SAFEGUARD: Life Skills Training for Soldiers Arriving at Their First Duty Location

Suicide remains a leading cause of death among Soldiers, especially those 17-24 years old in their first year of military service. This time is also marked by high rates of other harmful behaviors and of early separation from the Army. The Army invests billions of dollars in recruiting and training, yet many new Soldiers leave the service early or experience serious events like suicidal behaviors. Exposure to situational stressors involving such areas of life as romantic relationships and finances increases risk for suicide and other harmful behaviors. Implementing universal training programs to prevent these types of negative outcomes before they arise have enormous potential to bolster the mental toughness of new Soldiers during this difficult transition. The proposed project aims to prevent suicide-related behaviors (SRBs) and other behaviors qualifying for a Serious Incident Report (SIR) through an innovative, universal life skills program delivered at a critical transition point in Soldiers' careers-their first duty assignment. By focusing on this particularly high-risk period, this project seeks to reduce SRBs and related harmful behaviors among U.S. Army Soldiers. The proposed project will test the effectiveness of a recently developed, evidence-based training program designed to build life skills and coping strategies that can protect against suicide, other harmful behaviors, poor work performance, and premature separation during a Soldier's first duty assignment.

This project will evaluate the effectiveness of Level Up, a strengths based, military-specific life skills training program. The goal is to determine whether Level Up can decrease suicidal thoughts and behaviors, improve mental health, enhance job performance, and reduce early military separation. Previous studies show that building skills like stress management, problem-solving, and healthy communication can protect against SRBs and related problem behaviors. However, many of these programs failed to show long-term impact, partly due to limited engagement. Level Up is designed to overcome these limitations by combining interactive learning, mobile technology, personalized coaching, and on-demand virtual booster sessions. This hybrid format is intended to help Soldiers refresh their skills and engage with content at their preferred pace and rhythm. The Level Up program components include: 1) a 90-minute live group session during Soldiers' in-processing week at their first duty station, 2) a mobile app/online platform/workbook with brief, interactive self-guided exercises in core skill areas (e.g., managing stress, tactical thinking, healthy relationships), 3) personalized coaching via messages from trained staff during the first month of app use, and 4) virtual booster sessions over one year, focused on practical domains like finances, leadership, promotion tips, and personal relationships. Soldiers will be randomized to receive either Level Up or Engage, an existing single session Army bystander intervention program that will serve as a comparison training.

The Level Up program content draws from evidence-based psychological methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and motivational coaching adapted to fit military culture and tailored to be relevant, accessible, and engaging for newly assigned junior-ranking Soldiers, a group at high risk for suicide and other serious behavioral issues. By equipping them with essential life skills and support during their first year of service, the program aims to reduce SRBs and other behaviors qualifying for SIRs, develop psychosocial skills, and increase career success and satisfaction.

If effective, Level Up could be implemented Army-wide as a universal prevention program to improve mental health, readiness, and retention. There are minimal risks as the interventions are educational, although some participants may experience brief emotional discomfort during skill practice or reflection. All participants can opt out at any time, and all are provided with resources and additional support as needed. This study could have a transformative impact on military suicide prevention efforts, especially during early service when Soldiers are most vulnerable. By evaluating this scalable program in a large, real-world setting, the research will provide clear evidence about its benefits for reducing suicide and improving readiness. Results will also support development of predictive tools to identify which Soldiers may benefit most from added support. Findings will be shared across the Department of Defense to inform policy, training, and future resilience-building programs-ultimately improving the health, performance, and quality of life of Soldiers across the Force.