V.A.L.O.R Program for SOF

Recognizing the intense need for cognitive endurance and performance in the SOF community, the Military Special Operations Family Collaborative is partnering with Dr. Megan Vaughan at iPerformance Labs to offer the VALOR program – a cognitive performance pilot program.

The unique organizational structures and mission requirements of Special Operations Forces (SOF) create stressors not typically encountered by general purpose military units. SOF has a distinct occupational stress environment that presents leadership challenges at every level of service—tactical, operational, and strategic. 

Prolonged stress without recovery, compounded by chronic sleep disruption and repeated or undiagnosed brain injuries, impairs critical brain functions including attention, memory, emotion regulation, and leadership capacity the undermine both mission effectiveness and long-term well-being. When paired with difficulty disengaging from overthinking or internal self-criticism—“getting stuck in your head”—these tendencies can interfere with recovery, adaptability and cognitive control. Operators may experience high-functioning burnout, where performance persists but internal resources are depleted.

If you are a SOF service member or veteran that struggles with word recall, memory, focus, or cognitive control, learn about the VALOR program and sign-up to receive program information.