Todays COSC course included about the in theatre research that their COSC teams can carry out on the request of the command that can produce some very useful feedback for commanders and be a great way for MH providers to link in to the command. It also included presentations from Chaplains on their role (and the role of the Chaplain’s assistant) in theatre. This is very similar to the UK and they have close links to the MH providers.
I was also fortunate enough to visit the Army Centre for Enhanced Performance. This is a team that was originally started in West Point academy training of high performance athletes at the Army college in sports psychology. Its no expanded into units across the Army providing Positive Psychology training to service personnel including recruits and soldiers in the Warrior Transition Programme. I managed to get a workbook that included some of their positive psychology exercises and have there website details as well. Their works includes goal setting, imagery, energy (stress) management techniques like bio feedback, amongst others. It was really interesting how many of the techniques I’ve used with patients in the past can be utilised in a non-clinical setting to enhance performance.
