Safe and sound

摘要

Soldiers are trained to use their hearing as a vital part of their operational effectiveness. They learn to recognise the sound of enemy fire as well as using sounds to locate both distance and direction of enemy contact, in order to gain positive identification of the threat.In the past, hearing conservation took a back seat to situational awareness (SA) and clear communication on the battlefield, and in truth it still does. If forced to make the choice between hearing protection and SA with clear command and control (C2), soldiers will choose the latter, and rightfully so, as a lack of SA and C2 could result in the loss of life.