WASHINGTON (Jan. 25, 2013) -- "It used to be that when I took the Global Assessment Tool all I got was the entire list of training videos that Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness makes available. I didn't know which ones I should take and felt kind of lost," said Erica Gantt, wife of Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Gantt. "Now when I take it, I get three videos recommended to me based on my scores, so it makes more sense to me," she added.
That's because Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness, known as CSF2, now provides a new feature for family members and Army civilians. Starting this month, they receive recommended training modules based on their score when they take the Global Assessment Tool, or GAT.
These modules, also known as Comprehensive Resilience Modules, or CRMs, provide training in the areas of social, emotional, spiritual and family fitness, and provide ways to enhance one's resilience skills. Family members and Army civilians have been able to take the GAT for the past few years, but they did not receive customized suggestions for these skill-building training videos until now.
The GAT and viewing follow-on CRMs are encouraged, but not mandatory for family members and Army civilians. However, every Soldier in the U.S. Army is required to take the GAT at least once a year so that they can track their personal resilience skills development over the course of their career. They also automatically receive follow-on training modules suggested to them based on their individual assessment scores.
CSF2 currently has 42 CRMs available to Soldiers, family members and Army civilians on its website, and plans to add another 21 by late summer. The training modules provide practical exercises and activities that improve one's resilience when coping with the stresses of Army life. They are typically around 15 minutes, but that varies with the user, as many are scenario-based and self-paced.
Topics range from "blended families" and "building your teen's resilience," to "effective communication" and "goal setting."
"I especially liked Building Your Teen's Resilience," Gantt said. "I have an 18 year old and an almost 13 year old, and it was so realistic that it almost made me cry. It gave me a real-life scenario, the parents break the news of a permanent change of station to their 15-year-old daughter who becomes very upset and won't come out of her bedroom. It gives two choices; keep talking to her about how you can help make things easier for her or avoid the topic but suggest something to get her out of her room. The daughter grows increasingly upset and it proceeds to a set of choices on who you should go to for advice. The scenarios and choices go on, ending with the day of the move. It was really good; I'd recommend it to anybody with teenagers."
For more information and to view any of these CRMs, go to: http://csf2.army.mil/takethegat.html
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