This project will evaluate the effectiveness of Level Up: Boost Your Life Skills ("Level Up"), a strengths based, military-specific life skills training program. The goal is to determine whether Level Up can decrease suicidal-related behaviors (SRBs) and other harmful behaviors, improve mental health, enhance job performance, and reduce early military separation. The Level Up program components will be made available to participants through an online platform or mobile app that can be downloaded onto their personal mobile devices. These training materials will help Soldiers learn and practice skills. The Level Up program will also involve personalized messages from a Level Up trainer and virtual booster sessions. Soldiers arriving at their first duty location will be randomized to receive either Level Up or a single session Army bystander intervention program. Participants will complete baseline and follow up surveys 1, 3, and 6 months post-baseline.
Active duty Soldiers arriving at a military installation located in the South Central U.S. for their first duty location who are attending reception center activities
Soldiers who are not available to attend the in-person training
Soldiers who are under the age of 18 years old
Soldiers who do not have a smart phone that supports installation of the mobile app
Parallel
Level Up
BehavioralThe Level Up program components include: * A 90-minute live group session during Soldiers' in-processing week at their first duty station * A mobile app/online platform/workbook with brief, interactive self-guided exercises in core skill areas (e.g., managing stress, tactical thinking, healthy relationships) * Personalized coaching via messages from trained Level Up staff during the first month of app use * Virtual booster sessions over one year, focused on practical domains like finances, leadership, promotion tips, and personal relationships
ENGAGE
BehavioralENGAGE training is a single 90-minute workshop aimed at developing leadership skills and confidence in handling professional and personal confrontations.
The occurrence of any harmful behavior
The occurrence of any harmful behavior, either self-reported in follow up surveys or administratively reported
The occurrence of any suicide-related behavior
The occurrence of any suicide-related behavior, either self-reported in follow up surveys or administratively reported
The occurrence of any premature separations from service
Poor performance as indicated either by written reprimands, designations in the NCOER, a corrective action plan, remedial training, flagging actions, demotion, Article 15, or barred reenlistment
Personal deployment readiness
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Land Combat Survey; Scale ranges from 4-20; Higher scores indicate higher perceived readiness
Emotionality
Emotion Reactivity Scale (ERS) ; Scale ranges from0-4; Higher scores indicate higher of each maladaptive trait
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Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Lead sponsor
Defense Health Agency
Collaborator
Harvard University
Collaborator
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
Collaborator
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Collaborator
Massachusetts General Hospital
Collaborator
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)
Collaborator
University of Michigan
Collaborator
