British Army trials our resilience programme for female trainees

Female Junior Soldiers from the Army Foundation College (AFC) Harrogate are trialling new social, physical and psychological training methods to help them to improve their performance during basic training.

Project ATHENA aims to optimise basic training for female Junior Soldiers and support the British Army’s ambitions for women to account for 30% of recruits by 2030.

Professor Steve Peters and our team at Chimp Management will be providing a psychological skills training programme for the second iteration of the British Army’s trial. Project ATHENA 2 incorporates our eight-stage Mind Management Skills for Life programme which simplifies neuroscience and helps to develop valuable skills in resilience.

The trainee servicewomen will receive a specially tailored version of the programme that aligns to the Ministry of Defence’s training programme and the needs of its junior female soldiers.

We will also deliver our Mind Management Skills for Life Programme to the training staff at AFC Harrogate.

Prof Peters and his team were invited to join 4000 family members and friends at AFC Harrogate to mark the successful completion of initial training for over 500 junior soldiers. The head of the British Army General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB, CBE, DSO, ADC, Gen was the senior inspecting officer at the parade and presented the prizes and awards.

Read the interim report for Project Athena

Photos by Beth Young

About AFC Harrogate 

The Army Foundation College is the only Junior Entry Phase 1 training establishment in the British Army. The College plays a vital role in providing the basic military training and developing future leadership. It offers a mix of military training, personal development, and education for under 19s that provides them skills to succeed in the Armed Forces, and their lives beyond the military.

Find out more