Training for Readiness and Resilience

Conventionally trained Soldiers lack many of the skills that are necessary to reduce avoidable casualties in combat. The present study used Stress Exposure Training and training on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) to examine how training can reduce the stress and arousal that Soldiers experience during live training exercises. We found that training reduced stress, as seen through both subjective and objective measures, in two live exercises when compared to squads of Soldiers who did not receive training. We therefore suggest that TC3 training can reduce stress experienced in combat which can reduce casualties and improve mission success. These findings have been used to inform a second round of resilience training research to help Soldiers recognize and reduce their responses to acute stressors.