Resilience Training (Red Phase)

Terminal Learning Objective ACTION: Discuss resilience, teamwork, buddy aid, and our initial reactions to situations and events CONDITIONS: In a classroom environment given an overview of initial reactions to include thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and physical reactions STANDARDS: Discussing resilience, teamwork and the elements that comprise the way we all react to given situations and events will consist of the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF) concepts and the principles contained in The Resilience Factor, 01 Jan 2003 and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Protocol #1543, 30 Jul 2009

Resilience Resilience is the ability to grow and thrive in the face of challenges and bounce back from adversity Resilient Soldiers have the inner strength to face the realities of the environment with courage and confidence This means meeting the many mental challenges of training, operations, combat, and transitioning home

Purpose of Training Purpose of Training Develop resilient Soldiers who… Function well under stress; sustain mental fitness in the face of high intensity situations “Bounce back” as required Take care of themselves, their buddies and those they lead 4

Soldier’s Creed Soldier’s Creed I am an American Soldier. I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional. I stand ready to deploy, engage and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American Soldier. I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional. I stand ready to deploy, engage and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. 5

What is Stress? What is Stress? How many of you like roller coasters? How many of you find them stressful? What do you think stress is? Is stress always bad?

Basic Combat Training Stress Different situations will be stressful for different Soldiers What are some of the methods you used back home to help you deal with stressful situations?

Why is Teamwork Important? Soldiers working together can achieve more than Soldiers working individually When Soldiers work in teams, they can apply their different strengths to achieve the mission 8 8

Applications of Teamwork Physical tasks – helping each other complete training events like the confidence course Mental tasks – helping each other adjust to the military environment; maintaining control over stress and achieving optimal performance 9 9

Sometimes you will need to “carry” a team member... 10 10

… and sometimes the team will “carry” you It takes courage to ask for help when you need it 11 11

How do I look after my buddies (& myself)? In order to be able to look after your buddies (and yourself), you need to know what to look out for Accept the reality that stress affects us all Take the time to listen You also need to know what to do to improve your (or your buddies’) resilience 12 12

Initial Reaction Initial Reaction Activating Event Thoughts Emotions Behavior Emotions Activating Event Thoughts Physical Reactions Thoughts Emotions Behavior Physical Reactions

Initial Reaction Initial Reaction Activating Event Behavior Emotions Activating Event Thoughts Physical Reactions Activating Event: imagine you have just performed poorly on your APFT... What might your initial thoughts be? What might your initial emotions be? What might your initial behaviors be? What might your initial physical reactions be?

Initial Reactions Initial Reactions It’d be great if our initial reactions were the optimal reaction every time, but that’s not always the case Why not? Well some reasons include… We are shaped by our past experiences We sometimes perceive the situation to be different from the reality We have a powerful brain that does not always work the way we would like

Distorted Perceptions Take a look at the picture - what do you see? Research shows that young children can’t identify the intimate couple as they do not have prior memory associated with such a scenario Children see nine dolphins

Distorted Perceptions Still can’t find the Dolphins? Our perceptions are shaped by our life experiences “Corrupted minds”

Distorted Perceptions 18

Initial Reactions Our underlying beliefs are like icebergs Let's identify what some of those initial reactions might be

Initial Reactions to Look Out For Sleep related problems Changes in appetite Excessive drinking/smoking (not at BCT of course) Increased aggression More accident prone Social withdrawal Behavior Emotions Physical Reactions Thoughts

Initial Reactions to Look Out For Fear or apprehension Anxiety or tension Hyper-alertness Low frustration/ tolerance Irritability/mood change Anger Low motivation Depression Behavior Emotions Physical Reactions Thoughts

Initial Reactions to Look Out For Concentration difficulties Poor problem solving Memory difficulties Negative self-talk Irrational ideas Catastrophic thinking Thoughts of “escape” (AWOL, suicide/self-harm) Behavior Emotions Physical Reactions Thoughts If someone tells you this, notify a Drill Sergeant immediately

Initial Reactions to Look Out For Increased breathing rate Increased heart rate Dizziness Shaking Pains Headaches Nausea Face goes pale/ashen Thousand yard stare Behavior Emotions Physical Reactions Thoughts

What Next? If you notice any of these reactions in yourself or someone else, you need to “check” the reaction Behavior Emotions Thoughts Physical Reactions Activating Event You need to “check” the reaction because some reactions may be counterproductive or even harmful Check

How to “Check” If you notice a reaction in yourself or a buddy, “check” by asking: Is the reaction normal or understandable given the situation (activating event)? Is it interfering with performance? Is it helping me (or my buddy) be a good Soldier? If you are not sure of the answers to these questions, get a buddy to help you

Check the Initial Reaction Activating Event Behavior Emotions If reaction is normal given the circumstances, helpful and doesn't hurt performance Thoughts Physical Reactions Optimal Reaction and Performance Check If not, then you need to “adjust” Adjust

Adjusting Reactions Resilience means adjusting reactions to achieve optimal performance and well- being You can practice doing this Your buddies can help you do this You've made it through stressful situations before You have a powerful brain

The Power of Your Mind I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulatcly uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, manes it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you cna sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig hhu? Yaeh, and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

How to “Adjust” Controllable Parts Take Action Step 1: Identify what parts of the situation or event can be changed then take action to change those parts Controllable Parts Take Action

Adjust Your Initial Reaction How to “Adjust” Step 2: For the parts that you can’t control, your initial reaction needs to be adjusted Your reaction can be adjusted; now we'll talk about how to do that Uncontrollable Parts Adjust Your Initial Reaction

How to “Adjust” The initial reaction is made up of four elements, so strategies can be used to “adjust” the element(s) required Behavior Emotions Thoughts Physical Reactions The elements interact with each other, so adjusting one element will often lead to improvements in the other elements

“Adjust” Thoughts Identify and accept realities Change self-talk Maintain a sense of humor Restructure your thoughts Identify thinking traps Behavior Emotions Thoughts Physical Reactions Your thoughts may be the hardest reactions to identify, but changing your thoughts can often “drive the train”

Accepting Reality Accepting the reality of a situation will also help achieve optimal performance Basic Combat Training means being away from home What are some of the other realities of Basic Combat Training? 33

The Realities of Basic Combat Training You will not get much praise; however... No news is good news You will have at least one area of weakness You will make mistakes Drill Sergeants will “advise” you of your mistakes 2 34

The Realities of Basic Combat Training Mistakes provide opportunities for you to become a better Soldier BCT is hard, but thousands of recruits complete the training every year You are qualified to be here; we believe you can do it! You're now part of something bigger and always will be 2 35

The Realities of Basic Combat Training There are many things you can’t control There is no point in worrying about them Don’t fight the Drill Sergeant! Invest your time and energy in what you can control Use your strengths - “Hunt the good stuff” Stress and sleep difficulties are common during the first few weeks as your body is adjusting to significant change 2 36

Resilience Modules Homework Assignment RSP Online Resilience Training Module Comprehensive Soldier Fitness / Global Assessment Tool (GAT) Survey Homework assignment is due next drill 2 37

Terminal Learning Objective ACTION: Discuss resilience, teamwork, buddy aid, and our initial reactions to situations and events CONDITIONS: In a classroom environment given an overview of initial reactions to include thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and physical reactions STANDARDS: Discussing resilience, teamwork and the elements that comprise the way we all react to given situations and events will consist of the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF) concepts and the principles contained in The Resilience Factor, 01 Jan 2003 and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Protocol #1543, 30 Jul 2009