RESILIENCE AT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR: IDENTIFYING THE MINDFULNESS PRESCRIPTION FOR SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES

After 20 years of combat, continuous deployments have left special operations forces (SOF) searching for ways to improve their holistic health. One evidence-based avenue is mindfulness meditation, shown to decrease stress and improve performance. This research examined how mindfulness techniques affect SOF's ability to downregulate stress from routine, stress-inducing duties. Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of informal mindfulness practice in reducing stress in SOF operators. Researchers assigned participants to 1 of 2 conditions: (a) an Oura ring-based mindfulness meditation five times a week for six weeks and (b) a no-treatment control group that also wore Oura rings but did not conduct mindfulness meditations. At the beginning and end of the study, researchers measured stress utilizing a stress event that induced physiological and cognitive stress. Measurements of stress included blood pressure, subjective surveys, and heart rate variability. The experimental group displayed a 28-second decrease in time taken to return to baseline blood pressure levels than the control group's 15-second decrease. Additionally, subjective surveys suggested Oura rings to increase overall health. Data supports the efficacy of informal mindfulness as a practical, portable, and low-cost manner for SOF to improve holistic health across the force; however, research must continue to narrow the prescription.Major, United States ArmyMajor, United States ArmyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited