ReSTART - Management of acute stress reactions in combat situations

ReSTART is a procedure designed to address operational challenges where soldiers, due to ASR (Acute Stress Reaction) or mental overload, experience a loss of functionality. This protocol is part of a training program aimed at equipping soldiers with the ability to recognize an ASR, execute the ReSTART drill, and assist a fellow soldier if the ReSTART procedure proves necessary. This drill was originally developed by the Israeli Army, and then adapted by the U.S Army. Since 2019, the Norwegian Armed Forces' Medical Services have developed a Norwegian adaptation of the American ReSTART drill.

First-aid procedure

According to Christer Lunde Gjerstad, principal instructor and psychologist, research indicates that a significant proportion of soldiers encounter acute stress reactions (ASR) during combat situations. He emphasizes that when soldiers are incapacitated by ASR, they pose a danger to both themselves and their comrades.

To address this issue, the ReSTART drill has been developed as a concise and easily understandable first-aid procedure. In less than 60 seconds, it assists soldiers experiencing ASR in regaining their functionality. This swift intervention not only aids individual soldiers but also bolsters the overall operational capability of the unit.

So why do the drill in VR?

The drill is today being taught by going through the theoretical background and watch a video about the drill. And finally the students are practicing the drill on each other. The observations of the role play found that some of the students role play worked fine but for others struggled to take it seriously or it was difficult to imagine the scenario.

By transitioning from traditional role-playing exercises to VR simulations, the project seeks to provide students with a training experience that closely mirrors real-world scenarios. This immersive approach allows for repeated exposure to challenging situations in a controlled environment, fostering skill development and decision-making abilities under pressure. The project's hypothesis suggests that by aligning training methodologies more closely with real-world conditions, students will experience greater transferability of skills and knowledge.

The overall goal

The hope is that the ReSTART drill in VR can enhance the learning outcome and also save time and resources. The project are still in a development phase and the demo testing has proven that the students are experiencing the scenario more life-like and that the learning outcomes could be enhanced. The next step is to conduct research where they want to compare students who do the roleplay and students who do VR training to prove a better outcome or not. 

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