Precision Resilience: Adapting Resiliency Programs to Specialized Populations Within the U.S. Military

Military resilience programs have grown considerably over the past 2 decades since the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program was introduced. Although there is considerable positive evidence that supports the promotion of resilience in this population, there have also been concerns about dissemination, implementation, use of compulsory training and impact on the mission and the servicemember. Parallel civilian wellbeing and resilience programs have popularized psychological concepts such as grit and growth mindset with a patchwork of both positive and lackluster findings. More recently there has been recognition that "one-size-fits-all" resilience programs may be less effective and impactful than adaptations personalized for a specific subpopulation or community. The current study evaluated a tailored adaptation of resiliency programming within a military medical population.

The study utilized the Kirkpatrick model for program evaluation, specifically focusing on level one (reaction). Participants were 156 first-year medical students across 5 cohorts who completed resilience training that consisted of 4 hour-long modules. Data were collected via optional post-training surveys measuring perceived self-efficacy, perceived mental resilience, and willingness to recommend the training to peers. Qualitative themes were also extracted from open-ended responses regarding the students' "biggest takeaways."

The results indicated a consistently positive response to the training across all cohorts, with no significant differences in ratings for perceived self-efficacy or mental resilience. Although most students recommended the program, the cohort that underwent training virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic showed a significantly lower willingness to recommend the program to peers (χ2 = 26.41, P < .001) compared to in-person cohorts. Qualitative analysis revealed that students highly appreciated the acquisition of tangible skills (e.g., cognitive reframing, relaxation strategies), clarifying their values, and connecting with their peers.

The "Grit and Growth" program provides a promising blueprint for adapting military resiliency training to specialized high-stress subpopulations. By successfully integrating individual psychological skills (grit and growth mindset) with systemic awareness and traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy models, the curriculum maintained high student satisfaction over 5 years. Although limited by self-reported data, these findings offer a roadmap for future research to evaluate higher Kirkpatrick levels, such as behavioral changes and long-term academic or professional outcomes.