Army studies consistently identify key risk factors among enlisted soldiers, especially junior ranks with fewer deployments and recent mental health treatment. Notably, lack of deployment has emerged as a persistent risk factor, highlighting the role of pre-enlistment trauma. Veterans and active-duty personnel report significantly higher adverse Childhood Experiences Scores than civilians, with elevated rates of abuse, household dysfunction, and parental separation.

 

To address this, retired Army Captain Dr. John M. Arroyo Jr., a Fort Hood shooting survivor and peer specialist, developed a faith-based 8 Self-Care Steps targeted resilience training and supporting interactive curriculum.

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This pilot evaluates the targeted training's feasibility and impact on resilience at a high-risk installation as a compliment to the Army’s H2F Spiritual Readiness program.