“The Tough Get Tougher”

Mental toughness has been shown to have relevance in a wide range of performance-related fields where distractions, anxiety, and fear are common challenges; however, there remains a dearth of research in the military where the construct has obvious utility. A quasi-experimental trial with treatment (n = 83) and control (n = 90) conditions examined the impact of a psychological skills intervention on observer-rated mental toughness and performance in an elite military context. The results revealed significant differences in the treatment group between pre- and postintervention in the use of psychological skills and observer-rated mental toughness. Furthermore, during the selection course, significant differences were evidenced between the treatment and control groups in the use of relaxation and imagery and individual performance.