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**psc** · 10-23-2009, 08:01 PM

Army Seeks to Mentally Toughen Up Combat Troops With Resiliency Classes - Political News - FOXNews.com

In an effort to address the mental health problems of some combat troops, the U.S. Army wants all of its 1.1 million soldiers to start taking emotional resiliency classes.
The new $117 million dollar program is based on the research of Dr. Martin Seligman, chairman of the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center, who has been consulting with the Pentagon and whom the Army calls "Dr. Happy."
The Army wants to train 1,500 sergeants by next summer to teach weekly 90-minute anger management classes to reduce stress and help combat troops avoid depression and suicidal thoughts.
According to Army spokesman Gary Tallman, the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program is "designed to build resilience in soldiers, family members and Army civilians by developing five dimensions of strength: physical, emotional, social, spiritual and family."
"Resilience can be defined as having the ability to grow and thrive in the face of challenges and bounce back from adversity," Tallman told FOX News.
The three-part program began last October with the development of concepts and products. Phase two -- implementation begins in October and lasts for a year. Phase three will extend the program from military members to their families and Army civilians.
By the Army's own estimates, one-fifth of the troops returning from combat have mental health problems.
But some skeptics, including Gen. George Casey Jr., the Army's chief of staff, question whether mental toughness can be taught in a classroom.
The Army has a battle buddy system in place now which works like a designated driver. At Fort Campbell in Kentucky, where 15 soldiers committed suicide in the first five months of this year, the Army distributes "warrior ethos" cards to carry.
"The new card has the Army's intervention model on it," Brig Gen. Steve Townsend told FOX News. "It's called ACE. One, ask your buddy directly if he's having suicidal thoughts. Second, care enough about your buddy to take them to help and get them help now. Three, escort them to help now. Do not wait."
It got so bad at Fort Campbell, Townsend said, that he ordered his base to stand down for a day in May to deal with the high suicide rate.

**matlt** · 10-25-2009, 09:34 AM

The army makes me want to kill myself all the time. Everytime we have a suicide prevention class (which is every month now it seems.)

**psc** · 10-25-2009, 11:27 AM

^ Roger that! And how about those special elongated bullshat lead-up and return deployment briefings...aren't they just special? Not to mention down time at Udiari Range...I hated that place worse than Iraq.

As Beck likes to say...

Wrongful Thinking + Exploit Danger = Profit, in this case $117 million dollar program

**yocan** · 10-25-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matlt

The army makes me want to kill myself all the time. Everytime we have a suicide prevention class (which is every month now it seems.)

yup, if you want to limit suicides make i-lock less horrific.

xdfire · 10-27-2009, 01:35 AM

Ncos teaching 90 minute classes makes most junior enlisted want to kill themselves.

Thefatgunner · 10-27-2009, 01:29 PM

think this class will be death by power point also?

bdraughon · 10-27-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psc

^ Roger that! And how about those special elongated bullshat lead-up and return deployment briefings...aren't they just special? Not to mention down time at Udiari Range...I hated that place worse than Iraq.

As Beck likes to say...

Wrongful Thinking + Exploit Danger = Profit, in this case $117 million dollar program

thats enough to make anyone want to off themselves!

especially when you first return home and all you want to do is spend some effin time with your family!

cce1302 · 10-30-2009, 09:10 PM

So.....The army cut all the stress out of basic training, and now they're wondering why their soldiers can't handle the stresses of combat??

**psc** · 10-30-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdraughon

thats enough to make anyone want to off themselves!

especially when you first return home and all you want to do is spend some effin time with your family!

Right on Brother...right on!

10-23-2009, 08:01 PM	#1
psc XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 6,828	Dr Happy classes for our troops Army Seeks to Mentally Toughen Up Combat Troops With Resiliency Classes - Political News - FOXNews.com In an effort to address the mental health problems of some combat troops, the U.S. Army wants all of its 1.1 million soldiers to start taking emotional resiliency classes. The new $117 million dollar program is based on the research of Dr. Martin Seligman, chairman of the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center, who has been consulting with the Pentagon and whom the Army calls "Dr. Happy." The Army wants to train 1,500 sergeants by next summer to teach weekly 90-minute anger management classes to reduce stress and help combat troops avoid depression and suicidal thoughts. According to Army spokesman Gary Tallman, the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program is "designed to build resilience in soldiers, family members and Army civilians by developing five dimensions of strength: physical, emotional, social, spiritual and family." "Resilience can be defined as having the ability to grow and thrive in the face of challenges and bounce back from adversity," Tallman told FOX News. The three-part program began last October with the development of concepts and products. Phase two -- implementation begins in October and lasts for a year. Phase three will extend the program from military members to their families and Army civilians. By the Army's own estimates, one-fifth of the troops returning from combat have mental health problems. But some skeptics, including Gen. George Casey Jr., the Army's chief of staff, question whether mental toughness can be taught in a classroom. The Army has a battle buddy system in place now which works like a designated driver. At Fort Campbell in Kentucky, where 15 soldiers committed suicide in the first five months of this year, the Army distributes "warrior ethos" cards to carry. "The new card has the Army's intervention model on it," Brig Gen. Steve Townsend told FOX News. "It's called ACE. One, ask your buddy directly if he's having suicidal thoughts. Second, care enough about your buddy to take them to help and get them help now. Three, escort them to help now. Do not wait." It got so bad at Fort Campbell, Townsend said, that he ordered his base to stand down for a day in May to deal with the high suicide rate.
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10-25-2009, 09:34 AM	#2
matlt XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,070	The army makes me want to kill myself all the time. Everytime we have a suicide prevention class (which is every month now it seems.) __________________ Home of the free, because of the brave
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10-25-2009, 11:27 AM	#3
psc XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 6,828	^ Roger that! And how about those special elongated bullshat lead-up and return deployment briefings...aren't they just special? Not to mention down time at Udiari Range...I hated that place worse than Iraq. As Beck likes to say... Wrongful Thinking + Exploit Danger = Profit, in this case $117 million dollar program
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10-27-2009, 01:35 AM	#5
xdfire XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Camp Pendleton, CA/Loveland, CO Posts: 312	Ncos teaching 90 minute classes makes most junior enlisted want to kill themselves. __________________ "Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest." -Ghandi Im only ever free in the wild.
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10-27-2009, 01:29 PM	#6
Thefatgunner XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 271	think this class will be death by power point also? __________________ It's not a constitutional violation for a police officer to be a jerk. - Justice Kennedy (Atwater v. City of Lago Vista)
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10-30-2009, 09:10 PM	#8
cce1302 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 351	So.....The army cut all the stress out of basic training, and now they're wondering why their soldiers can't handle the stresses of combat?? __________________ I'm really impressed by all those guns you have.
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