"Efforts to exclude the less resilient from serving in the military represent a narrow and flawed understanding of what resilience is and the potential for resilience building to enhance the strength of a military. We must focus on the strengths that every individual possesses rather than the weaknesses. We must focus on team building and leadership and avoid adopting an individualistic and elitist model that harkens back to the medieval mind-set. The field of military resilience holds the promise to fundamentally transform the military in ways that are just now being imagined; to limit this potential by focusing efforts on identifying and excluding those we deem less resilient will certainly retard this potential. The contents of this book rightly focus on achieving these goals by addressing two major areas: understanding the nature and determinants of resilience in military settings, and describing methods and techniques for building resilience. Although it can be argued that resilience is a somewhat nebulous construct that has many definitions, the present volume tackles this problem by attempting to inform an improved definition for the betterment of both military personnel and their families. As advances in military resilience are realized, we must never forget that military service is fundamentally about preparing for and fighting and winning our nation's wars, which is achieved through teamwork and leadership"--Foreword. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved).

In this book, authors investigate the concept of resilience, and evaluate existing programs for developing and maintaining resilience that have been implemented in various branches of our armed forces.

As U.S. service members deploy for extended periods on a repeated basis, their ability to cope with the stress of deployment may be challenged. Many programs are available to encourage and support psychological resilience among service members and families. However, little is known about these programs' effectiveness. This report reviews resilience literature and programs to identify evidence-informed factors for promoting resilience.

Most leaders in the Department of Defense (DoD) agree that family resilience is an important construct, yet DoD does not have a standard definition. The authors of this report review existing definitions of family resilience and offer a candidate definition for DoD use. They also review models of family resilience, identify key family resilience factors, and make recommendations for how DoD can manage family-resilience programs and policies.

The U.S. military has been continuously engaged in foreign conflicts for over two decades. The strains that these deployments, the associated increases in operational tempo, and the general challenges of military life affect not only service members but also the people who depend on them and who support them as they support the nation â€" their families. Family members provide support to service members while they serve or when they have difficulties; family problems can interfere with the ability of service members to deploy or remain in theater; and family members are central influences on whether members continue to serve. In addition, rising family diversity and complexity will likely increase the difficulty of creating military policies, programs and practices that adequately support families in the performance of military duties. Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society examines the challenges and opportunities facing military families and what is known about effective strategies for supporting and protecting military children and families, as well as lessons to be learned from these experiences. This report offers recommendations regarding what is needed to strengthen the support system for military families.

ADP 6-22 describes enduring concepts of leadership through the core competencies and attributes required of leaders of all cohorts and all organizations, regardless of mission or setting. These principles reflect decades of experience and validated scientific knowledge.An ideal Army leader serves as a role model through strong intellect, physical presence, professional competence, and moral character. An Army leader is able and willing to act decisively, within superior leaders' intent and purpose, and in the organization's best interests. Army leaders recognize that organizations, built on mutual trust and confidence, accomplish missions. Every member of the Army, military or civilian, is part of a team and functions in the role of leader and subordinate. Being a good subordinate is part of being an effective leader. Leaders do not just lead subordinates-they also lead other leaders. Leaders are not limited to just those designated by position, rank, or authority.

Military Psychologists' Desk Reference is the authoritative guide in the field of military mental health, covering in a clear and concise manner the depth and breadth of this expanding area at a pivotal and relevant time.