Army Develops Comprehensive Program to Build Resilience in Troops

Strategic Insights -

Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. recently visited the University of Pennsylvania to speak with the first class of Master Resilience Trainers, a program designed to help soldiers and their families develop resilience through a comprehensive approach. The Master Resilience Trainer program is part of the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness initiative, which aims to teach soldiers, family members, and Army civilians how to develop resilience skills.

This approach is a significant shift in the Army's mindset, as Casey emphasized that resilience is more than just a buzzword, but a new way of thinking for the service. The program focuses on imparting resilience skills to soldiers, family members, and Army civilians, with the goal of having a master resilience trainer in each battalion by this time next year.

The program is built on the work of Dr. Martin Seligman, director of the University of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center, who collaborated with the Army to develop a course for noncommissioned officers and officers to teach resilience skills to soldiers. The course aims to provide a comprehensive approach to building resilience, including not just skills training but also changing attitudes towards mental fitness and the stigma associated with mental health issues.

The program has received positive feedback from soldiers participating in the course, with one NCO from Fort Campbell, Ky., noting that the program is not just a module to teach, but a concept to embrace and use in all things. The course has also seen enthusiastic participation, with Casey stating that he wants to change the Army one NCO at a time, as they will go back and change 10 soldiers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program aims to teach soldiers, family members, and Army civilians how to develop resilience skills through a comprehensive approach.
  • The Master Resilience Trainer program is part of the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness initiative, and aims to have a master resilience trainer in each battalion by this time next year.
  • Dr. Martin Seligman, director of the University of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center, collaborated with the Army to develop a course for noncommissioned officers and officers to teach resilience skills to soldiers.
  • The program focuses on changing attitudes towards mental fitness and the stigma associated with mental health issues.
  • The course aims to provide a comprehensive approach to building resilience, including not just skills training but also changing attitudes.
  • Soldiers participating in the course have received positive feedback, noting that the program is not just a module to teach, but a concept to embrace and use in all things.

Statistics:

  • The Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program has been developed in collaboration with Dr. Martin Seligman and the University of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center.
  • The Master Resilience Trainer program aims to have a master resilience trainer in each battalion by this time next year.
  • The program has received positive feedback from soldiers participating in the course, with one NCO from Fort Campbell, Ky., noting that the program is not just a module to teach, but a concept to embrace and use in all things.

Sources:

  • "Army Chief of Staff Visits Resilience Program at University of Pennsylvania" by Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service
  • "Comprehensive Soldier Fitness: Master Resilience Trainers" by Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service