Relevance of Hardiness Assessment and Training to the Military Context

Hardiness is a pattern of attitudes and skills that provides the courage and strategies to turn stressful circumstances from potential disasters into growth opportunities in-stead. As such, hardiness is particularly relevant to inherently stressful settings, such as military service. First, theory and research on hardiness assessment and training is summarized in a manner than highlights relevance to stressful situations. Discussed then are likely applications of hardiness assessment and training in particular mili-tary contexts, such as selection and preparation for Special Forces or other extreme assignments, and treatment of combat-related physical and mental disabilities. In the past 25 years, hardiness has emerged as a set of personal characteristics that helps people turn stressful circumstances from potential disasters into opportuni-ties for enhanced performance, leadership, conduct, health, and psychological growth (cf. Maddi, 1987, 2002; Maddi & Kobasa, 1984). As such, hardiness would seem especially valuable in military contexts, because of their characteristic stress-fulness. After summarizing the theory and research on hardiness, this article will address the particular relevance of what has been learned in selection, training, an