INCIDENTAL OBSERVATIONS GATHERED DURING RESEARCH IN COMBAT UNITS
Abstract
In the course of interviewing 650 infantry men who had recently engaged in Korean combat large numbers of incidental observations were made. These observations are a by-product of one phase of another research project concerned with the characteristics of proven fighters. There are seven continuing problem conditions discussed in this report. They are: (1) many troops never become offense-minded; (2) at the squad and platoon levels, during crucial situations, leader-follower contacts sometimes unnecessarily fail; (3) the foot soldier often does not have a sufficient understanding of the on-going battle situation; (4) some troops have not been well-trained in problems specific to their particular combat situation; (5) squad members quite frequently do not know how much they can count on the men around them; (6) the weapon which inspires the most individual confidence is often not the weapon a man carries into combat; (7) breakdown in combat communications is sometimes paid for with unnecessary loss of life.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 22, 1953
- Accession Number
- AD0478562
Entities
People
- George D. Greer Jr.
- Robert L. Egbert
- Robert V. Katter
Organizations
- George Washington University