Directorate of Prevention, Resilience and Readiness

Combined ASL Statement Regarding DoD Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence at MSAs Academic Year 2019-2020

02/25/2021
Statement from Acting Secretary of the Army John E. Whitley and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James C. McConville Regarding the DoD Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence at Military Service Academies for Academic Year 2019-2020: Respect, trust and discipline are the foundation of unit cohesion and readiness. West Point cadets are the standard bearers for the Soldiers they will lead tomorrow; we expect them to demonstrate the character required to serve honorably as caring leaders.

SMA Emphasizes Awareness, Ownership During Resilience Webinar

02/19/2021
The Army’s top enlisted leader, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston, has doubled his efforts to meet with Soldiers as he continues to stress the importance of cohesive teams, he said during a recent Army Resilience Directorate webinar. Grinston recalled his initial feelings of anger and disappointment as he read through the results of the Fort Hood Independent Review, which were released in December. Leaders at all levels need to take responsibility by educating themselves on the Army's standards toward sexual assault/harassment and take action when necessary, Grinston said.

Soldier Credits SHARP Training for Fostering Accountability

02/17/2021
Specialist John Pack, a Signal Support Specialist deployed with 1st Battalion, 137th Aviation Regiment, credits bystander intervention training for helping him to recognize and intervene when a fellow Soldier was on the receiving end of unwanted verbal and physical advances from a superior during pre-mobilization training at Fort Hood. Although he did not know the Soldier personally, he realized that she was uncomfortable and chose to act.

Army to Target Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault in New Command Climate Survey

02/11/2021
The Army will incorporate 10 additional questions about sexual harassment and sexual assault reporting climates into an updated version of the Defense Organizational Climate Survey, or DEOCS 5.0., according to Michelle Zbylut, director of the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. Like a vehicle's check engine light, the DEOCS is intended to identify risk factors that drive an installation’s or unit's command climate, said Jenna Newman, social science advisor with the Army Resilience Directorate.

Maintaining Good Mental Health Through Ongoing Pandemic

02/08/2021
According to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, stressors during a period of social distancing/quarantine can include: frustration and boredom related to the isolation, insufficient information, and fears about becoming infected and/or infecting others. “There are a lot of folks who are fairly fed up, frustrated, fatigued, and bored after a year of physical distancing,” said Lt. Col. Emile Wijnans, the director of psychological health for Regional Health Command Europe. “That’s particularly true for [the] elderly, teens, and parents.” Wijnans says one way to keep from focusing on those changes brought on by COVID is to commit to realistic goals you can control such as daily exercise, amount of sleep, and diet.

Despite Prevalence, CBD Still Illegal for DOD Members

02/04/2021
Since CBD is both unregulated and often contains small amounts of THC, the DOD still considers it to be an “illicit drug,” and its use as unauthorized by service members and government civilians. The CBD market also has been largely unregulated and has no oversight by the FDA, so nobody can say whether ingredient labels are true to actual cannabis levels. As for the number of aches and ailments the oil is said to decrease, there is little scientific evidence to support it. More