Summary
The Human Behavior Podcast: Combat Hunter Overview
This episode of "The Human Behavior Podcast," hosted by Brian Marren and Greg Williams, delves into the Marine Corps' innovative Combat Hunter program, designed to instill a "tactical cunning mindset" in Marines for the complexities of modern warfare. The program draws on a unique blend of expertise from world-renowned big-game hunters, experienced police officers, expert trackers, and human performance specialists to make Marines more lethal, cunning, and survivable in all environments.
The Combat Hunter program is structured around three critical pillars:
- Observation: Professional hunter Ivan Carter explains how Marines are taught to "think like a hunter," maximizing the use of optics like binoculars, and honing skills to burn through vegetation, spot indicators of trouble, and see things in context.
- Profiling: Co-host Greg Williams, drawing on his extensive background in urban law enforcement, introduces combat profiling as a crucial mindset. Marines learn to establish baselines of what's normal and then identify anomalies or missing elements, enabling them to identify threats like snipers, defeat IEDs, and interpret body language and cultural cues.
- Tracking: Expert tracker David Scott Donnellan emphasizes tracking as a skill that enhances situational awareness and operational confidence. Marines learn to understand footprint dynamics, identify subtle track indicators, and organize effective tracking teams.
Combat Hunter training begins at entry-level recruit depots and Officer Candidate School, progressing to in-depth courses at infantry schools and specialized 10-day pre-deployment programs. The program's ultimate goal is to equip Marines to be proactive "hunters" rather than the "hunted," empowering them to make better decisions and increase their capability and survivability against an often-elusive enemy.