Resilience Training Efficacy by Instructor Specialization: A Program Evaluation with Army Recruits

Abstract

A growing recognition of the importance of resilience skills for psychological health and optimal performance has led to the development of a wide array of resilience trainings. Across the military, resilience training has been implemented by military personnel and training experts. To date, no direct assessment of the comparative efficacy of instructor type on training outcomes has been conducted. To that end, we conducted a program evaluation that examined differences in the efficacy of a two-hour resilience training course for new recruits in Basic Combat Training on resilience-focused knowledge and skills as a function of instructor specialization. Soldiers (n = 401) received training from either a training specialist or a drill sergeant. Findings revealed that soldiers’ knowledge and perceived resilience skills improved regardless of instructor type. Soldiers preferred training specialists to drill sergeants; however, soldiers who received training from drill sergeants had greater improvements in knowledge as compared to soldiers instructed by training specialists. Soldiers with high levels of pre-training resilience who received training from drill sergeants showed the greatest improvements in knowledge. We conclude that drill sergeants, when provided with train-the-trainer preparation by subject matter experts, can efficaciously provide resilience training to new Army recruits during Basic Combat Training.