JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
The Ready and Resilient (R2) Performance Center conducted a Master Resilience Training Plus course for Soldiers and civilian employees at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Nov. 16 - 20, 2020.
MRT+ consists of both MRT Recertification and Deployment Cycle Resilience Training (DCRT).
“MRT re-certification not only refreshes master resilience trainers (8R) on the MRT skills, but involves an in-depth applied workshop wherein 8Rs learn and develop [operationally oriented] strategies for training the 14 MRT skills,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Segun Ayodele, Army Health Promotion Program Ready and Resilient Performance Center program manager. “Students also exit the course with a squad level Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) preparation plan that ties in resilience training opportunities. DCRT is an additional credential that 8Rs can earn, and qualifies them to deliver resilience skills in the context of pre- and post-deployment for Soldiers and family members.”
Created for both large and small group training, the dynamic and interactive course addresses 14 MRT skills under six resiliency competencies:
- Goal Setting: Self-Regulation
- Hunt the Good Stuff: Optimism
- Identify your thoughts about an Activating Event and the Consequences of those thoughts: Self-Awareness
- Energy Management: Self-Regulation
- Avoid Thinking Traps: Mental Agility
- Detect Icebergs: Self-Awareness
- Problem Solving: Mental Agility
- Put it in perspective: Optimism
- Mental Games: Self-Regulation
- Real time Resilience: Mental Agility
- Identify Character Strengths in Self and Others: Character Strengths
- Character Strengths: Challenges and Leadership: Character Strengths
- Assertive Communication: Connection
- Effective Praise and Active Constructive Reporting: Connection
According to Ayodele, MRT+ is more of a workshop than a formal Program of Instruction. It does not involve slide presentations and basic pen-to-paper practical exercises. Rather, students gain skills in the direct application of MRT skills through experiential learning strategies and hands-on activities. Participants are also challenged to create a unit or squad level resilience training plan outside of the classroom.
“[When we ask for] Soldiers who are fit, trained and disciplined Soldiers for life with the understanding that we are part of a profession of arms, it sounds like we’re really trying to hammer home that individual lethality as a focus,” said Staff Sgt. Erik Rostamo, Center for Initial Military Training 2020 U.S. Army Drill Sergeant of the Year. “But this results in an increase of collective task proficiency that builds stronger cohesive and motivated teams.”
Rostamo, who served as the guest speaker at the end of course, emphasized the importance of R2, MRT and MRT+, and the importance of the mental aspect moving forward as they hone on Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F). H2F is how the Army is going to get after the fit part of the noncommissioned officer strategy.
“H2F is an investment into a Soldier’s total fitness concept, tailored to the individual needs through the application of physical, mental, nutritional, sleep and spiritual readiness,” Rostamo said. “We need R2, MRT and MRT+ leaders engaged with our Soldiers throughout the day to increase mental toughness and cognitive ability as it relates to the mental domain of H2F.”
Ayodele stated that a Soldier's classroom can be anywhere and training opportunities exist at any time. The 8Rs don't need to find white space in the calendar to schedule MRT training, but rather, can identify MRT training opportunities within already existing training exercises.
For more information on the course, call the Ready and Resilient Performance Center at (757) 501-7267.