Mindfulness in Military: Lt. Gen. Piatt's Story

How Mindfulness Training Transforms Military Performance

The Science Behind Mindfulness for High-Stress Situations

Army Lieutenant General Walt Piatt, Director of the Army Staff, has partnered with renowned neuroscientist Dr. Amishi Jha to study the impact of mindfulness training for military personnel. Their work demonstrates how attention regulation techniques can enhance performance in life-or-death situations.

A Commander's Personal Mindfulness Journey

The Deployment Cycle Breakdown

• Year-on, year-off deployments since 2001
• Visible reintegration struggles among soldiers and families
• Traditional training failing to address core issues

The Mindfulness Breakthrough

During a 2010 meeting with Dr. Jha in Hawaii, Piatt experienced a revelation:

"In three minutes she just described us perfectly...we were really living on fast forward and fast rewind, never really here."

Key realizations:
1. Military training teaches physical attention ("standing at attention"), not mental focus
2. Constant deployment anticipation prevents being present
3. Stress accumulates with each deployment cycle

Mindfulness as a Performance Enhancer

Beyond Recovery: Building Resilience

Contrary to expectations, mindfulness proved most valuable as a performance enhancement tool:

• Improves stress regulation in critical moments
• Enhances decision-making under pressure
• Develops present-moment awareness when "things are on the line"

Measurable Life Improvements

• Personal relationships: Actually listening to family without formulating responses
• Work-life balance: "Don't deploy until you deploy" philosophy
• Parenting: Quality time undistracted by work devices

Strategic Implications for Military Leadership

Why Mindfulness Matters for National Security

1. Better listening leads to more accurate military advice
2. Present-moment awareness improves threat assessment
3. Stress regulation enhances split-second decision making

As Piatt notes: "If we're not in the moment, how can we discern friend or foe when lives are on the line?"

Implementing Mindfulness in Military Culture

The Army now recognizes that mental fitness is as crucial as physical training. With people as the "number one priority," mindfulness training offers:

• Improved unit cohesion
• Enhanced operational performance
• Better post-deployment reintegration

Further Reading on Military Mindfulness

• Training the Brains of Warriors by Barry Yeoman
• Finding a Mindful Balance by Anne Alexander
• Mindfulness of Breathing Exercises with Dr. Amishi Jha