How hypnosis enhances military training

Written by Ryan N. Mars, BS, co-authored by Ran D. Amber, MD

In this post, we explore the potential of hypnosis to combat stress and improve performance among military personnel at the Defense Language Institute (DLI) of the U.S. Department of Defense, and how this uniquely important population can reap its many benefits by tapping into the inherent powers within themselves.

The life of a military linguist in the United States begins with enrollment in DLI, perhaps the most rigorous academic curriculum offered by the Department of Defense.

This unique training allows graduates to reach a four-year degree level in reading, writing, and speaking a foreign language in just one year, while also gaining cultural competency. However, the curriculum is extremely taxing for students, and many do not continue until graduation.

To address the lack of course completion, the DLI curriculum is constantly evolving by reviewing teaching methodologies and incorporating successful developments that accommodate professional linguists (Savko, 2023). While great effort is expended in each class to improve the student experience, the intense nature of the program remains the same.

If the tempo of language learning cannot be slowed down, the key to improving linguists’ retention rates at DLI may lie in becoming proficient in using an equally powerful skill: the subconscious mind through hypnosis.

History and tradition of enthusiasm

Linguists are an essential part of our military defense. They translate highly classified and valuable information and work with military and allied forces in support of foreign missions around the world (Lange, 2018).

This unique skill set keeps military linguists in high demand. However, the cost of training one of these linguists can exceed $200,000. Therefore, enhanced training plans centered around improving retention could help reduce the costs required to support DLI.

Once assigned a specific language, service members undergo a curriculum that resembles the speed and ferocity of a fire hose. Students will be expected to do up to seven hours of formal language study a day and one to two hours of homework each night, all while maintaining rigorous fitness standards and establishing the definition of military readiness in military service. The task will be given to you.

If this wasn’t enough, most of the students are between the ages of 18 and 25. They are leaving home and family support for the first time and working to accommodate select military families.

To weather all this stress, DLI students must exert a level of grit from start to finish that is hard to maintain. Many students experience burnout, which manifests as lower language test scores, reduced energy from long hours of study, and strained personal and professional relationships.

This translates into relatively low course completion rates of 75% (Lange, 2018) and even lower for more difficult language curricula.

make room for hypnosis

When I was at DLI in 2016, I followed this schedule. For every 50 minutes of her formal instruction in class, he was given a 10-minute break to recover and prepare for the next session of instruction.

I noticed that each student spent their 10-minute break differently. Students who needed physical activity were climbing the school building’s stairs, others were trying to take naps in empty rooms, and others were trying to reach spouses and relatives by phone.

However diverse these responses were, what all students had in common was the hope that 10 minutes of coping strategies would be enough to get them through the next 50 minutes of language acquisition.

I now wonder if that 10-minute break of running around the block or turning off the lights in an empty room was the best way to reduce personal and collective stress. At the time, I was grateful that DLI respected my right to take a precious break, but some of the gaps between classes can be a great opportunity to practice resilience. .

I believe that teaching hypnosis can provide DLI students with a valuable tool that they can apply during many of their 10-minute breaks.

Hypnosis is the act of consciously and intentionally entering a trance state and using suggestions, both verbal and visual, to reach a desired, often therapeutic, result (Williamson, 2019). It helps us explore the multi-layered mental state called the subconscious mind to experience what we can achieve, and even has the power to treat anxiety and pain.

Applications of hypnosis

Techniques like guided imagery have proven effective in managing stress and anxiety by replacing disturbing memories with positive mental images (Sanagdol, 2020).

A common induction technique in hypnosis, this form of hypnotic suggestion allows you to visualize in your mind a peaceful and calm environment where your attention is too focused and what you have imagined feels real. (Williamson, 2019). In this relaxed state, you can introduce suggestions for dealing with stressful scenarios and redirect negative energy into positive energy.

An example application in DLI is as follows. Perhaps during a one-hour class, the student received harsh and honest criticism from the teacher due to low fluency. If, after this encounter, the next 10-minute break is spent on hypnosis, the student is likely to redirect those negative words into motivational statements aimed at improving fluency. there is. Guided images can provide a direct visual representation of them reaching their desired level.

When practiced regularly, these 10-minute breaks add up, and months of positive self-talk can help soldiers leave feeling more empowered rather than bitter and burnt out. I can.

Hypnosis practice also has a positive and significant effect on improving psychological skills (Zaraineh, 2024). If a student is worried about an upcoming test, hypnosis can help them by visualizing them doing well during the test and achieving an excellent grade the day before the test. This can help ease anxiety on the day of the test and improve their language scores.

Hypnosis has been used to help athletes suppress anxiety and manage stress while improving training results and competitive performance (Li, 2021). Similarly, hypnosis may also be applied to military personnel looking to outperform their fitness scores.

Enabling linguists to forge a connection with their inner self doesn’t have to be expensive. Techniques for eliciting subconscious dialogue, positive self-talk, and powerful imagery can be learned in just 10 minutes and require no expensive equipment or repeated expert consultations.

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In an environment as rigorous and demanding as DLI, a sense of control over one’s emotions is essential. Using hypnosis and the power of the subconscious mind to empower oneself holds great potential for enhancing and sustaining a positive mood. Teaching service members the power to access their inner resources in times of adversity will help prevent burnout at DLI, increase tenure, and reduce funding needs for the force.

Ryan Mars is a third-year medical student at Rocky Vista University and a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He served as a military linguist with the rank of staff sergeant for five years.

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