THE "BETRAYAL" OR "TRAITOR" DILEMMA - SCREENING EXERCISES/ACTIVITIES FOR MILITARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRST RESPONDERS, RESCUE UNITS, AND MORE
- Moran Sciamama-Saghiv
- Sep 21
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 16
Disclaimer: The content provided by Dr. Moran Sciamama-Saghiv on physical screening for military, law enforcement, and similar professions is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. It does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice, nor does it establish any professional relationship. Readers must obtain proper medical clearance and institutional authorization before applying any information. Dr. Sciamama-Saghiv disclaims all liability for injury, loss, or misuse of the material.
I am Dr. Moran Sciamama-Saghiv, ex-Army officer and an expert of many years on screening processes (especially yet not limited to military with an emphasis on special forces; physical aspects). I offer consultation services and a variety of lectures related to the Israeli military. I would be happy to collaborate with you (if and when relevant). In the meanwhile, I invite you to read my blog post series on the screening processes for military, law enforcement, rescue units, first responders, etc.
In a previous series of blog posts, I have surveyed the multiple and diverse aspects of how to establish or improve a physically-based screening process for military, law enforcement, first responders, rescue units, and more. In this series we will focus on actual suggestions for exercises/activities that can be used in a screening process, and possible variations. Each blog post in the series will analyze the elements that the screening activity requires, "pros" and "cons", "do" and "don'ts", and how the screening activity serves as a tool in the hands of the evaluators.
In some cases, there is more than one way to conduct the exercise, analyze it, or experience it. We will survey both physically-based screening exercises/activities, and non-physical screening exercises/activities. Furthermore, many screening exercises are planned in a way that your ability to prepare for them is limited as much as possible (even with previous knowledge and practice) or simply are meant to examine if you meet the minimum requirements and nothing more.
The "betrayal" or "traitor" dilemma is a non-physical exercise/activity that is meant to determine how candidates perceive each other, their values, social and professional "red lines", how important is team unity to them, and what is considered as "betrayal" or "treason" towards the team or more (country). At the beginning, the team is informed of the action/s of one of the team members that could be perceived as an act of "betrayal" and/or "treason" towards to the team or more.
The rest of the screening exercise/activity is strongly determined by key decisions that the evaluators have made prior to beginning the activity (though some aspects can be changed according to what we see from the candidates). These may include:
The number of actions - is it just one or more?
The severity of each action committed.
The wording as a "betrayal" vs "treason". Treason is commonly perceived as worst.
Is the scenario a developing scenario? how does it develop? For example - when the group dynamic weakens, do we give them more information? do we inform them that there was another act or were more acts?
Do we present the dilemma as just that, or make them believe this actually happened?
Is the person that betrayed or is a traitor amongst them, or fictionary?
Do want them to decide if it is betrayal or treason?
Do we ask them to decide what happens to that person?
Do they come up with optional consequences or choose from a list that we created?
Does the decision need to be unanimous or by majority vote?
Do we ask them to indicate who they believe it is? do we ask why they believe that person is the traitor or betrayer?
Do we guide the discussion with questions and remarks or let it develop freely?
Is the vote private or public?
Are they allowed to have a discussion or think with themselves?
How much time is allocated? - shorter time means more emotional and stress-based decision while more time allows for more reasoning and fact-based decision.
Do we share the result of the votes or keep them to ourselves?
Do we tell them it is fictionary, or let them deal with the possibility of it being real for a while? - if so, for how long?
Do we make it a matter of principle or something very personal? - For example, did the teammate have sex with the significant other/spouse of another teammate or did they give away highly classifies information?
Do we introduce the candidate that "did it", claim that he is from another team being screened and tell them that they will decide their "fate"?
What does it mean to refuse to vote?
Other?
Curious? need help? have questions? - contact me!
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