More resilience, more Green Berets: A quantitative analysis of the effects of Functional Imagery Training during British Army Commando training

Authors

Emma S. J. Yates

Document Type

Psychology Article

Abstract

This study investigates the low completion rates of the British Army commando training course in 2018-2019, recorded at 20%, following concerns raised by course Directing Staff. It examines the relationship between resilience and performance in military contexts and evaluates whether resilience-building interventions can improve completion rates. To establish how completion rates could be improved, sixty-two candidates from three commando training cohorts were recruited and assigned to either a Functional Imagery Training (FIT) intervention or a control group. Interventions were delivered in week one of training with a booster in week five. FIT, a goal-centred imagery intervention, has previously improved resilience-related characteristics such as grit but has not been delivered in a military context. In this research, resilience was measured pre- and post-intervention using the Brief Resilience Scale and Directing Staff reported candidates who completed the training. Resilience and completion increased in participants who received FIT; however, when compared with the control, only resilience increased significantly (t(36) = -2.68, p = .01, 95% CI [-0.76, -0.11]; t(11) = -3.62, p = .004, 95% CI [-1.19, -0.29]). The strengths, limitations and implications of this research are discussed with reference to how the findings enhance the literature and support the delivery of FIT in a military context and suggestions for future research outlined.

Publication Date

2024-07-29

Publication Title

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Volume

17

Issue

1

First Page

52

Last Page

72

ISSN

1754-2383

Deposit Date

2024-07-29

Embargo Period

2024-07-29

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Yates, Emma S. J. (2024) "More resilience, more Green Berets: A quantitative analysis of the effects of Functional Imagery Training during British Army Commando training," The Plymouth Student Scientist: Vol. 17: Iss. 1, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70156/1754-2383.1486
Available at: https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/tpss/vol17/iss1/2