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The Ultimate Stress Test: Lessons from the Israeli Counter-Terror Team


(Psychology Today) Dr. Neil Farber and Dr. Itay Gil - Israel's Yamam elite counter-terrorism warfare unit is similar to the U.S. Seal Team 6. Yamam has successfully thwarted multiple terrorist attacks, hijackings, kidnappings, bomb threats, and rescued hostages. The Israeli unit has won the International SWAT competition multiple times, competing against 27 top-rated police and federal SWAT teams from around the world. While Yamam members face the most stressful situations imaginable, there have been no suicides or rogue agents who have broken down psychologically. The selection process for Yamam weeds out applicants with low resilience and the unit's training is directed toward fostering resilience and high stress management. Candidates are specifically screened for these six character traits: Motivation and psychologic stability, excellent physical conditioning, emotional intelligence, high intellectual capacity, great social skills and teamwork, and excellent problem solving and physical skills. Neil Farber, a former Professor of Pediatrics and Anesthesiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, is now an adjunct Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University. Itay Gil, an Israeli security and anti-terrorist expert, is a member and instructor with Yamam.
2020-02-28 00:00:00
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