1. PDHRA Battlemind Training
Continuing the Transition Home Audience: Service Members and leaders Training Timeframe: 3-6 months after deployment as part of the Post Deployment Health Re-Assessment (PDHRA) (Reconstitution phase of Deployment Cycle Support) Version2.0 9MAR06.ForVideo
This training was developed by Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. This module is designed to be administered at 3-6 months post-deployment as part of the PDHRA. Note that there is also a phase I training designed to be given immediately at redeployment. This training is also designed to build on the previous training, but the present training can be given as stand alone training. Please send comments, suggestions, or questions to POC: LTC Carl A. Castro ( ) Version2.0 9MAR2006.ForVideo
This version of the powerpoint show is designed to be given with the Battlemind Video Scenarios incorporated into the training. This version uses the video scenario ‘up front’ to help introduce concepts and to promote discussion of them. Then follow slides that further clarify concepts that the scenario has introduced. This version closely follows the 35 minute video on Battlemind training.
[NOTE TO TRAINER: This version of Battlemind follows the same ‘flow and logic’ as the PDHRA Battlemind (II) Training video. Trainers may want to also review the version of Battlemind II training that is not used with video scenarios, as it has more extensive speaker notes which trainers may find provides additional perspective. The speaker notes provide points to be covered for each slide, but should NOT be read verbatim to the Soldiers. Use the questions contained in the speaker notes to involve Soldiers in the training and to encourage them to share their own experiences. Ideally the training should be given in platoon size units, in order to facilitate discussion.]
During this brief we are going to talk about Battlemind, and how it relates to your continuing transition home. Some of you may have received similar training when you returned home. The training today builds on that training, but this training is extremely useful even if you didn’t receive the previous training.
Before I begin, let me ask you questions:
How many of you have deployed to Iraq? Afghanistan?
How many of you have deployed more than once?
How many of you are married? Have children?
Where are my NCOs? Where are the team leaders? Where are the squad leaders?
I want to begin by saying that these skills and the findings that I am going to present are based on 1000’s of surveys and interviews from Soldiers who have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. This is what they have told us. If you have had different experiences, please share them with each other and the group.
*See Notes Pages for Briefing Instructions

2. Battlemind
Battlemind is the Soldier’s inner strength to face fear and adversity in combat with courage.
Key components include:
Self-confidence
Mental toughness
Battlemind Training builds on these strengths.
Battlemind is the Soldier’s inner strength to face fear and adversity in combat, with courage. Battlemind training focuses on building on your proven strengths.
Battlemind consists of two critical components: Self confidence and mental toughness.
Battlemind training helps you maximize the Battlemind skills you demonstrated in combat so that you can use effectively them as you continue your transition home.
[Note to Briefer: The term “Battlemind” was coined by General Crosbie Saint, when he was Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe, to train his battalion commanders how to develop the warrior ethos in Soldiers that they would be leading into combat.]

3. Combat Skills You All Possess
Battlemind skills helped you survive in combat…
but may cause problems when you get home…
if you haven’t adapted them
Buddies (cohesion) vs. Withdrawal
Accountability vs. Controlling
Targeted Aggression vs. Inappropriate Aggression
Tactical Awareness vs. Hypervigilance
Lethally Armed vs. “Locked and Loaded” at Home
Emotional Control vs. Anger/Detachment
Mission Operational Security (OPSEC) vs. Secretiveness
Individual Responsibility vs. Guilt
Non-Defensive (combat) Driving vs. Aggressive Driving
Discipline and Ordering vs. Conflict
We have taken the word Battlemind, and have used each letter to denote a strength…a valuable combat skill. But you can’t act the same way back home as you did in combat…if you do, it will cause problems. That makes sense, right? You have to adjust…Battlemind skills have to be adapted to life back home. So…to the right of each combat skill is a problem that this same skill can cause if it is not adapted when you get back home. There is also a BATTLEMIND check for each skill. The BATTLEMIND check is to help you to identify when you or a buddy might need help in adapting the skill to life back home.
Battlemind Checks allow Soldiers and their Buddies to identify when help is needed.

4. Two Buddies To play video scenario, click the link to play the video.
Watch the first scenario, then we’ll talk about it…
[Then after it has played]… Let’s review some of the key things that happened here…