A study was done by a Harvard researcher on bomb-disposal operatives and split them into two groups: those who have been decorated for their work and those who hadn't. Their study showed that the operatives who've been decorated, when placed in the danger zone, entered a state of cold, meditative focus, where their heart rates went down as compared to the other group.

The confidence that they had with themselves is what made them calm and have a mezzanine level of consciousness.