Army Master Resilience Training Offered to Service Members and Civilians Overseas

Photo By Sgt. Ryan Swanson | Students of the Army’s Master Resiliency Training course study mental wellness techniques at the Morale, Welfare and on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Oct. 26, 2019. Master Resiliency Training is taught by diverse instructors who foster positive thinking habits and mental health awareness at home and abroad. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Ryan Swanson)  

KUWAIT

10.24.2019

Story by Spc. Ryan Swanson 

U.S. Army Central   

By Spc. Ryan Swanson, U.S. Army Central

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Soldiers and Army civilians in Kuwait tapped into the most current mental health fitness program offered by the United States Army on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, on Oct. 24th, 2019.

The Master Resiliency Course Training (MRT) is taught by qualified instructors who foster positive thinking habits and mental health awareness at home and abroad. Multiple instructors and one of the program’s founders traveled from the U.S. to the Middle East to teach the 10-day course on Camp Arifjan.

Keith Allen, an infantryman, was one of the 50 first military personnel chosen to pilot this new CSF plan across the Army. Allen continued his education at the University of Pennsylvania after retiring from the military and continues to serve as the primary instructor at the U.S. Army Master Resilience School at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. In 2008, the U.S. Army established the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness under the guidance of Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey. Army psychologists and professionals from the University of Pennsylvania developed a joint initiative from the Positive Psychology Program.

Allen highlighted how critical families and relatives are to the mental health of a Soldier. Families are such a key component of the program, Allen said, that “Comprehensive Soldier Fitness” changed their name to “Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness,” to emphasize the importance of the family's role in a Soldier’s success. Master Resilience Training is also taught at basic combat training.

MRT training incorporates many strategies to help Soldiers to help adapt. As there is greater acceptance for Soldiers reaching out for help, MRT has adapted too.

“The addition to MRT included more performance psychology skills, goal setting, energy management and training to avoid thinking traps,” Allen said. A thinking trap is a thinking pattern that can cause an individual to miss critical information about a situation or individual.

Many Soldiers and leaders found the training beneficial.

“We have had a fair amount of people of senior rank who say they wish that they received the training earlier in their careers because it would have truly enhance their leadership throughout their careers.” Allen said.

He also noted that the Army did a good job educating the physical training aspects of military living and has been now for a decade focusing on what happens in the mind as being just as important.

“I personally see it as a readiness and force protection program,” said Allen.

For additional MRT information, Allen noted that select units are allocated certain slots from their Army Command. If Soldiers are not in a typical unit, they may reach out to their operations section. Military, civilians and family members can also call the United States Army Master Resilience School directly at 803-751-3217.

• Date Taken: 10.24.2019
• Date Posted: 11.16.2019 03:03
• Story ID: 352036
• Location: KW