Operating
inside the Attacker: Part Five/
OODA Components (Act)
Author:
Odhinn Kohout
The sense of finality (ACT) must be tempered with the Mens
Rea needed for creating the prior “decide” category of Boyds theories.
The OODA loop draws its strength from the perpetual continuum
or the cyclic nature of how he (Boyd) used the construct entitled “Unfolding
Interaction with Environment” to REMIND the participant that the event must not
be considered to be immovable and static but rather evolving and organic.
Boyd goes on to tie the final end state of ACTION intrinsically
back (feedback) to OBSERVATION which adheres to all of our modern training
principles in having the student take stock of their surroundings during the
entirety of the engagement.
One example;
Students are taught rudimentary concepts of range safety
that after a course of fire has been completed to complete a 180 deg visual
sweep of their surroundings prior to holstering their weapon. This forces the
student from being solely focused on only one aspect of their environment.
The OODA loop is not just four quadrants as I have seen it
most often portrayed in reference to training and to compartmentalize it as
such does a disservice to the amount of time Boyd invested in its creation.
I would compare this to legendary SF Warrior Col. Nick Rowe and his vast contributions to the modern SERE program. Col. Rowe did not merely “escape” from his captors in Viet Nam but used an asymmetrical approach involving psychology, physical prowess, and mental toughness to CREATE the circumstances by which he DEFEATED his captivity.
I would compare this to legendary SF Warrior Col. Nick Rowe and his vast contributions to the modern SERE program. Col. Rowe did not merely “escape” from his captors in Viet Nam but used an asymmetrical approach involving psychology, physical prowess, and mental toughness to CREATE the circumstances by which he DEFEATED his captivity.
The purpose of exploring the OODA loop with these articles
is for you to come up with your own subjective observations of the Boyd matrix and
by doing so dig a little deeper. I believe that this is ultimately what Boyd
had in mind…
Be safe Gentlemen.