Five-session group skills training to build mental toughness for active-duty Soldiers
SAFEGUARD Life Force
NA · Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences · NCT07050238
This study will test whether a five-session group program called Life Force can strengthen mental toughness and reduce harmful or high-risk behaviors in active-duty Soldiers at Fort Hood.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 2400 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (fed) |
| Locations | 1 site (Killeen, Texas) |
| Trial ID | NCT07050238 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Life Force is a five-session, group-based skills training tailored for active-duty Soldiers that teaches building support, persistence, embracing setbacks, accountability, and emotion regulation. Participants complete a 15–20 minute baseline survey and follow-up surveys at 6 and 12 months, and an AI machine-learning algorithm built from military records helps identify those most likely to benefit before random assignment. Eligible participants are randomly assigned to the Life Force training or a control group, with trained facilitators delivering in-person sessions at Fort Hood. Outcomes focus on changes in mental toughness and rates of harmful or high-risk behaviors over one year.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Active-duty regular Army Soldiers aged 18 or older who are stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, and who do not plan to leave service, PCS, or deploy within 12 months are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Soldiers planning to leave active duty, with a scheduled PCS or deployment within 12 months, or who cannot attend in-person sessions at Fort Hood are unlikely to participate or benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help Soldiers perform better under pressure, recover from setbacks more quickly, and reduce risky or harmful behaviors.
How similar studies have performed: Group-based resilience and skills trainings have shown mixed but generally promising effects in military and civilian samples, while using an AI algorithm to target likely responders is a relatively novel approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Active duty Soldiers in the regular Army * Age 18 or older * Stationed at Fort Hood, TX Exclusion Criteria: * Soldiers with self-identified plans of leaving active duty service within 12 months of the baseline assessment * Soldiers having a planned permanent change in station (PCS) or deployment within 12 months of the baseline assessment
Where this trial is running
Killeen, Texas
- Fort Hood — Killeen, Texas, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Life Force Study
- Email: life-force-study-ggg@usuhs.edu
- Phone: 301-295-3485
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Resilience, Mental Toughness, Active-duty Military, Risk Reduction, Prevention