Developing an Army-Focused, Integrated Prevention Approach for Harmful Behaviors

Evidence from a CNA-developed model points to three lines of effort to help the Army deliver an integrated approach to
preventing harmful behaviors. These lines of effort include developing life skills in professional military education at relevant
touchpoints, reinforcing positive behaviors in units by merging two existing Army fitness programs, and sustaining healthy
environments by revitalizing the Army’s Commander’s Ready and Resilient Council (CR2C) at installations. This approach
to integrated prevention addresses high-leverage risk and protective factors identified by the model. And it employs best
practices by operating across the range of influences on behavior, from individual to societal influences.

As the Department of Defense and the Services mature their efforts to prevent harmful behaviors, including suicide and
sexual assault, they have recognized the enhanced effectiveness of integrated approaches over separate ones. To improve
the Army’s prevention efforts, the Army Resilience Directorate (ARD) asked CNA to help develop an approach to integrated
prevention that targets risk and protective factors shared by multiple harmful behaviors. Our methodology included
reviewing the relevant literature and policies, holding discussions with program experts, and performing an opportunities and
barriers analysis.