ABSTRACT
Performance is defined as a number of things, including the execution of an action, something accomplished, the act or style of performing a work or role in front of an audience, and the manner of reacting to a stimulus (Merriam-Webster, 2011). Put simply, performance is any action made by an individual or group that matters. It is about helping people with what matters, which can range from a math test to game seven of the World Series. Or in the case of the topic of this chapter, it can range from the everyday stresses of being a soldier to dealing with the high stress of combat. In this chapter, I will be discussing the history of mental skills training within the military, a few aspects to consider when working with military personnel, and some of my experiences of being a performance psychology professional with the U.S. Army. Working with the military is very similar to working within other performance arenas; the stakes are just a lot higher.
