The First Earth Battalion was the name proposed by Lieutenant Colonel Jim Channon, a U.S. soldier who had served in Vietnam, for his idea of a new military of supersoldiers to be organized along New Age lines.
For those of you who haven't seen it, the film "The men who stare at goats" it is a comedy incorporating some Jim Channon's ideas for the First Earth Battalion. I looked up the material which the film is based upon. The Wiki page links to a concept paper written by Jim Channon which I am quoting here.
Our "First Earth Battalion" is a place to dream. A place to think the unthinkable. It's the prime place to put our thoughts of the future just as we must maintain our perspective of the past and contact with the complexities of the present. It's an "Earth" battalion because of what we know about a shrinking world, and about interdependencies among people, and nations, and natural resources… interdependencies which everyday are becoming more evident to us all. It's a battalion because our study effort is directed to our Army, and the battalion is an entity which all of us soldiers from top to bottom, can comprehend.
Earthkind has grown from pack to village… and then from village to tribe, then from tribe to territory… and from territory to nation.It is time to go from nation to planet.
The First Earth Battalion hereby declares its primary allegiance to the planet.
THE WARRIOR MONK
The Earth Battalion is potential oriented, not mission oriented, so any definition of what it is or does tends to limit what it can become… At the moment it is a spirit among other things.
By 1990 it may be a pilot community of warrior-monks who completely recycle all resources, live amidst new nuclear reactors and waiting deployment to tension spots.
A think tank methodology for the U.S. Army -- a banner for the closet greathearts wherever they are -- a bonding agent for the idealist activists in the service and out -- a home for the ethical evolution of force -- an alternate form of service to the planet.
OMNI-DIRECTIONAL THOUGHT
The First Earth is not mission oriented it is potential oriented. That means we shall continue to look everywhere to find non-destructive methods of control.
J.F.C. Fuller, the father of mechanized warfare, was an omni-directional thinker and a member of the world of the occult. [EN5]
Be a guerrilla guru: [explore] the occult, the new age, the traditional, eastern philosophy, [and] space age technology.
[Task organization]
Headquarters = Star
Counter-force company: Arms, Heart, Will, Spirit
Pioneer company: Space pioneer, Eco pioneers, Urban pioneers
Rescue company: Natural disaster, Eco disaster, Human disaster
PEOPLEAll warrior monks, but an interdependence of New Age skills as well.
[The graphic shows the following skills, all emanating from a central Spirit Wizard]
Spirit wizard
Meditation leader
Martial arts wizard
Nutritionist herbalist
Vexillographer (flags and banners)
Cinematographer
Old tapes
Holographer
Printer
Minstrels
Video technoid
Satellite technoid
Laser technoid
General systems theorist
Physicist
Futurist
Builder
Conservationist
Indian tracker [sic]
BATTLE TUNING
Using traditional and New Age ideas:
Rise
Yogic cat stretch
Primal scream and leap
Belgian waffle
Ginseng tab regulator
Speed [ amphetamines] or morning thunder tea [EN6]
Karate kata
Primal low frequency lights
Paced primal rock [music] in our ears
Discordant sounds for them [the enemy]
Advance
EARTH PRAYERMother Earth… my life support system… as a soldier… I must drink your blue water… live inside your red clay and eat your green skin.
I pray… my boots will always kiss your face and my footsteps match your heartbeat.
Carry my body through space and time… you are my connection to the Universe… and all that comes after.
I am yours and you are mine.
I salute you.
Concept paper
tries out the expansion roads set.
