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 Sgt. Matthew Williams

208th RTI OCS FTX

Montana National Guard Public Affairs Office

May 13, 2025 | 0:31

Officer Candidates from the 208th Regional Training Institute conduct Situational Training Exercises (STX) at the Limestone Training Hills. These STX lanes give them the chance to learn by leading soldiers into simulated combat. With some candidates at the start of their 18 months at Officer Candidate School and others preparing to go their final evaluations soon, there was plenty of team teaching and learning going around. We wish our candidates the best of luck and cannot wait to welcome our newest Lieutenants to the Montana Army National Guard.