Resilience Training(Red Phase)
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Terminal Learning ObjectiveACTION: 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
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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
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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
Purpose of Training
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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.
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.
Soldier’s Creed
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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?
What is Stress?
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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?
Basic Combat Training Stress
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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
Why is Teamwork Important?
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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
Applications of Teamwork
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Sometimes you will need to “carry” a team member...
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… and sometimes the team will “carry” you
It takes courage to ask for help when you need it
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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
How do I look after my buddies? (& myself)
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ActivatingEvent
Initial Reaction
Behavior
Behavior
Emotions
Emotions
Thoughts
Thoughts
PhysicalReactions
PhysicalReactions
Initial Reaction
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ActivatingEvent
Behavior Emotions
PhysicalReactions
Thoughts
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 ReactionInitial Reaction
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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
Initial Reactions
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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
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Still can’t find the Dolphins?
Our perceptions are shaped by our life experiences
“Corrupted minds”
Distorted Perceptions
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Distorted Perceptions
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Initial Reactions
Our underlying beliefs are like icebergs
Let's identify what some of those initial reactions might be
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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
PhysicalReactions
Thoughts
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Fear or apprehension
Anxiety or tension
Hyper-alertness
Low frustration/ tolerance
Irritability/mood change
Anger
Low motivation
Depression
Behavior Emotions
PhysicalReactions
Thoughts
Initial Reactions to Look Out For
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Concentration difficulties
Poor problem solving
Memory difficulties
Negative self-talk
Irrational ideas
Catastrophic thinking
Thoughts of “escape” (AWOL, suicide/self-harm)
Behavior Emotions
PhysicalReactions
Thoughts
If someone tells you this, notify a Drill
Sergeant immediately
Initial Reactions to Look Out For
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Increased breathing rate
Increased heart rate
Dizziness
Shaking
Pains
Headaches
Nausea
Face goes pale/ashen
Thousand yard stare
Behavior Emotions
PhysicalReactions
Thoughts
Initial Reactions to Look Out For
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If you notice any of these reactions in yourself or someone else, you need to “check” the reaction
ActivatingEvent
Behavior Emotions
PhysicalReactions
Thoughts
Check You need to “check” the
reaction because some reactions may be counterproductive or even harmful
What Next?
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How to “Check”
If you notice a reaction in yourself or a buddy, “check” by asking:
1. Is the reaction normal or understandable given the situation (activating event)?
2. Is it interfering with performance?
3. 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
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ActivatingEvent
Behavior Emotions
PhysicalReactions
Thoughts
OptimalReaction andPerformance
Check
If reaction is normal given the circumstances, helpful and doesn't hurt
performance
If not, then you need to “adjust”
Adjust
Check the Initial Reaction
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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
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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!
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How to “Adjust”
Step 1: Identify what parts of the situation or event can be changed then take action to change those parts
Take ActionControllable Parts
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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
Adjust Your Initial Reaction
Uncontrollable Parts
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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
PhysicalReactions
Thoughts
The elements interact with each other, so adjusting one element will often lead to improvements in the other elements
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“Adjust” Thoughts
Identify and accept realities
Change self-talk
Maintain a sense of humor
Restructure your thoughts
Identify thinking traps
Behavior Emotions
PhysicalReactions
Thoughts
Your thoughts may be the hardest reactions to identify, but changing your thoughts can often “drive the train”
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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?
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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
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The Realities of Basic Combat Training
Mistakes provide opportunities for you to become a better Soldier
BCT is hard, but thousandsof 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
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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
The Realities of Basic Combat Training
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RSP Online Resilience Training Module
Comprehensive Soldier Fitness / Global Assessment Tool (GAT) Survey
Homework assignment is due next drill
Resilience Modules Homework Assignment
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Terminal Learning ObjectiveACTION: 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