Total Force Fitness in Units Part 1: Military Demand-Resource Model

Abstract

The military unit is a critical center of gravity in the military's efforts to enhance resilience and the health of the force. The purpose of this article is to augment the military's Total Force Fitness (TFF) guidance with a framework of TFF in units. The framework is based on a Military Demand-Resource model that highlights the dynamic interactions across demands, resources, and outcomes. A joint team of subject-matter experts identified key variables representing unit fitness demands, resources, and outcomes. The resulting framework informs and supports leaders, support agencies, and enterprise efforts to strengthen TFF in units by (1) identifying TFF unit variables aligned with current evidence and operational practices, (2) standardizing communication about TFF in units across the Department of Defense enterprise in a variety of military organizational contexts, (3) improving current resources including evidence-based actions for leaders, (4) identifying and addressing of gaps, and (5) directing future research for enhancing TFF in units. These goals are intended to inform and enhance Service efforts to develop Service-specific TFF models, as well as provide the conceptual foundation for a follow-on article about TFF metrics for units.

Are Peacekeeping Missions Inevitably Stressful?

“…Regardless of the objective views on stress, it is the individual's subjective interpretation that determines his or her response to the stressor. The military demand-resource model offered by Bates et al (2013) indicates that it is both the stressor itself and the individual's perceived resources to handle the stressor that determine whether the circumstances can be categorised as stressors. It is just as important to try to assess the subjective reactions to potential stressors and the perceived resources as it is to identify objective stressors.…”

Cognitive Readiness and the Challenge of Institutionalizing the “New” Versus “News”

“…In a technology-based military, maximizing the full weight of cognitive-based competencies will require a sustained commitment to institutionalize the advances in training and education. Certainly, there is a growing recognition for the inclusion of some form of cognitive readiness into training and education directives and programs, as evidenced in efforts such as the Defense Science Board’s adaptability study and the directive of former joint chiefs chairman Admiral Michael Mullen for “psychological fitness” (Bates et al, 2010; Grasso & LaPlante, 2011, pp. 75–82; Lynn, 2010).…”

The mindful shield: The effects of mindfulness training on resilience and leadership in military leaders

“…Leaders are known to affect the workplace, with healthy and resilient leaders demonstrating higher effectiveness and influencing robust organizational communities. Stressed leaders, and those lacking healthy leadership qualities, can manifest poor outcomes such as anxiety, depression, burnout, ineffective coping behaviors, lower job satisfaction, and reduced productivity [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] and create disorder in the workplace, often without realizing their maladaptive leadership behaviors are the cause of negative outcomes. 1,[8][9][10] Military leaders are no exception to these leadership effects with those who demonstrate personal resilience contributing to a healthier work environment.…”

“…18 Resilient leaders positively influence subordinate and workplace resiliency, buffer between a stressful workplace and subordinates, and potentially decrease maladaptive behaviors that lead to absenteeism, depression, anxiety, burnout, and decreased performance. 7,10,19 Resilience predicts future leadership performance, 20,21 can improve leader adaptability, 19 is important to workplace health, 7,10 and can be increased with training. 15,22 Therefore, targeting leaders with resilience training can lead to improved personal outcomes and greater transformational leadership behaviors.…”