Piercing the Fog of War Surrounding Fratricide: The Synergy of History, Technology, and Behavioral Research
Abstract
Fratricide rates have generally been acknowledged to be less than two percent of all friendly casualties. Review of the historical evidence from small individual medical studies on casualties and official medical reports from most of the 20th century conflicts demonstrate a consistent fratricide rate of 10-15 percent. Analysis of fratricide data collected from the three combat training centers (National Training Center, Joint Readiness Training Center, Combat Maneuver Training Center) confirm a much higher rate and reveal three separate methods of fratricide computation and presentation. These three methods reflect markedly different methodology and interpretation. They are not interchangeable methods nor are they comparable. However, fratricide data using different methods of computation are often presented side-by-side. These fratricide rates five to eight times the previously acknowledged rate can be explained by (1) the baseline human skill and abilities with the weapon systems on hand and (2) the severe effects of combat stressors, such as sleep deprivation, in degrading abilities and judgment. Many factors are pushing us inexorably toward a technology-based ground fratricide prevention.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 27, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA279536
Entities
People
- Kenneth K. Steinweg
- Stephen Bowman
Organizations
- United States Army War College