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Archive of "Training" Category
What’s In A Name?
Hey! I changed the look and name on this site? What gives? Like most significant, spiritual breakthroughs in my life, I got a thought while getting out of the shower. It boils down to this: I don’t want to put an obstacle in the way of someone who might be touched or blessed by what we (I say "we" because your comments truly shape this site) write on this site. Anyone who spends any time here realizes that there is no, "We need to shoot missles at the devil!" nonsense, but why even give off the stink of it?
I’ve long since quit the notion that everything I write must draw upon some military parallel, so the name at the top of the page no longer matched the full content. Of course, this message is still in my heart and I’ll still be advancing the military special operations parable whenever I sense the inspiration.
As far as the organization, The Special Forces Group, is concerned – we’re still alive and well. If this is the first you’re reading about it, click this link to check it out. You can still get here using, www.thespecialforcesgroup.com for the next 90 days or so, but as of now the official site URL is www.scottbane.com.
I’m blessed by the connection we share through this site. Peace.
SERE Part 2: Evasion
In SERE Part 1: Survival Training, I included a description of the birth of Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training. If you haven’t read that article, I encourage you to take a look at the first half, at least. SERE training is possibly the most demanding school the military has to offer. The indication from measuring the stress levels of students during the SERE course shows that this training is more stressful than having major surgery and twice as stressful as military skydiving (Source: Dr. C.A. Morgan III and Maj. Gary Hazlett, from "Special Warfare" magazine).
The SERE course includes a section on Evading the enemy. Students are taught how to leverage even limited strength in hand-to-hand combat, and students learn how to be extracted from rough terrain by helicopter. I read an article from an Army Chaplain who had this to say about the Evasion section of SERE:
It is important to stay claim while attempting to evade captors. It is easy to panic. You must stop and think about what your are going to do before acting. Soldiers need to learn the importance of patiently waiting for the right moment to act. Carefully thinking through a course of action will pay great dividends.
Air Force Captain Scott O’Grady successfully evaded Serbian troops for six days in war-torn Bosnia. His commander noted that O’Grady’s ability to "maintain his cool" played a key role in this achievement. O’Grady moved slowly and carefully while avoiding hostile troops, never venturing more than two miles from the spot where he initially landed (Quote taken from: CPT Daniel Minjares).
This writer is speaking specifically about evading a natural enemy and avoiding a natural captivity. Interestingly, his comments about patience are perfectly applicable in the spiritual sense as well. Did you realize that the New Testament contains specific orders about evading our spiritual enemy? “Fleeing” is among our spiritual responsibilities but just like “survival training,” we go almost totally unequipped. When was the last time you heard a message that taught you how to run for your life?
Joseph and Mary were told to evade Herod and flee to Egypt while Jesus was still young. Jesus later tells his disciples to “flee to another city” if they face persecution. He also says that in the last days those who are in Judea should “flee to the mountains.” In John 10, Jesus says that sheep evade the stranger by fleeing from his voice.
Paul writes about it too.
- 1 Corinthians 6:18 – Flee sexual immorality
- 1 Corinthians 10:14 – Flee idolatry
- 1 Timothy 6:11 – Flee the love of money
- 2 Timothy 2:22 – Flee youthful lusts
Evasion is an important spiritual discipline.
I don’t think that any of these things are “worse” than any of the other troubles we might encounter, but they are different. US Special Operations Forces are among the very best in the world. Even alone, a special operator is a potent force, but in some cases, the only way to avoid being captured is to evade the enemy, instead of engaging him. This could be why the Lord wants us to run, instead of fight in some spiritual situations. If you attempt to “take on” sexual immorality or idolatry you won’t win – you’ll only make yourself easier to capture. Can you apply this to your life? Have you been drawn into struggles that you can’t seem to get out of… Periods of apparent freedom only to be sucked back in? That’s captivity.
There’s a difference between bondage and captivity. If you’re in bondage your hands and feet are tied – you can’t move at all, no position gives you rest and you have no control over your own life. In captivity, you have a small degree of freedom. You can move about a small part of a “prison camp,” and you can make some small decisions throughout your day. But if you begin to push the boundaries of that confinement, your captor will force you back under his control. Captivity is deceptive because the way to get a sense of relief is to fall into a pattern of complete compliance, submitting to the will of your captor. Instead of resisting or trying to escape, you begin to think, “Fine! I’ll just play along instead of making things worse for myself.”
We learn the skills of evasion in order to avoid captivity. I don’t think the New Testament list of “things to flee” is comprehensive in the sense that these are the only things we need to look out for in order to avoid capture. If we tune our ears to the voice of the Spirit, I think we’ll often hear the Lord saying, “Run! Don’t even get involved in this!” I want to build on the practical side of Evasion in a podcast, but here are some things to take with you:
Don’t Act On Fear
One key tactic for evading the enemy is to refuse to act based on his fear-filled lies. Like the Army Chaplain wrote above, think carefully about each move before making it. Don’t become reactive, making snap decisions based on your fearful thoughts of what might happen.Make Use Of True Patience
In Luke 21:19 Jesus says, “But by your patience possess your souls.” Patience is not tolerance. Patience is not passivity. Patience is power, the power over your own soul. Patience is the Holy Spirit within you exerting influence over your thoughts, emotions and desires.Navigate Your Way To An Extraction Point
By avoiding fear and by making use of the Holy Spirit-patience within you, you should be able to avoid capture, but you’re still not out of enemy territory. Get to a place where you’ll find help. Find someone that you can have a “James 5:16” relationship with – confess to one another, not in order to receive forgiveness, but in order to receive prayer and support.I hope you’ll tune in to the podcast at www.sfgpodcast.com.
Peace.
SJBSERE Part 1: Survival Training
“In the event that soldiers are captured, SERE training will have prepared them to resist the enemy’s attempts at exploitation, to escape from captivity and to return home with honor. The Army’s Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Course traces its roots to the Vietnam conflict. On Oct. 29, 1963, Captain Rocky Versace, [Special Forces] First Lieutenant Nick Rowe and Master Sergeant Dan Pitzer were captured in South Vietnam after an intense fire fight. All three endured hardships as captives of the Viet Cong. Versace was eventually executed for his staunch resistance to communist indoctrination. Pitzer was freed after four years.
Rowe remained a prisoner for more than five years. In late December 1968, the Viet Cong, frustrated by Rowe’s refusal to accept communist ideology and weary of his continued attempts to escape, scheduled his execution. As Rowe was being transferred for execution, he took advantage of the distraction caused by a sudden overflight of U.S. helicopters and struck down his guard. Still keen to his surroundings after 62 months of captivity, Rowe ran into a clearing, where he was spotted by the helicopters. He was rescued and quickly repatriated.
Rowe left the Army in 1974 and wrote a book about his POW experiences, Five Years to Freedom. When the Army Special Forces School recognized the need for a SERE program, Rowe was the first choice as the person to design the course and to establish its operation. He was recalled to active duty in 1981 and was given the mission of developing and running the SERE program.” (Quote taken from SERE: Training Soldiers to Survive – Army’s survival, evasion, resistance and escape training, by Blaine Miller. 6/22/00).
I’ve recently been reading about the experiences of POWs. One helicopter pilot, a member of the Army’s Special Operations Air Regiment, gave his SERE training the credit for his survival as a POW, in the early ‘90s. All the stories are so gut wrenching and intense that people like me with “ordinary” problems can’t even truly relate. For that reason, I’ve been very hesitant to write anything that draws parallels between what they went through and what I go through. The plain truth is, we are worlds and worlds a part. As I’ve read, however, verses continue to spring to mind, and I’m developing a perspective that I do believe can be fruitful for our spiritual lives.
In the “Survival” portions of SERE training, trainees are taught that when stranded in the field, they should eat what they can find, which can include turtles, snakes, insects and other things normally considered unappetizing. The idea is to help them
overcome their food aversions. Soldiers are taught how to use anything to survive, like random trash scavenged from the woods can be used to build a lure to catch fish. Although the vast majority of us have never actually been in the situation, we’re all familiar with the message of the phrase “survival mode.” This is the state of existence in which our expectations are the very lowest. We don’t anticipate things to go well – we just hope we can get out “alive.” I’ve recently become aware of a great many Christians that are living their spiritual lives in survival mode. I’m beginning to believe that spiritual “survival training” is necessary.
Perhaps I’m not even the guy who should be “teaching” this course, but I will share what I can. When this resonates with you, I hope you’ll share your insight so we can all benefit. Let me begin by defining Christians existing in survival mode:
- You feel stranded in the field – like you’re in hostile territory and have no real way to get out
- You feel unprepared or under-equipped to deal with your daily circumstances
- You have no sense of control over your own life and direction – you are constantly pushed and pulled by the demands of others
- Even God seems completely unreachable and very distant from you.
I’m discovering that people in this situation are bumping into the ceiling of their religion. They are doing everything they’ve been taught to do – praying, praising, fasting, confessing – whatever. Yet it seems that nothing “works” anymore. This is the point that “survival training” becomes necessary. What do you do when everything stops working and you’re all on your own?
Think about Elijah’s experience in 1 Kings 19. He reaches such a point of despair that he prays for the Lord to just kill him. I’ve thought about this a lot – what caused Elijah to sink so far after having seen such amazing, miraculous victories over evil? It had to be more than Jezebel’s threat against him. He’d been facing the threat of death for years already. I’m sure that the cumulative impact of that constant stress explains some of it. But I see something more. After Elijah’s dramatic victory against the prophets of Baal, on Mt. Carmel, what happened? Virtually nothing! Israel did not turn back to the Lord, Ahab’s wicked rule was not weakened in the slightest degree and Jezebel was still being given undue authority to devour the people of God. Where was God? What was He doing? Why were these vicious, evil people being allowed to continue to rule God’s people?
Are you beginning to sense why Elijah was so deeply affected? Everything Elijah had come to expect from God was now being undone. He was deep in enemy territory, hungry, under-equipped, all alone and desperate.
This subject is too big to develop in one piece. I’m recording a podcast called Survival Training to build upon this article. In it, I’ll talk about the lessons in survival the Lord taught Elijah. I hope you’ll “tune in” at www.sfgpodcast.com.
Peace.
SJBSurf Torture
One part of the distinction between Navy SEALs and other branches of the Special Operations community is surf torture. Torture? That’s what every prospective SEAL calls it. It all stems from the theory that a SEAL must be intimately familiar with the water. During the initial phase of Navy SEAL training (BUD/S training), the student is wet and sandy for most of the six months. Even sessions in the classroom often include a trip or two to the surf zone. The instructors call it “cold water conditioning,” but the ones in the water call it, “torture”. Basically the entire class must wade into the surf zone to their waste line, then sit down with arms linked. This is no vacation at the beach. The water in the San Diego Bay never gets above 68 during summer months and 58 during winter. Soon the insipid cold sucks all of the warmth from the student’s body, and the whole class shivers in unison as the waves crash over their heads. The idea is, submersion to the brink of hypothermia, then to pull the frozen men out for some calisthenics to warm up – then back into the swirling wash for some more “conditioning.” These “torture sessions” last for about an hour. Bad weather or not, SEAL candidates sit, freezing to the core. During storms or high winds the pounding waves are so powerful, they bowl the entire class over, leaving just enough time to gasp one breath of air before being slammed by the next salty wave (information taken from www.navyseals.com).
But what does this have to do with military skill, training, or ability? The young men who make it to BUD/S training have already had to prove themselves over and over again. Aren’t they already “tough enough?” Haven’t they already displayed the strength, both mental and physical, to be trusted with real training? When you first think about surf torture, it seems kind of… “high school,” doesn’t it?
Of course, the professional SEALs training some of our most highly skilled and implicitly trusted warriors have better things to do than just torment their pupils. There is a purpose behind surf torture. It has been shown to be a very effective way to teach a prospective SEAL to mentally fend off the effects of hypothermia – a skill that will likely save his life someday. Have you ever felt like you’ve been put through some sort of “torture?” Something that, on the surface, had no relevance to your future and your direction? Have you found yourself asking, “What is going on?” or “Why is this happening?” Well, I’m no expert on any of the topics I write about. But I don’t think God requires us to be experts; I think He does require us to pass on whatever little bits we have learned, though.
In SEAL training, it’s not the enemy that brings such enormous pressure to bear upon the trainee; it is the instructor. They aren’t being punished for some mistake. They haven’t wandered from the path; the torture is the path. We cannot forget that it is the Lord who tests and refines our faith, not our enemy. We’ve all faced a measure of “torture,” I’m sure. I’m also sure that much of it may have been intended for your destruction and may have its source with your enemy – but where is God? Why does He allow it? If He has plans to bless you and benefit you, why is He allowing you to suffer so deeply? Are these honest questions? Have you been there yet?
I’ve written previous articles about my thoughts on Redemption. I think the testing of our faith depends heavily upon God the Redeemer. He can take the things that were meant for our destruction and use them to turn us into such a capable and durable servant of His purpose. Those experienced SEAL instructors know what they’re doing. They’ve likely had to put those skills to real-world use, and now their students are reaping the benefits of those costly lessons. Take courage in the fact that God knows what He’s doing with you.
I think that our “torture” has much to do with what Paul describes in Philippians chapter 3. Verse 10 says that part of the process in refining and shaping us is to learn, “fellowship with His suffering.” It’s like the Lord is asking us during those times of suffering, “Are you willing to see what I see? Are you willing to know what I know? Can I trust you to bear fruit and be a source of help to deeply hurt people?” That’s the essence of Christian service – being useful to the One who enlisted you. This topic is best served with dialogue, not monologue. Post a comment if you can!
Peace.
SJBBehind Enemy Lines (Part 2)
I wrote last week about the Vietnam-era, Special Forces warriors of SOG to help advance this parable of Special Operations and fruitfulChristian service. These men spent days, sometimes even weeks, at atime deep behind enemy lines and involved in intense covert actions. Every battle they encountered was ferocious and deadly – both to themand their adversaries. But if they never laid eyes on an enemy, if theynever made any contact at all, the emotional and mental drain wasoverwhelming. It was stress on a level that most of us have never andmay never experience.
I used their part in American military history to help express what it’s like to feel “behind enemy lines” spiritually. To feel as though you’re in hostile territory at all times. To feel as though your one mistake would be your last mistake. You feel like you could just implode, due to the pressure. Elijah was feeling all that as he collapsed under a broom tree and prayed for God to take his life. Like I wrote last week, it wasn’t cowardice that brought Elijah to this point of mental and emotional disintegration. It was something else.
The reconnaissance teams of SOG often operated along what was known as, “The Ho Chi Minh Trail.” The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a complex web of different jungle paths that enabled communist troops to travel from North Vietnam to areas close to Saigon. It has been estimated that the North Vietnamese Army received sixty tons of aid & supplies per day from this route. The North Vietnamese also used The Trail to send soldiers to the south. At times, as many as 20,000 soldiers a month came from Hanoi in this way. From the air the Ho Chi Minh Trail was impossible to identify and although US forces tried to destroy this vital supply line by heavy bombing, they were unable to stop the constant flow of men and supplies. SOG men would call in B-52 strikes that would literally demolish the earth.
At one point during the war, SOG teams discovered what looked to be anew road growing at an amazing rate – several miles in a single night. It was coming out of Cambodia and hidden under elaborate bamboo lattices. One night, an airborne radar mission flew over it and detected trucks and bulldozers operating in the dark. A few nights later a B-52 strike straddled the highway for almost two miles but that hardly slowed down the progress. Construction crews repaired it overnight and continued southward at an astonishing pace. This same rapid advance of enemy forces was happening all around. In 1966, the NVA’s Laotian highway network had carved out 820 miles of usable highways. By August of 1971, they had 2,500 miles (Information taken from Secret Commandos, by John L. Plaster).
Are you grasping the despair that story represents? Men were giving their lives and spilling their blood daily. They were fighting in full belief that their efforts mattered, and that their sacrifices were making a significant difference. And we know that they were. But in that moment – in that first instant – when you realize that the enemy is advancing and that all your hard work seems futile, all the wind is sucked from your sails. This is what was crushing Elijah as he fell in the wilderness. He’d done everything the Lord asked of him. I think what finally hit Elijah was that “the worst” he could have imagined was actually coming about. Never, did he imagine the Lord allowing Jezebel and Ahab to continue to rule in Israel. I’m sure that after his great victory over the prophets of baal, on Mount Carmel, Elijah expected Israel to return to the Lord and then the Lord would throw their wicked king and queen from power. But it didn’t happen. Jezebel was no less powerful, and now angrier than ever with Elijah. It wasn’t the enemy that shocked Elijah most; it was God. How could God allow this? Hadn’t Elijah done all that he was asked to do? Why wasn’t God ridding His people of these menacing, demonic rulers?
Of course, this is all just my interpretation, but I think it was occurring to Elijah that he didn’t have God figured out, the way he thought he did. We can’t figure God out, friends. We’ve got to desperately reject living as though we do have Him figured out. Sure, we know that His plans are for good and not evil. We know that He loves us and that His desire is that none should perish – but we don’t have God figured out. I know you must have comments on this subject. This is the mystery that He’s intentionally made a part of all human existence. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has placed, “eternity” in our hearts. I’d like to hear your take on all this… don’t worry about trying to sound deep or “spiritual.” Just open up the “eternity” in your heart and let’s see what pours out. It worked for Elijah.
Peace.
SJBDominate Your Space
Control your aggression; dominate your space.Every Navy SEAL learns and hones these skills during CQD – CloseQuarters Defense training. SEALs learn that aggression has its place ina fight, but it has to be channeled and, when appropriate, restrained.By the end of SEAL candidate’s first day of CQD training, he and hisclass go into Box Drills. In a four-by-eight rectangle taped to themat, two students enter the small arena with only thin leather glovesand a padded helmet to protect their faces. The drill is to drive theiropponent from the rectangle using the head strikes they have beentaught to deliver from their power point stance.
SEALs are learning that it is their duty and responsibility of everywarrior to manage aggression and be responsible for the power heprojects. CQD is not hand-to-hand fighting, nor is it, of itself,self-defense training. It is all about dominating your space andfighting to win a tactical fight. During the war in Iraq, SEALs boardedan Iraqi freighter in international waters that was streaming at fullspeed for Iranian territorial waters. The ship was suspected ofcarrying contraband. The hatches to the bridge were welded shut so theSEALs had to come in through the pilothouse windows. The first man ontothe pilothouse was a young SEAL officer, and because of the windowentry, he was armed only with a pistol.
Suddenly he was confronted by four Iraqis who refused to surrender andraise their hands. It was four to one. The young SEAL dropped to aspring-stance and advanced. Knowing he must quickly dominate his space,he dropped one Iraqi with a muzzle strike from his pistol and anotherwith a well-placed hand strike. The other two speedily got their handsup. His CDQ training allowed him to control his space usingless-than-lethal methods. CQD saved his life… as well as the lives offour Iraqi sailors. (Information taken from The Finishing School, by Dick Couch).
What does it mean for a believer to “control aggression,” or “dominatehis space?” I think the connection is made through understandingpatience. Have you ever heard, “Patience is a virtue?” Sure, we allhave, but it’s not true. Patience is not a human quality or a goodcharacter trait; patience is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).I especially like the way Jesus uses “patience” in Luke 21:19. Aftertalking to His disciples about the wars, natural disasters, peril andhuman distress of the last days Jesus seems to comfort His followers bysaying, “But be patient.” Well, those aren’t His exact words, but ifyou think patience is a virtue they seem about that helpful. What Jesusactually says is, “But by your patience possess your souls” (New King James Version).I think the secret is in the word, “Possess.” Essentially, what Jesusis saying is, take possession of your souls. Take possession – Patienceis not passive. Patience is power.From Jesus’ words in Luke, here’s my definition: Patience is the powerto control your own mind, your own will and your own emotions in themidst of any situation. I think this is what controlling youraggression and dominating your space is all about. Have you ever “lostit?” Emotionally…? Or in your thought life? If it ever happens, it hasa degenerative effect on everyone around you. I’ve caught myselfsnapping at my wife or my kids because of some battle I’m losing withmy own thoughts. My failure to possess my soul – dominate my space –ruins their day. I don’t want to make this sound like an effort of mypower or ability, though. Remember, patience is the fruit of theSpirit. Dominating your space is about yielding more and more ofyourself (your soul) to the Holy Spirit’s leadership.
How do we do that? What can we do to submit more of our own soulishpersonality to the fruit of the Spirit? Well, I’ll contribute a fewideas, but I’d like to hear your’s too.
1. Private, daily worship – This is the top of the list. There’s nothing better you can do.
2. Meditate in the Word – Reading it is not nearly as important as assimilating it. Meditation is the way you make it your own.
3. Serve people –Anyone and everyone. I’m half tempted to put this one at the top onlybecause its importance can’t be understated. Nothing can force you toget out of the way of the Jesus that is within you more than humbleservice. It is the absolute heart of who we are.Let’s add to the list.
Peace.
SJB
