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Review
. 2024 May 3;36(3):241-252.
doi: 10.1080/08995605.2022.2086418. Epub 2022 Jun 13.

Resilience enhancing programs in the U.S. military: An exploration of theory and applied practice

Sarah A McInerney  1   2 , Edward Waldrep  1   3 , Charles C Benight  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Resilience enhancing programs in the U.S. military: An exploration of theory and applied practice

Sarah A McInerney et al. Mil Psychol. .

Abstract

U.S. service members are at an enhanced risk for developing mental disorders. To address these challenges, while promoting operational readiness and improving mental health outcomes, the Department of Defense directed each service component to develop and implement universal resilience enhancing programs. This paper provides a review of theoretical approaches conceptualizing resilience to trauma, including the theoretical foundations of programs currently in place. The resilience programs of U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps are described, and available program effectiveness data are reviewed. Gaps between theory and practice are identified and an alternative method of assessing psychological readiness in Army units that is informed by resilience theory is offered as one way to address these gaps and scientific concerns. By comprehensively assessing the stressors affecting Soldiers at regular intervals, military leaders may be able to better identify and mitigate stressors in a systematic way that bolsters individual and unit psychological fitness. An enhanced psychological readiness metric stands to strengthen the validity of current resilience programs, bring clarity to the mechanisms of resilience, and provide a novel way for leaders to promote readiness in their units. Application of this metric within the infrastructure of existing reporting systems stands to improve mental health outcomes for Service Members, enhance the psychological readiness of the force, and reduce healthcare costs over time.

Keywords: Resilience; military mental health; military resilience; psychological readiness; resilience theory.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The combat and operational stress continuum.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Illustration of how indicators of an enhanced psychological readiness metric align within Ecological Systems Theory domains (Bronfenbrenner, 1979).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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