Survival in Groups

From the U.S. Armed Forces Survival Manual,
Edited by John Boswell, published by Rawson, Wade Publishers, Inc., New York, 1980.

Group dynamics can be both a help and a hazard to individual survival. Obviously, there are more hands to perform the necessary tasks, and contact with another human being can be psychologically supportive. Still, a chain is as strong as its weakest link, and the survival difficulties encountered can be multiplied by the number of people encountering them. Group survival also introduces an additional potentially destructive factor: dissension. Dissension must be avoided at all costs.

As individual reactions to survival situations become automatic, so must those of the group. Groups (such as squads or platoons) that work together and have leaders that fulfill their responsibilities have the best chance for survival. If there is no designated leader, elect one. If your group considers the following factors, the odds of returning to friendly control are greatly improved:

1. Organize group survival activities.
2. Recognize one leader. The leader should delegate individual duties and keep the group appraised of overall survival activities.
3. Develop a feeling of mutual dependence within the group.
4. When possible, the group should make decisions under the direction of the leader. Otherwise, no matter what the situation, the leader must make the decisions, and his orders must be followed.