Page 112 - JSOM Fall 2020

the SOF operators and MSM. The SSFS subscales are not de- higher power, which—when present—will often function as a
signed to support clinical interventions but rather to assess profound source of strength and orientation. The PCHP sub-
baselines within three dimensions of spirituality and then to scale represents the “vertical” aspect of spirituality contained
continue to assess changes and trends within these dimensions within the CJCSI definition and will therefore enfranchise a
over time. Each subscale measures underlying traits that may theistic SOF Operator/MSM. Chaplains specialize in provid-
affect many different kinds of behavior, decisions, and atti- ing and facilitating religious ministry and therefore are crucial
tudes, and which may be susceptible to change during times stakeholders in supporting and strengthening this “vertical”
of adversity and growth. In this light, the SSFS is capable of dimension of spirituality. If this dimension of spirituality func-
producing unique profiles that can provide reliable and foun- tions as a profound source of strength and orientation, then
dational information for a variety of SF/SP-related tasks. a degrading of this relationship might be expected to have an
equally profound disorienting effect for the SOF operator/
MSM. The S&P study team suggests that chaplains should not
Program Development
dismiss or minimize the importance of “vertical” spirituality
The three SSFS subscales, PMPV – Pursuing Meaning, Pur- in discussing SF/SP with other POTFF/TFF stakeholders but
pose and Values; SSGG – Service and Sacrifice for the Greater should rather develop balanced SF/SP programs that attend to
Good; and PCHP – Personal Connection with a Higher Power, spirituality in all three dimensions—that is, PMPV, SSGG, and
have an important potential in the development of SF/SP pro- PCHP—as much as possible.
gramming throughout the military. The S&P study team main-
tains that the PMPV, SSGG, and PCHP subscales each relate to Program Evaluation and
a distinct dimension of spirituality that should be represented
in any SF/SP program, which is consistent with the CJCSI Tailored Coaching for Individuals
definition or seeks proper integration within POTFF and TFF The SSFS product itself may prove useful as a continuous pro-
programs. Any SF/SP program that does not include the di- gram tailoring and evaluation tool. The S&P study team en-
mension of spirituality related to the three subscales would courages program users to administer the PMPV and SSGG
risk underemphasizing or neglecting the importance of specific subscales before the PCHP, to avoid a priming effect for the
SF/SP attributes. PMPV and SSGG subscales related to constructs of God or
a higher power. Each subscale is most useful when scored by
The PMPV subscale evaluates core beliefs and values of the coding response options simply (i.e., “0” to “4”) and then tak-
SOF operator or MSM, which are important for meaning- ing the mean of its items. Putting the three subscale scores to-
attribution as they experience and respond to life’s events. gether results in the creation of personalized SF/SP profiles for
This subscale represents horizontal and “mixed” dimensions individuals, and a collection of personalized profiles can aid
of spirituality, which include the broader search for higher in creating group or community profiles. Chaplains and other
(even ultimate) purpose in life and the answering of life’s “big SF/SP stakeholders can use such group or community profiles
questions.” As the phenomenon of moral injury among MSM to inform tailoring processes for local SF/SP programming. In
has gained a higher profile in society, many chaplains and a certain local community, the group profile might indicate a
other SF/SP stakeholders have launched programs designed to low interest and commitment to “vertical” spirituality, and yet
enhance moral and spiritual meaning-attribution before and a high commitment to “horizontal” spirituality, related to the
during military operations. Managers of such programs can SSGG subscale. In an adjacent community, the profile might
8
incorporate the PMPV subscale to demonstrate the program’s indicate a relatively high interest and commitment to “verti-
effectiveness. cal” spirituality. For each community, the SF/SP stakeholders
will have the opportunity to develop a program that attends to
The SSGG subscale would be used to evaluate the impor- all three dimensions of spirituality but weights and distributes
tance of the MSM relationship to others and to humanity as attention in sensitivity to the group profile.
a spiritual preoccupation – a preoccupation that undergirds
selfless service, humanitarian impulses, and the willingness to Once an SF/SP program has been tailored to a particular group
put one’s own comfort behind the cause of aiding others. The profile, each of the program’s activities can also be evaluated
SSGG subscale represents the “horizontal” aspect of spiritu- according to the same underlying constructs. Although com-
ality contained within the CJCSI definition; it can be used for pleting successive or “before-and-after” scales to account for
SF/SP programs and appeal to the MSM who is agnostic or program-related growth in SF/SP is possible, this is not ideal
does not have a strong sense of “vertical” spirituality but has given the limited room for movement along a 5-point Likert-
a strong commitment to selfless service. Chaplains and other type scale design, such as the one used for the SSFS. Periodic
SF/SP stakeholders managing programs designed to further (i.e., annual or biennial) or event-driven (i.e., in the months
develop and strengthen altruistic commitments will almost following a significant adverse event) readministration of the
certainly want to use the SSGG as a tool to enfranchise the SSFS tool might be sufficient to yield useful information, but
SOF Operators/MSM who do not hold strong commitments program evaluation requires more nuance. Instead, chaplains
to “vertical” spirituality. Such SF/SP programs will impact not or SF/SP stakeholders may choose to use a coaching tool, such
only combat operations but also humanitarian operations, as the sample depicted in Table 1, which is designed to capture
community service opportunities, coalition-building oper- movement within the three dimensions of spirituality, along
ations, and more. Much closer to home, such commitments with a narrative context for the movement according to the
impact marriage and family relationships, unit cohesion, and self-understanding of the SOF Operator/MSM. This sample
trust between leaders at every level of the military hierarchy. tool, which the S&P study team has labeled the Spirituality &
Performance Coaching Grid (SPCG), may be used in tandem
The PHCP subscale is a tool for evaluating the importance with the SSFS to either (1) ascertain the impact of SF/SP pro-
of the SOF operator/MSM relationship or commitment to a gramming on a target group; (2) locate individual responses

110 | JSOM Volume 20, Edition 3 / Fall 2020