A new study has confirmed that resilience training incorporating meditation and religious activities helps junior officers reduce stress and improve work efficiency. This method is being hailed as valuable for the military.
Resilience, closely linked to neuroscience, is considered intangible combat power. It refers to the ability to overcome adversity and regain psychological stability. In future warfare, where individual combat capability is critical, resilience is considered an essential skill.
On Tuesday, the Republic of Korea Army Training & Doctrine Command (ROKA TRADOC) announced that a 16-week combat experiment had been conducted to analyze the psychological effects of resilience training on junior officers. The study found that participants who underwent the training experienced significant stress relief and maintained a healthier daily routine, as shown through brainwave and electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis.
The experiment, led by Professor Kim Dong Ju’s Brain Engineering Research Team at Korea University, was conducted from June to September 2024 with 92 junior officers from the 2nd Rapid Response Division’s Yongho Brigade. To verify whether resilience training effectively reduces stress and enhances psychological stability, participants were divided into an experimental group that received the training and a control group that did not.
Resilience training was held twice a week under the supervision of military chaplains. Soldiers in the experimental group repeatedly recited religious verses from texts such as the Bible and Buddhist scriptures while practicing deep breathing and muscle relaxation in a controlled environment with minimal external distractions. After each session, they were encouraged to continue individual practice to establish a lasting habit.
Stress levels were assessed using various methods, including stress scale surveys, ECG readings, and EEG (electroencephalogram) measurements. These assessments were conducted consistently from week 1 to week 16 to compare the stress responses of the experimental and control groups.
The experiment yielded compelling evidence linking resilience training to stress reduction. Over time, the experimental group maintained consistently lower and more stable stress levels. ECG analysis showed increased parasympathetic nervous system activity, indicating improved heart rate variability and recovery. This suggests an enhanced ability to manage stress and fatigue in high-pressure situations.
EEG data further corroborated the benefits of resilience training. The experimental group demonstrated improved functional connectivity across brain regions, enhancing information processing and stress regulation capabilities. Their increased brain activity correlated with better work performance and emotional control. In contrast, the control group showed declining brain activity over time. The positive effects of resilience training persisted for up to four weeks.
Researchers concluded that resilience training helps maintain mental and physical stability under stress and induces measurable physiological changes in the brain and heart. These changes translate to improved work efficiency and enhanced intangible combat capabilities.
Based on these findings, the South Korean Army plans to expand resilience training to all personnel. ROKA TRADOC has already integrated resilience concepts and training methods into the Captain Command and Staff Course and the Basic Military Civilian Employee Training Course. Additionally, the Army Chaplain Corps will introduce a new spiritual strength training program this year, incorporating resilience education at officer and NCO training institutions and at the Army Training Center.
A ROKA TRADOC official stated, “Based on the experiment results, we will further develop and expand resilience training to strengthen human power and human combat capability—key elements of operational combat power—to build a victorious army.”
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