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 Master Sgt. Rachelle Morris

Operation Arctic Care 2025

Office of the Secretary of Defense Innovative Readiness Training (IRT)

April 13, 2025 | 3:48

Thirty miles above the artic circle, 128 joint service members gathered in Kotzebue, Alaska, to take part in Operation Arctic Care, an Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) medical mission where residents received no-cost medical, dental, and veterinarian services. Many of the mission’s participants were forward deployed to an additional 11 villages across the region, being transported by Alaska National Guard Black Hawk helicopters and snow mobiles. They provided services in the community partner, Maniilaq Association, facilities.