to the electronic device, or headphones drowning out proximate sounds and movement, or the total faith that there’s no lurking goon nearby, all reveal abysmal lack of alertness. The goose who isn’t alert ends up a pile of feathers. Not sure how to help impart alertness as an antidote to the passivity you’re aiming at, but that lack is part of the problem.
It certainly is. The further we get from our ancient heritage, the worse these modern ills will get. Many principles from prestate peoples and modern combat are still valid. It is my goal to articulate how we can bring them back—all of the good with none of the bad.
Hang out with any combat arms guy and you will notice how fast he clears funnels. Walking through a Crowded doorway? Immediate sidestep outta the funnel. Someone talks to him at a choke point? Immediately gently guides the standing conversation outta the flow of human traffic. Entering a car in a crammed parking lot? Remains in the open while passengers load and scans the area, then quickly enters the vehicle once passengers are loaded and the funnels are cleared.
This is spot on, Chris. This is the thread. If we do not rule ourselves from within and root ourselves in a higher purpose, those from without and with a lower purpose will gladly destroy everything we hold dear. Most Westerners have zero conception of this. The amount of bloodshed that could have been avoided had they made it a habit of considering this is beyond comprehension.
Agree. The demise has always been from within. I observed it personally when I volunteered on a kibbutz. The cooperative system on a small scale worked because founders and initial members agreed on its many factors, i.e., financial, political, religious. Some of their offsprings, had different values and left, this pattern repeated to a point that the majority preferred a different system and left and they were free to leave. This took a few generations for the society to disintegrate except for the one that took on new members who integrated to the original values.
Every time you use a combat example, I’m reminded of the shitty training we got before going into combat in Vietnam. If we had received training even 50% of what you describe, countless lives would’ve been saved. Sigh, better than late than never.
Besides the combat description, great article. Us old men need reminders to stand up, look forward and clear the funnel.
I can’t imagine, Marshall. Our generation benefited so much from the lessons learned of your own. It is painful to think how deeply those lessons are written in blood. The debt will never be repaid.
It's a real element that also finds its way into our stories. in LoTR, Aragorn is described a 'flowing' and often sword fighters are described with snake like descriptions 'coiled, etc.' because the mastery of the fight is the mastery of the body. A strong and capable man rarely looks weak. A weak man rarely looks capable. And, as you pointed out, sluffing off doesn't get you killed; it gets your buddy killed becasue he's the threat, not you. You just provided the opening to eliminate the threat. I've seen that in combat where Cpl Donuts can't keep up and the enemy doesn't even deign to aim at him. He's already a casulaty.
Great piece Sam. It is painful to see the way phones have degraded our bodies. There's something both primal and essential in looking up, chest, eyes, and bodies ready to greet what is in front of us in an expansive manner. The phone world causes us to look down and shrink; it reduces us. And as you point out, many of the ways we change this need not be radical overhauls of our whole life; perhaps our mental model gets overhauled, but the physical changes can be small and lasting.
I read your “Purpose” post this morning and I am reminding myself not to slouch over our modern posture killing keyboard. I associate also purpose with a shot of adrenaline. Yesterday morning, I and my wife went on our usual, every other day, 4-6 miles walk. Suzanna said, you are really moving this morning after you said that you slept only 3 hours. I observed that I am pissed about what’s coming in the war for Israel against Hamas. I was playing an armchair decision maker thinking of options that Israel has. I came to the conclusion that it is time to fight disregarding world bs and choosing the survival of the tribe over “walking dead” hostages. I cannot join the physical battle, all I can do is talk and write the truth. As I was writing this comment, the post below came. Universe is listening. This how I feel this morning. https://open.substack.com/pub/jfe3/p/never-again-means-obliterate-annex?r=o30r9&utm_medium=ios
Sam, first thought was how great the set up for Close Quarters Combat training had changed. Late 70’s we had “combat town” at Camp LeJeune, a series of 2 story cinder block structures. We practiced raid and some room clearing techniques but was very very rudimentary. Fire team of four, there was no door to breach, but we had two guys on the left and two on the right one low and one high. Low guys left and right threw a practice grenade on their side (sort of like skipping rock technique) and then in we went, left and or right sides. Sometimes we used CS gas for real and thus had our gas masks on. But it was a real kick the door down and just move exercise. We were not really trying to be terribly good at the hostage rescue effort, more “raid” quality, hit hard, move fast. As a platoon commander it sort of count noses when we got done running a drill. Let your Marines have all the fun! We then had to clear the second story and on it went. Seeing the kill house just sent shivers down my spine. Real hot rounds and speed…blanks and fire crackers at combat town were one thing the kill house?? Holly Hannah. But we did have purpose! To your point people need to have purpose the more primal it gets the more natural. People have horrible posture all bent over their phones and just siloed life. Cocoon living….maybe if we hand them a rake and say make this dirt into a garden we would break the cycle without having to teach them that their index finger is the ultimate “safety” on their rifle. Feels safer anyway! And, never know if they sprnkled some water on the dirt they raked something good might grow!!
Great post Sam!
Thank you, Charles. Your story of the cinder block kill house is fascinating, least of all because it was setting the stage for the current version of the kill house. The evolution has a long heritage. I can only image what it will continue to evolve into in a few decades. And I could not agree more—a rake or a shovel would do wonders to cure all too many ills at present.
It's a safe bet that none of will be in a life or death gun fight. But every day offers challenges to overcome, or to shrink from. Every day, I see people sit and wait for someone else to solve the problem.
This is it. There is blaming the environment for all the sad and wretched things around us—individual choice is up to us until the very end.
Purpose has become a luxury...a heady pursuit for many, the outcome of (seemingly) endless choices through the prism of a phone screen. Without a connection to a struggle or trauma, the benefits of Western society turn to mush, a melancholy. Modern comfort without that perspective results in...TikTok and sleepwalking. Digging deep, purpose can be found, but life or death scenarios are the fast track. I really enjoyed this one.
Let's bring it back. Let's make a little hardship great again. Quite a few are now on the right track and it is a thrill to see.
Without military background I must imagine the adrenaline and focus and energy output of CQC training, not to mention the real deal! My closest experience is hunting or perhaps defensive handgun training at the gun club. Clearly, these are miles away from CQC! But I think there’s a common denominator that translates well to the civilian, or at least it ought. That common denominator is alertness. The head bowed in prayer to the electronic device, or headphones drowning out proximate sounds and movement, or the total faith that there’s no lurking goon nearby, all reveal abysmal lack of alertness. The goose who isn’t alert ends up a pile of feathers. Not sure how to help impart alertness as an antidote to the passivity you’re aiming at, but that lack is part of the problem.
It certainly is. The further we get from our ancient heritage, the worse these modern ills will get. Many principles from prestate peoples and modern combat are still valid. It is my goal to articulate how we can bring them back—all of the good with none of the bad.
Hang out with any combat arms guy and you will notice how fast he clears funnels. Walking through a Crowded doorway? Immediate sidestep outta the funnel. Someone talks to him at a choke point? Immediately gently guides the standing conversation outta the flow of human traffic. Entering a car in a crammed parking lot? Remains in the open while passengers load and scans the area, then quickly enters the vehicle once passengers are loaded and the funnels are cleared.
This made me laugh. It happens and I rarely ever notice is anymore unless I'm gently guiding someone else out of the not so fatal funnel.
This is your What Then? paradigm expressed at the civilizational level: https://x.com/thinkingwest/status/1952519282476122610?s=46&t=xMnOwxGvZQzkUiNZf6R4bA
This is spot on, Chris. This is the thread. If we do not rule ourselves from within and root ourselves in a higher purpose, those from without and with a lower purpose will gladly destroy everything we hold dear. Most Westerners have zero conception of this. The amount of bloodshed that could have been avoided had they made it a habit of considering this is beyond comprehension.
Truly beyond comprehension!
Agree. The demise has always been from within. I observed it personally when I volunteered on a kibbutz. The cooperative system on a small scale worked because founders and initial members agreed on its many factors, i.e., financial, political, religious. Some of their offsprings, had different values and left, this pattern repeated to a point that the majority preferred a different system and left and they were free to leave. This took a few generations for the society to disintegrate except for the one that took on new members who integrated to the original values.
Interesting example!
For civilian purposes, traditional budo sanshin should work as well. It did for me, at least, so far.
Absolutely rad piece to read!
Thank you Enda!
Every time you use a combat example, I’m reminded of the shitty training we got before going into combat in Vietnam. If we had received training even 50% of what you describe, countless lives would’ve been saved. Sigh, better than late than never.
Besides the combat description, great article. Us old men need reminders to stand up, look forward and clear the funnel.
Keep the great posts coming!
I can’t imagine, Marshall. Our generation benefited so much from the lessons learned of your own. It is painful to think how deeply those lessons are written in blood. The debt will never be repaid.
Sam, the debt is fully paid. You and your buddies paid it with your lives, your courage, resilience and your tradition of excellence. Thank you.
Great essay!
You somehow manage to straighten my posture, at least for a few minutes, each Tuesday. Today more so than usual!
Let's go! The second order effects are well worth keeping it straight for longer. Thanks, John.
It's a real element that also finds its way into our stories. in LoTR, Aragorn is described a 'flowing' and often sword fighters are described with snake like descriptions 'coiled, etc.' because the mastery of the fight is the mastery of the body. A strong and capable man rarely looks weak. A weak man rarely looks capable. And, as you pointed out, sluffing off doesn't get you killed; it gets your buddy killed becasue he's the threat, not you. You just provided the opening to eliminate the threat. I've seen that in combat where Cpl Donuts can't keep up and the enemy doesn't even deign to aim at him. He's already a casulaty.
Agreed on all fronts. In the worst that can happen we find much wisdom on how to carry ourselves and live. Poor Cpl Donuts...
"Make yourself useful. We can riff an entire philosophy for life on this alone for it is bursting at the seams with purpose. "
Our culture has utterly abandoned such a notion. And we are all the poorer for its absence.
Great writing as always, Sam! 👏
Thank you, Baird. It is high time our culture brings it back, and by choice instead of need.
Great piece Sam. It is painful to see the way phones have degraded our bodies. There's something both primal and essential in looking up, chest, eyes, and bodies ready to greet what is in front of us in an expansive manner. The phone world causes us to look down and shrink; it reduces us. And as you point out, many of the ways we change this need not be radical overhauls of our whole life; perhaps our mental model gets overhauled, but the physical changes can be small and lasting.
100% Dan. We've built a world antithetical to the sort of proud bearings our ancestry earned for us. It will be a good fight getting it back.
It is interesting how dots connect for me.
I read your “Purpose” post this morning and I am reminding myself not to slouch over our modern posture killing keyboard. I associate also purpose with a shot of adrenaline. Yesterday morning, I and my wife went on our usual, every other day, 4-6 miles walk. Suzanna said, you are really moving this morning after you said that you slept only 3 hours. I observed that I am pissed about what’s coming in the war for Israel against Hamas. I was playing an armchair decision maker thinking of options that Israel has. I came to the conclusion that it is time to fight disregarding world bs and choosing the survival of the tribe over “walking dead” hostages. I cannot join the physical battle, all I can do is talk and write the truth. As I was writing this comment, the post below came. Universe is listening. This how I feel this morning. https://open.substack.com/pub/jfe3/p/never-again-means-obliterate-annex?r=o30r9&utm_medium=ios
It is history on repeat. The same cycles. The same madness. And the same fight—for the good of the sane, life-loving whole.