And now soldier, put the gun down, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing.
How would Yoga and Meditation Practice Affect Combat Soldiers?
I wonder what people make of this news item (see link to at bottom), that the US military is seriously experimenting with introducing yoga and mindfulness meditation practices to their combat soldiers.
No, i don't like armies and I don't support violent resolution of conflicts under most circumstances. But, unfortunately, armies are not going away anytime soon. So, the questions that I wish to pose and explore with you are:
What are the potential consequences of incorporating such Asian-origin practices into regular military training routine?
Is this good news? If so, for whom? The military, human-rights NGOs, civilian populations in occupied areas or… possibly all?
I am under no illusion that combat soldiers practicing yoga and mindfulness will suddenly stop killing on the battle-field. And, if the military thought it may be the effect, they wouldn't go ahead and include these practices in regular routines. But some of the most formidable warriors, such as Samurais, used to practice mindfulness so for sure there is no contradiction between being an effective killer and practicing these Asian arts.
But, I do have a certain hope;: there is a certain win-win (or, maybe, less of a lose-lose) situation: politicians, army generals and human rights activists have all certain common goals: to minimise killing of un-targeted civilians and to improve the way that occupying armies treat non threatening population (non combatants) in multiple civilian areas occupied by the military. From political perspective it is not good for PR and, even from a pure military logic, this is highly undesirable as it turns more and more of the population against them.
My hypothesis is that, integrating a regular practice of meditation and yoga into combat soldiers' routines will result in less impulsive, less overly-hostile, more discerning behaviours of soldiers. This would translate into reduction of unnecessary (in military terms) usage of force and violence towards non combatants. This hypothesis draws not only on my social psychological background but also on personal experience as a soldier who served in combat situations in civilian areas.
The article does have a certain anecdotal hint to that effect, where a drill sergeant stated that "trainees who did mindfulness training showed signs of better behavior; “They overall have more respect for themselves, each other and for the drill sergeants.”" Thus, it is possible that this increased respect could translate to respect to out group members as well.