September 18, 2008
by Steve Hammons
The term "transcendent warfare" was used by a U.S. Navy SEAL officer several years ago to describe the use of leading-edge knowledge and methods that could be helpful in achieving many important objectives.
The SEAL officer, L.R. Bremseth, indicated in a graduate-level research paper for the Marine Corps War College that transcendent warfare includes not only the deployment of certain methods, but also the understanding of underlying concepts.
He noted a significant range of opportunities for the utilization of leading-edge transcendent activities in U.S. national defense efforts.
People sometimes ask, "Is transcendent warfare a way to conduct war more successfully, or is it a way to transcend actual warfare and accomplish objectives in other ways?"
Transcendent warfare may be both ... and more.
Transcendent concepts may help average people around the world understand ways to improve their lives and develop constructive solutions to the challenges they may face. In other words, transcendent understanding may enhance human development and change human consciousness.
NATIONAL SECURITY ACTIVITIES
In his paper, Bremseth summarized activities related to facilitating robust psychological and perceptual functioning of U.S. military and intelligence personnel.
He noted that research into human behavior and thinking processes is ever-expanding and that these developments can provide very useful insight and significant assets.
One aspect of transcendent warfare is establishing a perspective from which transcendent concepts can be understood. This is the formation of a certain perspective, viewpoint and understanding.
Another element is translating this understanding into activities can be deployed to accomplish worthwhile missions and tasks.
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These may include "hard power" methods as well as "soft power" efforts. They may be applied to special operations missions and humanitarian activities. They may assist "public diplomacy" and constructive psychological operations. They may involve open source intelligence (OSINT) platforms and educational/sociological outreach.
Transcendent concepts and activities can provide additional resources and tools for many kinds of situations ... situations that are of importance to us now.
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
When we hear a term like transcendent warfare, the ideas of improving the state of the human race and solving the myriad of problems facing humanity might not immediately come to mind.
However, a study of the theories and activities on which the idea of transcendent warfare is based clearly indicates a potential for far-reaching positive changes for the human race and our planet.
Why? At the heart of transcendent concepts is human psychology and human consciousness. Most problems facing the human race are based on these fundamental elements. Many solutions lie in those same basic platforms too.
Enhancing human perception and understanding are keys to the transcendent perspective. Some of the research and activities conducted regarding discoveries in the area of human consciousness clearly indicate great potential for short-term and long-term human development.
How will these discoveries in consciousness and transcendent perspectives help us? It may not be completely clear. Important progress has already been made in integrating some of these leading-edge discoveries into the mass media and our everyday lives.
Social, educational, cultural, spiritual, medical, public safety, governmental, defense and other components of human societies can make greater use of transcendent viewpoints.
As they do, we may see a new paradigm, tipping point or breakthrough in the ways the human race solves problems and makes progress.
Technorati Tags: Military, Warfare, Perception, Transcendent Warfare
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Steve Hammons [send him email] has worked as a journalist, editor, counselor, juvenile probation peace officer, public safety urgent-response specialist, teacher, instructor and US Government researcher. He graduated from Ohio University with studies in communications/journalism, health education/psychology and pre-law. Hammons's two novels, Mission into Light and Light's Hand, tell the story of a US joint-service military and intelligence research team investigating emerging special topics. Visit his blog at http://jointreconstudygroup.blogspot.com/
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