Creative Military Ideas
July 16, 2006 by Stephen Shapiro
A while back I read a document which was released by the US military under the Freedom of Information act. Regardless what you may think of the Department of Defense, this confidential document contains some interesting ideas . During a brainstorming session back in 1994, the Air Force requested $7.5 million to fund non-lethal chemical weapons research. Some of the most creative ideas were:
- Using chemicals that could be sprayed on enemy positions to attract stinging and biting bugs, rodents and larger animals.
- Another idea involved creating severe and lasting halitosis to help sniff out fighters trying to blend in with civilians.
- The most creative idea, and one immediately rejected, was the creation of a strong aphrodisiac – especially one that would cause homosexual behavior. The idea was to affect human behavior in a way that would adversely impact discipline and morale within the enemy units.
Creative ideas that aren’t implemented do not add value. My hunch is, these added little value in the long run. Do you have any other examples of wildly creative ideas?
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It does not surprise me that the military is involved with creativity work. I have worked with a range of teams with Department of Defense in Canada as well as writing a guide on innovative thinking for Ministry of Defense in Singapore. I get the impression that the military people I met were often far more open to the idea of creativity and did not have the ego issues of many people in business (who think they are creative and have nothing to learn).
Perhaps it is useful to remember the final sentences of Alex Osborn’s 1953 book Applied Imagination:
We need new ideas to win wars. We need even more and better new ideas to win peace.
Perhaps a useful lesson for the world we face at the moment. It is interesting to note that the used version of the book I purchased on line started its life at the training library of the Veterans Administration in Roanoke Virginia. How appropriate!
My idea is for defense against bombs. Bombs, being generally made out of metal, can be attracted by a magnet. Create a flying pod with an electro-magnetic bottom and equipment on it that can see the missile in the air (maybe a sonar radar or something). Also put a rocket jet on the back to steer it off course (if you did not already blow it up in the air).
i have an idea, however, i do not know what materials would be necessary, for another defense against bombs. This one is for explosions in general. Find an object, element or process that absorbs explosions
Yeah, I’ve got an idea- why not using a ballistic knife as a bayonet.
It would be something to work if you ran out of ammo, a ballistic knife was used by the spetsnaz in WW2-it’s a knife that can stay to the head or press a button and the blade flies out. It would catch them by surprise, and of course a bayonet is just a knife on the end of a gun.
i got this idea for laser targeting (if it hasn’t been used yet).instead of the diode on top of the gun,have multiple laser diodes circulating the end of the barrel itself,then aim,shoot in the center of the circle for 100% accuracy.
i have a idea that is work able and i have the plans for it. its invisibility suite
Why couldn’t the military use a radio controlled set-up on the lead HumV while traveling. It’s become fairly inexpensive and readily available. They are frequently used in Hollywood…..why not in a hostile environment? If I had the choice, I would much rather be in the 2nd HumV in line controlling the lead vehicle. Rather than be on a truck with a reinforced floor in it. I understand that some may think this is a dumb idea, but I think more ideas need to be considered. Too many Americans are loosing their lives!
Matt B that is a good idea in theory I did a year of route clearance in afghan and got the pleasure of being blown up multiple times. but i would give it about a month before the tally figured out that the front vic was unmaned then they would just hit the ones behind it. Plus they dont always hit the lead vic because of command wires and other devices. Good idea tho keep it up