Naval Education and Training Command: Warrior Toughness

Every U.S. Navy Sailor, enlisted or officer, could face life-threatening situations from combat or casualty. Each and every one needs to have the ability to persevere and perform under both immediate danger and long-term stress, both on the job and at home.

Warrior Toughness (WT) is a holistic human performance skillset that enhances the toughness of our Sailors with a focus on the pursuit of peak performance. The system emphasizes coequal development of toughness in the mind, body, and soul. WT combines performance psychology skills with character development, and teaches the Warrior Mindset, whose concepts were initially developed by members of the Naval Special Warfare community.

Designed to increase the Navy’s warfighting capabilities, WT is an enabler of the Culture of Excellence as part of the first line of effort – Developing a Lethal Warfighting Force. In place at Recruit Training Command since October 2018, the curriculum is now incorporated across all Navy accessions at Officer Training Command Newport, the United States Naval Academy and the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. WT will improve the performance of Sailors under stress and throughout their everyday lives, building lethal warfighters ready for the next mission.

Video by Spc. Aven Santiago

Hawaii Soldiers monitor air quality during Hawaii lava flow

State of Hawaii, Department of Defense, Public Affairs Office

May 30, 2018 | 2:08

Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers are teaming up with civilian first responders as they monitor air levels around areas impacted by lava. The soldiers from the 93rd WMD-CST are checking for any hazardous air conditions as they patrol Hawaii County.

"We want to make sure that basically it’s safety," said Staff Sgt. Marc Aquino, 93rd CST. "For the civilians as well as the first responders and ensure that at any time they’re working or going about their lives that the designated area is safe to move."

Some of the areas they are monitoring include possible evacuation sites and landing zones for first responders. But not only is it the air that they’re testing, but the threat of acid rain as well. With the lava reaching the ocean, the chemicals in the fumes can rise and combine with the falling rain. That can make the rain itself acidic and dangerous

"With that in mind, that’s why we do paper tests," said Staff Sgt. Marc Aquino, 93rd CST. "We use these pH acid level tests that will help you determine that and it will give you a clear indicator. Not only does it help give us the pH levels of it but it also lets us know if our detection equipment is safe because they’re also susceptible to being damaged by that rain.”

The 93rd CST supporting the Hawaii County mission include Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard, civilian first responders, well as soldiers from the California Army National Guard and Delaware Army National Guard.