Emphasis on cognitive, physical, and emotional aspects in training elite warriors and athletes.
Significance of POFIF for enhancing operator performance and well-being.
Importance of stress tolerance and high-performance habits in building operator capacity.
Transitioning acquired skills into application during high-stress scenarios for optimal performance.
Deep dives
High-Performing Operators Training Experience
Brittany Loney, with extensive experience training elite warriors, athletes, coaches, and executives, emphasizes the cognitive, physical, and emotional aspects of operator performance. Her innovative work at Thor 3 focuses on improving operator performance through a holistic approach.
Focus on Cognitive Performance
Loney's journey into cognitive performance stemmed from personal experiences with brain injuries during college basketball. Her encounter with performance psychology led to a career shift, resonating with her athletic roots and passion for military involvement. Loney's shift to enhancing cognitive skills and mental rehearsal techniques highlights the impact of cognitive strategies on optimal performance.
Preservation of the Force in Families (POFIF)
The discussion delves into the significance of POFIF, focusing on human and behavioral aspects to enhance operator performance and well-being. POFIF's emphasis on preserving force performance and supporting service members post-service illustrates a holistic approach to building resilient warriors.
Building Performance Capacity: Stress Tolerance and High Performance Habits
Loney stresses the importance of stress tolerance and high-performance habits in building operator capacity. Emphasizing stress expenditure, reservoir management, and the development of consistent high-performance habits, she highlights the necessity of integrating progressive skill acquisition for effective application in high-stress scenarios.
Improving Operator Performance through Habitual Training
The focus shifts to transitioning acquired skills into application during high-stress scenarios. Loney emphasizes progressive skill application and the transition from a training mindset to a trusting mindset in executing learned capacities. The importance of living performance capacity, trust, and presence in executing high-stress missions is highlighted.
Components of Optimal Performance
Optimal psychophysiological state before performance is crucial. It involves unique routines like music, breath control, and thought processes. Trusting mindset is key to peak performance, shifting focus outward can enhance performance. Ego-less state of mind is essential during performance, transcending the ego leads to full immersion.
Micro Resests and Breath Control
Micro-resets play a vital role in maintaining neurophysiology balance. Breath control is a common practice for resetting mental orientation. The technique involves a three-breath routine culminating in an intention setting for the next action. Consistent practice of these resets integrates them into daily performance.
Building Resilience and Stress Inoculation
Building resilience involves physical, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual aspects. Stress inoculation through adequate training prepares individuals for high-stress scenarios. Training should challenge individuals at the edge of their abilities to enhance stress tolerance and cognitive control. Resilience is essential for long-term success and situational awareness.
My guest today is Brittany Loney the founder and CEO of Elite Cognition. Brittany has almost 20 years of experience training high performing operators from communities as diverse as elite SOF warriors, professional and Olympic athletes, high-level coaches, and corporate executives. She also has over 14 years of experience training Special Operations Forces (SOF) and was the first cognitive performance coach embedded within a United States Special Operations Command (USASOC) Tactical Human Optimization and Rapid Rehabilitation and Reconditioning (THOR3) Program.
Her work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, peer reviewed academic journals, textbooks, SUCCESS Magazine, SOCOM’s SOFcast, and various other programs. In addition, Brittany has been a panel member or guest speaker at Global SOF Week, Special Operations Medical Association (SOMA), SOCOM’s Wellness Week, Air Force Air Education and Training Command (AETC) Learning Professional’s Consortiums, Women in SOF Symposiums, and countless other professional conferences.
Brittany has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Learning Systems from The Florida State University, an M.A. in Kinesiology with an emphasis on Sport Psychology from California State University, Fresno, an M.S. in Exercise Science from Florida State University, and a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Texas State University where she was also a NCAA Division 1 basketball player. She lives her profession, spending much of her time working out, ultra-running, hiking, paddle boarding, and researching neuroscience, performance, and cognition.
I was first introduced to Brittany by some of our nation’s best tactical operators. Her work with US SOF units is unique in its approach to improving operator performance through physical, cognitive, and emotional training. I am extremely excited to have her on the debrief, because the broad scope and clear structure of her work will lay a foundation for several episodes to come on improving operator performance. I hope you enjoy my chat with Brittan Loney.
Book Recommendation: The Daily Stoic Boxed Set Hardcover - Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman - ISBN-13: 978-0593544891 Warrior Mindset - Dr. Michael Asken, Loren W. Christensen, and Dave Grossman - ISBN-13: 978-0964920552 Contact Info: Brittany Loney – www.elite-cognition.com
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