View Full Version : Army Seeks to Mentally Toughen Up Combat Troops With Resiliency Classes
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/18/army-seeks-mentally-toughen-combat-troops-resiliency-classes/
In an effort to address the mental health problems of some combat troops, the U.S. Army wants all of its 1.1 million soldiers to start taking emotional resiliency classes.
The new $117 million dollar program is based on the research of Dr. Martin Seligman, chairman of the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center, who has been consulting with the Pentagon and whom the Army calls "Dr. Happy."
The Army wants to train 1,500 sergeants by next summer to teach weekly 90-minute anger management classes to reduce stress and help combat troops avoid depression and suicidal thoughts.
According to Army spokesman Gary Tallman, the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program is "designed to build resilience in soldiers, family members and Army civilians by developing five dimensions of strength: physical, emotional, social, spiritual and family."
"Resilience can be defined as having the ability to grow and thrive in the face of challenges and bounce back from adversity," Tallman told FOX News.
The three-part program began last October with the development of concepts and products. Phase two -- implementation begins in October and lasts for a year. Phase three will extend the program from military members to their families and Army civilians.
By the Army's own estimates, one-fifth of the troops returning from combat have mental health problems.
But some skeptics, including Gen. George Casey Jr., the Army's chief of staff, question whether mental toughness can be taught in a classroom.
The Army has a battle buddy system in place now which works like a designated driver. At Fort Campbell in Kentucky, where 15 soldiers committed suicide in the first five months of this year, the Army distributes "warrior ethos" cards to carry.
"The new card has the Army's intervention model on it," Brig Gen. Steve Townsend told FOX News. "It's called ACE. One, ask your buddy directly if he's having suicidal thoughts. Second, care enough about your buddy to take them to help and get them help now. Three, escort them to help now. Do not wait."
It got so bad at Fort Campbell, Townsend said, that he ordered his base to stand down for a day in May to deal with the high suicide rate.
NousDefionsDoc
08-18-2009, 15:35
Power Point to toughen them up...Great.
I heard someone say "Inappropriate use of profane language..." the other day - I almost fell down laughing.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/18/army-seeks-mentally-toughen-combat-troops-resiliency-classes/
In an effort to address the mental health problems of some combat troops, the U.S. Army wants all of its 1.1 million soldiers to start taking emotional resiliency classes.
The new $117 million dollar program is based on the research of Dr. Martin Seligman, chairman of the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center, who has been consulting with the Pentagon and whom the Army calls "Dr. Happy."
The Army wants to train 1,500 sergeants by next summer to teach weekly 90-minute anger management classes to reduce stress and help combat troops avoid depression and suicidal thoughts.
According to Army spokesman Gary Tallman, the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program is "designed to build resilience in soldiers, family members and Army civilians by developing five dimensions of strength: physical, emotional, social, spiritual and family."
"Resilience can be defined as having the ability to grow and thrive in the face of challenges and bounce back from adversity," Tallman told FOX News.
The three-part program began last October with the development of concepts and products. Phase two -- implementation begins in October and lasts for a year. Phase three will extend the program from military members to their families and Army civilians.
By the Army's own estimates, one-fifth of the troops returning from combat have mental health problems.
But some skeptics, including Gen. George Casey Jr., the Army's chief of staff, question whether mental toughness can be taught in a classroom.
The Army has a battle buddy system in place now which works like a designated driver. At Fort Campbell in Kentucky, where 15 soldiers committed suicide in the first five months of this year, the Army distributes "warrior ethos" cards to carry.
"The new card has the Army's intervention model on it," Brig Gen. Steve Townsend told FOX News. "It's called ACE. One, ask your buddy directly if he's having suicidal thoughts. Second, care enough about your buddy to take them to help and get them help now. Three, escort them to help now. Do not wait."
It got so bad at Fort Campbell, Townsend said, that he ordered his base to stand down for a day in May to deal with the high suicide rate.
I thought that one of the purposes of Boot Camp, and other military training, was to build mental resilience.
If "resilience" isn't being attained at those schools, then it's time to revamp them.
More wasted time and wasted money.
ZonieDiver
08-18-2009, 17:38
How much of this problem is "generational" - with each successive generation being more coddled and protected and unused to harsh reality?
SkiBumCFO
08-18-2009, 18:57
ZonieDiver - you may have hit the nail on the head! I know a lot of tough kids in this generation. I just got off the phone with my nephew in 1st Rgr Bn and he is very tough but with all this modern technology many of his buddies cant get away from their parents checking up on them via text msg, cell phone, email, facebook, etc.. when i went to his RIP graduation they promised to send parents letters about two weeks after they deployed with email contacts, etc. Could you picture our mothers knowing where we were all the time (including in a combat zone) it would have driven me insane!
HowardCohodas
08-18-2009, 19:35
Is any of this due to the change (some say lowering) of the standards for entering military service?
Rick Atkinson, in his book," Day of Battle", reports that around a million troops in WWII were treated for "battle fatigue". Of these, 400,000 were sent home being deemed unfit for further combat. The military at that time determined that 265 days of cumulative combat was the the average the personnel could withstand without risk of mental damage. This was the greatest generation we have ever produced. Many of them had problems. I am pretty sure I knew one who did. (NOTE: I am reciting these figures from memory so they may be off slightly)
I think a change to tan berets would be in order. The color black is so depressing. To have to wear that day in and day out might be pushing people over the edge.
To fill the force standards have been dropped resulting in more suicides etc. There is even a 'low stess Basic Training' program so folks can make it thru the training base.
Sad
Dozer523
08-18-2009, 20:00
I have wondered about the effect that first person shooter games.
I think the games de-synthetizeand confuse; make it seem easy and safe. Almost every shot you take is a catastrophic kill but you can absorb hit after hit and then find the magic first aid pouch and ding! you are made whole (or at least, improve by a factor of 25% or 50%). There are few tactical lessons to take away; aside from taking your time, using concealment, and observing and predicting what the baddie will do. (If you really want a challenge try getting through without getting hit -- sort of like in reality!) So I wonder what the psychological effect is when the gamer finds himself in the real thing and it doesn't have that much in common with shat he has practiced / come to expect. Expectations are not met and that throws things off ballance in a cascade.
As for the lower standards of Soldiers . . . compared to when and who? The American Soldier who steps up, no matter when or for what cause, has always been this Country's Greatest Generation.
Dozer523
08-18-2009, 20:01
I think a change to tan berets would be in order. The color black is so depressing. To have to wear that day in and day out might be pushing people over the edge. Gawd know it's killing me.:D Going from Active Duty Group to the regular Guard! :(
SkiBumCFO
08-18-2009, 20:23
Originally Posted by abc_123
I think a change to tan berets would be in order. The color black is so depressing. To have to wear that day in and day out might be pushing people over the edge.
excellent idea but what color would the Rangers turn then? Rasberry or Back in Black?
Some people are just tougher than others and that is why some people make it through diffrent types of training such as selection or even basic training and others do not.
I believe that's the fundamental point here. If someone can't deal with the stress associated with basic training, what's the likelihood they'll suffer debilitating mental injury when exposed to the much higher stresses of combat? Is that a liability (to those depending on the troop, to the service in terms of manpower, to the DOD and/or DVA in terms of disability pensions and medical treatment) the DOD should assume? Others are turned away from enlisting for physical infirmaties.
I have wondered about the effect that first person shooter games.
I think the games de-synthetizeand confuse; make it seem easy and safe. Almost every shot you take is a catastrophic kill but you can absorb hit after hit and then find the magic first aid pouch and ding! you are made whole (or at least, improve by a factor of 25% or 50%).
That's a fascinating question. I suppose it might apply to some television shows as well; although the games seem more likely to fully engage the person.
I guess part of the question is exactly what forms of resiliency they care about. Bearing others' adversity always seems easier that bearing one's own. So (rhetorical question), do the soldiers recoil from shooting (pun intended), or is it the effect of getting shot at? The games might help in the case of the former, but (As Dozer suggests) might result in confusion and anger in the case of the latter?.
Or do they mean the entire construct of adversity, comprising an uncomfortable locale with no air conditioning, food they don't particularly care for, minor injuries, and occasional serious injuries or deaths among others? (That's a rhetorical question, too).
I recall (perhaps erroneously?) that Dozer once posted that during SERE, he and a friend would remind themselves that, at least, they weren't in computer school - which generated a laugh, and helped them get through the school. So....would humor help resiliency? And how would one teach people to laugh at such things?
Fascinating issue.
frostfire
08-19-2009, 19:09
I recall (perhaps erroneously?) that Dozer once posted that during SERE, he and a friend would remind themselves that, at least, they weren't in computer school - which generated a laugh, and helped them get through the school. So....would humor help resiliency? And how would one teach people to laugh at such things?
Fascinating issue.
Concur, fascinating issue indeed. I took every single psychology-related classes (and observed people and myself in various scenarios) eager to learn about what makes human tick and why some fell apart under pressure and some did not.
I think having that one guy with dark humor who could entertain everyone by laughing at their misery would somewhat teach the rest to develop the perspective overtime.
Speaking of computer class, when I volunteered to help on FTXs, I would recall myself doing a C++ test or the physics olympics staring at the screen for hours. Suddenly, I felt grateful being outdoor, cold, wet, and tired. Conversely, when I was in classroom on hours end, I imagine the snowy nights during the FTXs. I then felt grateful having shelter over my head and dry clothes.
I still maintains that pragmatism and stoicism would get one through hell provided one is willing to choose them. Of course, my time is coming soon and we shall see if I say what I mean, and do what I say.
"Between stimulus and response is the freedom to choose"
uboat509
08-19-2009, 20:59
Power Point to toughen them up...Great.
I agree. Then again, there were a few times in the D course where I was absolutely convinced that if I had to sit through one more power point class, I was going to end up on a water tower with a deer rifle and a list. :) May Power point can be useful for stress inoculation.
SFC W
mffjm8509
08-19-2009, 21:52
Let them drink beer.....
Let them get laid......
Do hard PT........
I haven't finished my masters in Psychology just yet, but these are a couple stress relieving ideas that I feel would have more of an impact than power point classes
Power Point to toughen them up...Great.
Yeah? Well I took the Dr Phil-CPT Myke Hawke hi-impact correspondence course version on-line with a dial-up modem, steel wool, and a 9-volt battery...most frustrating thing I've ever done when I couldn't get the damn computer to catch fire as instructed. :rolleyes: :p
Richard's $.02 :munchin