For all team activities, whether it be sports teams or military units, winning is the ultimate goal. To truly achieve team success, the team should be able to complete a task with the least amount of moves or use the least amount of energy without sacrificing quality. In this study, we are trying to determine the factors that contribute the most to successful teams under stressful conditions. We hypothesize that by measuring individual biological responses, such as heart rate, breathing rate, posture, temperature, and saliva/blood components, during various physically and mentally stressful exercises, we will be able to determine the factors that drive overall team success and assemble more effective teams using these factors. Sixteen WVU Air Force ROTC participants were selected, divided into four different teams of four individuals, their biological responses were monitored (some in real-time and some prior to and immediately following) in response to stressful teamwork exercises (mock hostage rescue). Individuals were outfitted with EEG, heart rate, breathing rate, estimated core temperature, sound, activity and posture monitors and tasked with finding the 'hostage' and moving it to a safe location; to move the hostage required the assembly of a make-shift gurney from items hidden in an urban setting. These exercises were expected to simulate aspects of the types of stresses endured by U.S. Military Special Operations Forces and Hostage Rescue Teams of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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