GROWING RESILIENCE WITH MOBILE TECHNOLOGY: “USMC CONNECT” AND RESILIENCE IN THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE FORCES

The aim of this study was to quantitatively analyze the introduction and use of resilience interventions with the USMC Connect application in order to develop possible structured ways to introduce consistent resilience training to the Marines, while also examining USMC Connect’s effectiveness in individuals learning its material. Four USMC Reserve units participated in the field study. One unit received resilience interventions in the form of regular nudge or push notifications which appeared on their phones like a text message. Another had access to the mobile application but did not have nudge notifications for interventions from the researchers. A third group served as a control group and did not have access to the application. The fourth control group did not receive access to the application but received resilience interventions. Each group was assessed for resilience and other factors before and after the intervention period. Measures of resilience and other related instruments were used to assess changes in resilience and what we expect affects those changes. However, due to low participation in the second survey, the study turned to reporting and analyzing resilience scores from each unit’s initial survey results to examine resilience measurements and its associated key factors.Major, United States Marine CorpsApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited