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Review
. 2024 May 3;36(3):266-273.
doi: 10.1080/08995605.2021.1981709. Epub 2021 Nov 24.

Special Operations Cognitive Agility Training (SOCAT) for Special Operations Forces and spouses

Jessica M LaCroix  1 , Colonel Mark R Baggett  2 , Su Yeon Lee-Tauler  1 , Sarah P Carter  1 , Staci Vileta  3 , Lieutenant Colonel Retired D Rob Neff  3 , Lieutenant Brendan Finton  4 , Master Gunnery Sergeant John Bottema  4 , Sergeant Major Retired Estolita Bowling  3 , Tech Sergeant Meagan E Hosack  3 , Joseph Grammer  1 , Max Stivers  1 , Charles A Darmour  1 , Marjan Ghahramanlou-Holloway  1
Affiliations
Review

Special Operations Cognitive Agility Training (SOCAT) for Special Operations Forces and spouses

Jessica M LaCroix et al. Mil Psychol. .

Abstract

Increasingly complex and unpredictable personnel and operational demands require Special Operations Forces (SOF) members and their families to remain flexible, adaptive, and resilient within ever-changing circumstances. To mitigate the impact of these stressors on psychological health and fitness, researchers and educators at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) developed Special Operations Cognitive Agility Training (SOCAT), a cognitive performance optimization program supported by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF). The goal of SOCAT is to enhance cognitive agility, defined as the ability to deliberately adapt cognitive processing strategies in accordance with dynamic shifts in situational and environmental demands, in order to facilitate decision making and adapt to change. Overall, SOCAT emphasizes optimal cognitive performance across different contexts - as well as across various stages of the military lifecycle - to serve as a buffer against biopsychosocial vulnerabilities, environmental and social stressors, military operational demands, and behavioral health problems, including suicide. This paper reviews foundational research behind SOCAT, mechanisms through which SOCAT is anticipated to build psychological resilience, and describes the process of developing and tailoring SOCAT for active duty SOF members and spouses. Limitations and future directions, including an ongoing, randomized controlled program evaluation, are discussed.

Keywords: Cognitive agility; cognitive flexibility; military spouses; resilience; special operations forces.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
SOCAT program development and evaluation timeline.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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