Cognition is “the states and processes involved in knowing, which in their completeness include perception and judgment. Cognition includes all conscious and unconscious processes by which knowledge is accumulated, such as perceiving, recognizing, conceiving, and reasoning.” How can the SOE and SOF identify and address aspects of cognition that affect both their personnel and their organization?
At the individual level, how can we measure and build SOF resilience? Can we better understand the mental processes that lead to posttraumatic stress and suicidality as well as post-traumatic growth? Might research into cognition provide insights for POTFF programs? At the organizational level, how do we support cognitive decision making on teams and across the SOE? What role does cognition play in terms of the assessment of risk? How can the SOE work to encourage and incorporate divergent and creative thinking within SOF? What might the benefits be of incorporating creative problem solving? What are the risks of such encouragement, and how can those risks be mitigated?
- Binzer, Maj. Hank, "Mitigating Moral Injury: Front-Line Defense against the Increased Risk of Moral Injury in Modern Military Operations," AFGC thesis, 2026, 36 pgs.
- Binzer provides a critical distinction between the mental processes that lead to PTSD versus moral injury. He clarifies that while PTSD is tied to fear conditioning and hyperarousal from a distinct traumatic event, moral injury develops cumulatively and is rooted in moral emotions like shame, betrayal, and repetitive moral rumination. He points out that moral injury is an independent risk factor for suicidal ideation, even when controlling for PTSD. To effectively build resilience against this, Binzer argues that current resilience-based approaches are inadequate because they focus on stress endurance rather than ethical conflict. He recommends explicitly embedding moral injury awareness and ethical content into existing resilience frameworks so that personnel are equipped to process moral ambiguity and make meaning of their experiences, rather than simply trying to endure them.