New American Truth

It was in the year 2000 (if I remember correctly) that I attended a Low Light Instructor’s course.  The instructors were Ken Good, Vaughn Baker and a couple of associates.  It wasn’t the first time I’d ever been introduced to Boyd’s Cycle, otherwise known as “OODA Loops” – or the human decision making cycle, but it was the first time I’d had the impact of efficient OODA Loops demonstrated so effectively.  Since taking that class I’ve included at least brief information about OODA Loops in every officer survival and defensive tactics class I’ve taught.  Why?  Because winning the decision making race means winning the fight – and if you don’t understand the race you’re in, you have less chance of winning it. Read the full story

Hopefully all of our contemporary warriors know what an OODA Loop is. Just in case: OODA stands for Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. It is the human decision making cycle first documented by fighter pilot John Boyd. Long time readers know that I have reviewed each step and all of the inputs / implications affecting each, as well as examining the hidden “O” (the “Oh, Sh*t!). Just recently I received an email asking me to expand on how we can perform. After Action Reviews (AARs) on our OODA Loops (repetitive cycles of the process) to see if we can identify where we went wrong, or where we did exactly the right thing. Such intimate examination of our own decision making process under stress is critical if we’re to improve our performance in such situations. Internationally recognized trainer, LtCol Dave Grossman, says that 75% of all combat learning occurs after the training events during the After Action Review. If that’s true then we are clearly doing ourselves a disservice by NOT performing AARs on our own decision making process. Read the full story

By Tom Perroni

The OODA Loop model was developed by Col. John Boyd, USAF (Ret). When Colonel John Boyd first introduced the OODA (Observe-Orient-Decide-Act) loop concept during the Vietnam War, he was referring to the ability possessed by fighter pilots that allowed them to succeed in combat. It is now used by theU.S.  Marines and other organizations. The premise of the model is that decision making is the result of rational behavior. Problems are viewed as a cycle of Observation, Orientation (situational awareness), Decision, and Action. I believe that in order to use the OODA Loop efficiently in personal conflict, it must be used in conjunction with the Combat Mindset in order for it to be effective. Read the full story