I have been a military psychologist. And I’ve proudly kept the company of warriors.
I contributed to a Mindfulness for Warriors programme within our organisation as a blend of my experience as a meditator and psychologist. I delivered a course designed-for and researched-in military groups, with the aim to give soldiers, sailors, and airmen and women the cognitive tools to be able to pay attention when it counts, and make skillful decisions when it really matters.
We train to have do some difficult behaviours in challenging circumstances. Most of us hope to never, ever, have to be put in those situations where we’ll use our training to do necessary things. But that’s what we’re here to do. Part of the warrior community.
We prepare for eventualities where reason has all-but broken down, and escalation of force is necessary. Let’s leave discussion of the political motives leading to the situations we’re placed in for another forum. This is about the operator, the human, in the midst of this terrible drama. Because for centuries the warrior community has stepped up to do this kind of work. Brave, sometimes naive, but courageous and afraid and very human - people deliberately putting themselves into these situations. Not everyone can do it. Not everyone should do it. I work with the people who say they will.
I keep the company of warriors.
I help men and women train the mental skills they need for when skillful decisions are pivotal. When the human condition spirals to its worst, I help prepare people to remain vigilant to their base instincts, to notice each moment, and to respond carefully, diligently. When escalation of force is necessary, I help warriors ensure they will apply only that which is skillful in these complex, demanding, confusing situations. You and I will never have to experience this. Warriors have to prepare like that’s their reality.
This isn’t about supporting a mongering for violence, it’s not about some glorification of killing. It’s messy and complicated and paradoxical, striving for peace while preparing for the upper end of the worst. We all hope for - and many of us work towards - a world where our societies won’t have-to or choose-to deploy some of their members into these dark places. But until that time when our warriors can step down, I’m with them, one way or another.
I am proud to support these humans doing tremendously difficult work.
I am proud to keep their company.
Keeping good company. Somewhere in Afghanistan, 2009. Image rights reserved.
cjG
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