Reducing Stress With Positive Psychology in the U.S. Army

Introduction

This paper argues that Sergeant Majors who combine Positive Psychology with the Master Resilience Training (MRT) competencies of self-awareness, self-regulation, and mental agility can meaningfully reduce stress in high-tempo organizations. As the Army embraces resilience and Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2), Sergeant Majors must understand the factors and benefits of these programs in order to facilitate stress reduction and achieve positive results. The association between positive psychological constructs and increased stress resistance implies that strengthening such factors can potentially lead to greater resilience (Lester et al., 2011).

The prolonged deployment of U.S. Army forces across different regions in combat situations has prompted senior leadership to address the mental health of soldiers, ensuring they are capable of coping effectively with traumatic incidents and overcoming feelings of desolation and depression that can damage psychological well-being. The main aim of CSF2 is to improve the resilience and psychological health (R/PH) of soldiers through specifically designed courses addressing four main areas. Academic research outcomes have been drawn upon in designing these interventions (Lester et al., 2011).

Positive Psychology and Resilience in the Army

Soldier R/PH is the ability to cope effectively and pragmatically with traumatic and stressful situations (Cornum, Matthews, & Seligman, 2011; Reivich, 2010). CSF2 is grounded in the premise that R/PH can be learned, practiced, and improved through proper training (Reivich, Seligman, & McBride, 2011). CSF2 resilience training is an intervention in which Master Resilience Trainers (MRTs) — Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) who undergo specialized resilience training — train others in their unit to recognize and improve their psychological and emotional potential to cope with stressful and challenging situations. The CSF2 model operates through a "train-the-trainer" methodology. The objective of these exercises is to make soldiers aware of the importance of maintaining mental fortitude through strong relationships, particularly when facing the stressful combat situations that are a routine part of soldiers' lives. The overall focus, therefore, is on improving the R/PH of the soldier (Lester et al., 2013).

Soldiers are trained to counter the predisposition toward negativity, to cultivate positivity, and to concentrate on strengths rather than weaknesses. This is accomplished through exercises that emphasize positive feelings and positive events in their lives. Rather than dwelling on negative thoughts, soldiers are taught to seek out positive experiences by reflecting on positive outcomes, understanding what positive events mean, and identifying actions that lead to positive results (Lester et al., 2011).

Resilience, in this context, means the ability to respond capably to challenging situations and to sustain those outcomes in the future. There is substantial evidence suggesting that resilience corresponds to, and is fostered by, various psychological and interpersonal factors measured by the Global Assessment Tool (GAT), the majority of which relate to coping effectively with different circumstances. Research in this area confirms that while resilience is not equally distributed among all individuals, it can be taught and developed (Lester et al., 2011).

Self-Awareness

The Army's CSF2 program utilizes procedures intended to improve psychological strength and positive performance and to reduce maladaptive reactions (Cornum et al., 2011, p. 4). As Cornum and colleagues explain, CSF2 seeks to promote R/PH proactively — by realizing human potential through attention to positive emotions, strengths, institutions, and relationships at the societal level. This emphasis reflects the understanding that soldiers who possess these attributes are more resilient and have the cognitive resources to respond to challenging situations, regulate emotional and mental changes caused by stress, maintain supportive social and family structures, and appreciate the relevance of their work and lives (Lester et al., 2011).

The primary approach CSF2 takes toward building these strengths is helping soldiers develop meta-cognitive skills that improve resilience. The program is designed to help soldiers understand how and why they think in certain ways and how particular beliefs may influence their responses to situations. Resilience, according to CSF2, is an ongoing process rather than an end state. While some soldiers are undoubtedly more resilient than others, the development of R/PH is a process accessible to all. Indeed, one of the first lessons imparted to Master Resilience Trainers (MRTs) is that the development of resilience is a learning process that everyone should practice (Lester et al., 2011).

This module of training focuses on improving soldiers' character. Participants are taught to recognize their own top strengths and to appreciate the strengths of others, as well as how to leverage those strengths to overcome challenges and build cohesive teams. The training centers on identifying character strengths that, as Peterson and Seligman (2004) established, are valued across all societies and cultures. Recognizing such strengths in oneself and in others is essential to team formation. A second unit helps soldiers understand how their individual strengths, combined with those of their peers, can collectively overcome challenges. Specific exercises are designed to promote these realizations. Identifying one's core strengths, motivations, beliefs, character, and life vision defines spiritual fitness. These components — which represent the essence of a person — enable one to build inner strength, derive meaning from experiences, act ethically, endure hardship, and remain adaptable in the face of adversity. Spiritual fitness is developed through personal, philosophical, psychological, and/or religious teachings or beliefs and forms the foundation of character ("Training," 2014).

Conclusion

The CSF2 system is designed to help shift focus — not just to one that equates emotional well-being with physical well-being, but from a perspective on prevention to that of cure (Casey, 2011). The system aims to improve the R/PH of soldiers, which is understood to reduce the probability of recognizable psychological disorders among Army personnel. The resilience component of CSF2 has the capacity to enhance well-being and positive behavioral attitudes and capabilities in soldiers, which in turn may improve unit effectiveness (Lester et al., 2013).