Page 48 - JSOM Winter 2021

Stress Inoculation Training (SIT-NORCAL), Part 2

A Pilot Study Among Explosive Ordnance Disposal Special Warfare Enablers

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Sarah E. Jackson *; Matthew Baity ; Patrick R. Thomas ; Mark Walker ; Madeleine Goodkind ;
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Diane Swick ; Douglas Barba ; Daniel Jacobson ; Eric Byrd ; A. Sarah Ivey 10
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ABSTRACT
Background: Despite being a well-supported strategy, Stress hazards for human performance exist, and for which manage-
Inoculation Training (SIT) has not been fully incorporated in ment of extreme stress is mission critical. 1
the advancement of human performance among most military
personnel. The RAND Study recommendations for maximiz-
ing SIT’s potential within high-risk/ high-intensity occupational Stress Inoculation Training
groups were used in designing the Core Training protocol tar- Background
geting psychological performance, SIT-NORCAL (Part 1). Pur- SIT has demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing performance
pose: The current project (Part 2) sought to further develop the on a wide array of human performance targets, among mul-
protocol as a health and human performance hybrid through tiple high-intensity/high-risk career fields within the US mili-
quality improvement analysis of the content, process, and mea- tary. The performance targets in prior studies have included
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surement elements for use in the human performance context. increasing stress tolerance during high-intensity battlefield op-
Methods: Evidence-based/evidence-driven methodologies were erations simulated virtually, managing physiological arousal
used in collaborative design tailored to the unique needs of and complex decision-making under stressful conditions, ap-
special warfare enablers specializing in Explosive Ordnance plying novel, complex skills while rendering first response,
Disposal (n = 17). The resultant three-phase training was con- and executing real-world aviation tasks. 2–10 More crucially,
ducted with a novice group (n = 10) using standardized mea- SIT has demonstrated a high level of efficacy and cultural ac-
surements of collaboration, human performance, and adaptive ceptability in military populations. 1,11 As a result, the US Navy,
capabilities on identified training targets. Results: Process US Army, and, more recently, the US Air Force, have all de-
elements demonstrated high feasibility, resulting in high col- veloped integrated frameworks incorporating formalized SIT
laboration and trainee satisfaction. Significant improvements or Stress Exposure Training curricula for specialized occupa-
in psychological performance targets were observed pre- to tional designations – Navy Seals, Special Forces, and Special
post-training, and during an Adaptive Environmental Sim- Operations/Special Tactics, respectively. 1,12
ulation designed by unit members. Two weeks post-training,
unit members (n = 5) responded to an actual crash of an F-16 Nature of the Problem/Significance (Knowledge Gap)
aircraft; measurements indicated maintenance of skill set from The RAND study, Enhancing Performance Under Stress:
training to real-world events. Conclusion: Deployment of the Stress Inoculation Training for Battlefield Airmen, identified
elements in the SIT-NORCAL protocol demonstrated early fea- that efforts to formally incorporate the recommended core
sibility and positive training impact on occupationally relevant cognitive and behavioral skillset in SIT have been sporadic
skills that carried over into real-world events. (see Part 1). Training instructors were found to be offering
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some of these training techniques, but most were “ad-hoc”
Keywords: stress inoculation; training; performance training without formal pre- and post-evaluation of the effectiveness
in improving performance skill sets. Most were also without
the time-intensive repetition and training required for mastery
and adaptation to unique mission-relevant skills in real sce-
Introduction
narios. Further, training targets were not typically anchored
Battlefield airmen represent a unique subset of United States in a specific core occupational task, and measurement systems
Air Force (USAF) personnel traditionally exposed to repeated were not in place to evaluate training effectiveness on produc-
and extreme stressors under intense occupational conditions. ing improvements in that core occupational task. Additionally,
The USAF continually strives to ensure airmen receive the most it was found that psychologists supporting battlefield airmen
intensive and effective training, to enhance both battlefield le- have only been able to offer limited support for human perfor-
thality and post combat resilience. This is especially promi- mance optimization surrounding stress exposure. The RAND
nent within occupations in which these natural occupational study also highlighted challenges with incorporating SIT more
*Correspondence to sarah.jackson@natuniv.edu
1 Dr Sarah E. Jackson and A. Sarah Ivey are affiliated with the PTSD Clinical Team at the Veterans Affairs Northern California Healthcare
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System, Mather, CA. Matthew Baity is affiliated with the California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, Sacra-
mento, CA. Patrick R. Thomas is affiliated with the Department of Psychology, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia. Mark Walker is affil-
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iated with the US Air Force. Madeleine Goodkind is affiliated with the PTSD Clinical Team, New Mexico VA Healthcare System, Albuquerque,
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NM. Diane Swick is affiliated with the Research Service, VA Northern California Healthcare System, Mather, CA. Douglas Barba is affiliated
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with The Center for Performance Psychology, at National University, San Diego, CA. Daniel Jacobson is affiliated with Clinical Psychology,
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United States Air Force. Eric Byrd is affiliated with the Research Service, VA Northern California Healthcare System, Mather, CA.
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