An evaluation of the implementation and perceived utility of the Airman Resilience Training Program
By: Gabriella C. Gonzalez, Reema Singh, Terry L. Schell, Robin M. Weinick
Contributors: Singh, Reema; Schell, Terry L., 1967-; Weinick, Robin M.; Rand Corporation; National Defense Research Institute (U.S.)
Series: Research report; Research report (Rand Corporation)
Publisher: RAND Corporation
Published: 2014
Place of publication: Santa Monica, CA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 83
ISBN-13: 9780833086280
Subjects: Resilience (Personality trait); Airmen; Health and hygiene; Study and teaching; United States. Air Force; Military education; Evaluation; Training of; United States
Description: "Since 2001, the U.S. military has been functioning at an operational tempo that is historically high for the all-volunteer force in which service members are deploying for extended periods on a repeated basis. Even with the drawdown of troops from Iraq in 2011, some service members are returning from deployment experiencing difficulties handling stress, mental health problems, or deficits caused by a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In response to these challenges, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has implemented numerous programs to support service members and their families in these areas. In 2009, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs asked the RAND National Defense Research Institute to develop a comprehensive catalog of existing programs sponsored or funded by DoD to support psychological health and care for TBI, to create tools to support ongoing assessment and evaluation of the DoD portfolio of programs, and to conduct evaluations of a subset of these programs. This report describes RAND's assessment of an Air Force program, Airman Resilience Training (ART), a psychoeducational program designed to improve airmen's reactions to stress during and after deployment and to increase the use of mental health services when needed. ART was initiated in November 2010, replacing a previous program named Landing Gear, which had been in place since April 2008. The RAND study took place from August 2011 through November 2011. This report will be of particular interest to officials within the Air Force who are responsible for the psychological health and well-being of airmen, as well as to others within the military who are developing programs for service members to help them cope with stress while in combat situations and after returning from deployment."--"Abstract" on web page.
Notes: "National Defense Research Institute

"Prepared for the Office of the Secretary of Defense."--Title page.

"RR-655-OSD"--Page 4 of cover.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 81-83).

"The research was conducted within the RAND National Defense Research Institute ... under Contract W74V8H-06-C-0002."--Verso of title page.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Methodological approach; title: Findings from the site visits: delivery of ART; title: Findings from the site visits: perceived usefulness of ART's content; title: Key findings and suggestions for improvement; title: Appendix A: Airmen resilience training PowerPoint slides and manual; title: Appendix B: Structured observation tool; title: Appendix C: Protocol for discussion sessions with deploying and reintegrating airmen; title: Appendix D: Protocol for interviews with chief mental health officers and their staff.