Hi, Chip

First, thanks for your service:)  I was in uniform during the Vietnam Era, but safely tucked stateside.

Second, thanks for a sometimes stomach-churning, but ultimately very useful reflection on how we learn and change.

I was struck by your observation that "Long military experience had shown that, faced with survival, soldiers would be far less likely to be repulsed by the idea of eating gross food if they had at least tried it once. "  I think this holds true for much in life, as well as in the military.   I know from experience that the elements you mention in your post are important in getting people to "try it", whether this refers to baked rat, jumping from a very high platform, or moving out of our comfort zones into places we have never been.

Maybe our leadership development should include more experiences where people can do something, at least to a degree, to prepare them more fully to do it in real life.  Probably why simulations are such popular items in the LD bag these days ... even when they do not simulate reality all that well.

Much to consider here - thanks:)

John