The Resilient Warrior – MILT 275

Course Description

This course will examine in depth the reality of tribulation and trauma in the lives of military warriors (as well as “warriors” in other marketplaces of life), key definitions and factors related to resilience, and the Resilience Life Cycle which addresses the Before, During, After, and Learn & Adapt (feedback) phases of personal resilience and Comprehensive Personal Fitness.

Rationale

In moments of introspection, uncertainty, or crisis, many have asked themselves “How high do I bounce?” Or, looking into an uncertain future, anticipating the hard and concrete realities of overwhelming life situations, they may question, “How high will I bounce?” During days of a crippled economy, persistent terror threats, terrifying natural disasters, wars and rumors of wars, it is natural to ask such questions.

Perhaps the arena where the need for “bounce” (referring to resilience) is most notable is the military. Our nation’s warriors well understand the challenges of bouncing back after repeated deployments, physical or mental wounds, or betrayal on the home front. As role models for warriors in every other marketplace and life endeavor, our nation’s military men and women are inspiring and instructive as they meet the challenges of bouncing back. The journey is not easy. Military institutions (including supporting civilian contract agencies) are wrestling mightily with tragically high rates of suicide, post-traumatic stress, and mental and behavioral health issues, as well as what some would term “an unraveling of military families.” In particular, the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are devoting significant resources and leadership focus towards programs and protocols that mitigate these alarming trends and promote resilience. They are making progress, but the challenges remain daunting.

This course is intended to complement these ongoing efforts to help veterans, military personnel, their families, and the general population develop resilience and bounce back from trauma without getting stuck, and even higher than before. It also provides foundational work for those seeking to help others beset by the traumas of war, as well as the tribulations of daily living.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (5)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is expected to create a thread on the topic assigned and reply to at least 2 classmates for Discussions 1–5. Threads must be at least 350 words and address the topic in a clear and concise fashion, using outside sources (properly cited quotations or paraphrases from Scripture, course textbooks, other books, journal articles, and/or the lecture material) as needed to support one’s point. Replies must be at least 200 words. Also, the student is required to reply to the comments to his or her own thread as needed to foster a healthy online learning atmosphere. (Relates to Learning Outcomes A, B, D, E, and F)

Research Paper Assignment

The student will build a 4–6-page research paper in current APA format. This paper must include a Title Page and References page, which are not included in the page count. Over the duration of the course, the student will build and submit his or her paper in 3 parts. These parts include Research Paper: Title page and References Page Assignment, Research Paper: Outline Assignment, and the Research Paper: Final Submission Assignment (SLO: C, E and F)

Research Paper: Title Page and References Page Assignment

The student will compose the Title Page for the Research Paper and submit it with the References page. The student will compile a list of at least 5 outside resources, not including the required textbooks or the Bible. Outside resources must be current (within the last 10 years) and must be cited in current APA format. The student will have access to interactive tutorial exercises to help master current APA title and reference page formatting.

Research Paper: Outline Assignment

The student will submit a content Outline. The Outline is expected to contain 2 levels of current APA edition headings and must include the expected resources for each level as noted by in-text citations.  At least four main subjects are expected (excluding the Introduction and Conclusion). The student may have access to interactive tutorial exercises to help master current outline formatting.

Research Paper: Final Submission Assignment

This is where the student ties all of the parts of the paper together and submits his or her complete Research Paper in current APA format. All prior documents will be included in one document along with the 4–6 pages of body text (excluding Title Page and References pages in the page count). The student will proofread carefully, check formatting, and submit his or her work with confidence. The student will be able to submit a draft to help gauge the validity of their work. (Relates to Learning Outcomes A, B, C, D, E, and F)

Quizzes (4)

Each quiz will cover the Learn material for the assigned modules. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 25 multiple-choice questions, and have a time limit of 90 minutes.