Human Factors Flashcards
Categories of human factors
Endogenous: Those factors that affect Marines
from within.
Exogenous: Those factors affecting Marines
externally.
Transitory: Factors that may be mitigated by
training.
Enduring: Factors that may be mitigated by
education.
two systems that help them respond to stress
Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) - mobilizes your body’s energy for
action
Parasympathetic nervous system
(PNS) - manages your body’s digestive and recuperative
energy
core leader
functions to assist in alleviating combat stress
- Strengthen
- Mitigate
- Identify
- Treat
- Reintegrate
tools for the treatment of stress injuries and
illnesses
- Self-aid or buddy aid
- Support from a small unit leader, chaplain, or
corpsman. - Definitive medical or psychological treatment.
The nine common elements found in the combat environment are:
- Confusion and lack of information.
- Casualties.
- Violent, unnerving sights and sounds.
- Feelings of isolation.
- Communication breakdowns.
- Individual discomfort and fatigue.
- Fear, stress, and mental fatigue.
- Continuous operations.
- Homesickness.
The Marine Corps identifies five
stresses of combat:
- Boredom.
- Fog of war.
- Casualties.
- Discomfort and fatigue.
- Extreme risk and fear.
Principles that help overcome fear are:
- Morale.
- Discipline.
- Esprit de corps.
- Proficiency.
- Motivation.
- Training.
Foster mental strength through:
- Willpower
2. Fortitude
Marine leaders always have two primary responsibilities:
- Mission accomplishment
2. Troop welfare
BEFORE deployment, actions small unit leaders can take to minimize the effects of combat stress:
- Conduct Unit Training
- Educate yourself and your Marines on human factors in combat.
- Train for casualties – combat first aid builds confidence.
- Educate Marines on procedures for:
a. Notification of next of kin
b. MEDEVAC
c. Wounded and killed in action - Focus your training around building cohesion – every Marine has a place on the team.
- Prepare Marines for changes in sleep schedules.
- Avoid overloading responsibilities on Marines before deploying.
- Select the right Marine for each job. Fit the right person to the task based on the requirements and Marines’ talents and abilities.
- Duplicate critical tasks and cross-train Marines.
- Develop SOPs.
- Attend to personal and family matters, ensure Marines have their lives in order.
- Brief Marines and families as a group, leverage deployment readiness coordinators (DRCs) and unit readiness coordinators (URCs) for assistance.
Treat Marines showing battle fatigue using the BICEPS guideline:
Brevity Immediacy Centrality Expectancy Proximity Simplicity
DURING deployment, ways to handle stress issues
Warrior Transition Counseling Physical Training Small Unit Training Chaplain/Medical Officer