Tactical professionals are constantly performing under novel sensory environments. The unpredictable nature of the job requires strong foundational skills that can be an asset in any condition.
Strength, power, and speed are all important foundational skills to prepare for the unpredictable. But because of the extreme and unpredictable conditions tactical athletes perform under, training to enhance the ability to quickly adapt to novel sensory environments is also an invaluable component of readiness.
Luckily sensorimotor adaptability can be trained, allowing enhanced performance even under extreme and unpredictable conditions.
There is also evidence that shows individuals who train sensorimotor adaptability experience a decrease in cognitive cost and metabolic expenditure during novel discordant sensory environments. [1]
The need to perform under extreme and unpredictable conditions is a consistent variable in the tactical field. Sensorimotor training is integral to readiness and performing under novel sensory environments.
References:
- Bloomberg, J. J., Peters, B. T., Cohen, H. S., & Mulavara, A. P. (2015). Enhancing astronaut performance using sensorimotor adaptability training. Frontiers in systems neuroscience, 9, 129.