Evaluation of the U.S Marine Corps' Prime for Life 4.5 Program

OMB Control Number 0704-0644

OMB Expiration: 1/31/2026

OMB CONTROL NUMBER:  0704-0644

OMB EXPIRATION DATE: 01/31/2026

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ETAC T5: Evaluation of Prime for Life 4.5 at USMC

Prime for Life 4.5 Instructor Key Informant Discussion Guide

Participant ID:	Date:
Questioner:	Note Takers:
Start Time:	End Time:

Goals:

Address topics related to the process evaluation of Prime for Life 4.5, including how is implementation of Prime for Life 4.5 course functioning from implementer perspectives (e.g., experiences with instructor training, perceived utility of intervention, resources needed, feasibility/ease of universal implementation)?

Welcome & Introduction [5 minutes]

[Lead Discussion to remain on video for the duration of the discussion. Staff taking notes to show video briefly during introductions.]

While we are getting started can you confirm that you can hear me and see me clearly? If not, we are happy to set up a regular dial-in number to conduct this discussion.

[If the participant cannot see and hear the questioner clearly, and the problem is the questioner, a different questioner will be on backup. If the problem is on the side of the participant, the participant may call in from their phone.]

[Questioner to confirm also that they can hear participant clearly. If not, offer technical assistance as needed]

Thank you for taking time to talk with me today. My name is [Questioner Name], and I will be leading the discussion. My colleagues, [Note taker 1 Name] and [Note taker 2 Name], are also joining this call to take notes on the topics we discuss. We work for NORC at the University of Chicago, an objective, nonpartisan research organization. The DoD has contracted with NORC to conduct evaluations of the effectiveness of ongoing prevention efforts as part of the implementation of report recommendations from the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military. NORC has been working with the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, or SAPRO, and the Marine Corps to conduct an evaluation of the 4.5 hour Prime for Life course (which we will refer to as Prime for Life 4.5) as it has been implemented at Camp Lejeune-New River and Camp Geiger. Today’s discussion is designed to understand your experiences as an instructor for Prime for Life 4.5. This discussion will remain confidential and private. While the USMC knows we are talking to you, your name will not be linked to anything you tell us today. All responses will be deidentified and analyzed in combination with other participants’ responses. We greatly appreciate your candid perspectives.

We appreciate your time and will keep this discussion to 45 minutes. Is this still a good time to talk?

[Respondent answers]

Also, it is not necessary that we see you by video. Appearing on screen is up to you.

Before we start: I want to remind you that your participation today is voluntary. You can skip any questions or end the discussion anytime with no penalty.

Do you have any questions for me before we start?

[Address questions as needed]

Instructor Background [5 minutes]

1. To get us started, what is your name and your job role or job title at the USMC?

   1. How long have you been with the Marine Corps?

   2. Briefly, what are your primary job responsibilities?

      1. Probe: Roughly, what percentage of your job time is spent in being a Prime for Life course instructor?

2. Could you tell us a little about how you became a Prime for Life instructor at Camp Lejeune? Did you choose this role, or was it assigned to you?

   1. How long have you been teaching Prime for Life, any version?

   2. How long have you been teaching Prime for Life 4.5?

PFL Instructor Training [10 minutes]

Thank you. As a reminder, most of our discussion today will be about Prime for Life 4.5, not the longer versions. Let’s talk a bit about your experiences training to become an instructor for the Prime for Life 4.5 course.

3. What kind of training did you get to become an instructor of Prime for Life 4.5, in your current role?

   1. Probe: Did Prevention Research Institute, or PRI, lead the training? [If needed, clarify: Prevention Research Institute developed Prime for Life.]

   2. What would you say were the strengths of the training?

   3. Following your training, how prepared did you feel to implement the Prime for Life 4.5 training?

4. Since the training, has anything come up during the Prime for Life 4.5 classes you have led that the training did not prepare you for? Tell me about that.

5. Based on your experiences implementing Prime for Life 4.5, what changes, if any, would you recommend to future instructor trainings?

   1. Probe: Would there be any value in refresher training or debriefing trainings? With PRI staff and the USMC instructor team?

PFL 4.5 Instruction at Camp Lejeune/New River and Camp Geiger [15 minutes]

6. Let’s talk a bit more about your experiences as an instructor of Prime for Life 4.5. As a reminder, we are focused on the period of [Implementation window; likely February 2025 to March 2026]. This was when the course was being implemented with Marines in student status awaiting training at the School of Infantry-East.

   1. What were some of the things that consistently went well in the Prime for Life 4.5 classes during this time period? [Probe for examples]

   2. What were some of the challenges implementing Prime for Life 4.5 during this time period? [Probe for examples]

7. How was the workload, relative to your other job responsibilities? Did you feel like you had the support and the resources you needed? Tell me about that.

8. How about in the classroom: how engaged do you feel the Marines were during your Prime for Life 4.5 classes? Did they seem interested in the material? Did they actively participate in the classroom discussion? Why do you think that was?

9. Based on reactions during the classes, how effective do you think Prime for Life 4.5 is in changing Marines’ perceptions of their personal risk for alcohol problems? Why do you think that is?

10. Based on reactions during the classes, how effective do you think that the Prime for Life 4.5 material is likely to be in changing alcohol use behaviors among early career Marines? Why or why not?

    1. What are the parts of the course material that you think could be particularly effective for changing alcohol use behaviors?

    2. What are the parts of the course material that you do not expect to be particularly effective for changing alcohol use behaviors?

    3. What elements do you think could be improved or changed about Prime for Life 4.5 to make it more effective for changing alcohol use behaviors of early career Marines?

Universal implementation [5 minutes]

11. What are your thoughts about teaching Prime for Life 4.5 to all early career Marines (meaning that every Marine would be exposed to Prime for Life 4.5 early on in their career)?

    1. Probe: What do you think the benefits might be of implementing Prime for Life 4.5 universally among all early career Marines?

    2. Probe: What do you think the challenges might be of implementing Prime for Life 4.5 universally among all early career Marines?

12. When do you think would be the ideal timing to teach Prime for Life 4.5 within a Marine’s career? What are some reasons for that?

    1. Probe: How do you feel about the implementation of Prime for Life 4.5 during the SOI-MAT holding period, consistent with the timing during this evaluation?

Fidelity [5 minutes, if time permits]

13. What would you say are your own strengths and challenges in implementing Prime for Life 4.5?

14. What kinds of training or support might help you to become an even more effective Prime for Life 4.5 instructor?

15. What do you think are the characteristics of an excellent Prime for Life 4.5 instructor?

16. Were there any elements of the course that have consistently felt challenging to teach? If so, what are they?

17. If Prime for Life 4.5 were to be condensed to an even shorter time period, what do you think are the essential elements that must be kept?

Conclusion/Wrap up [5 minutes]

Those are all the questions I had for you today.

18. Before we conclude, do you have any additional thoughts to share with me about your experiences as an instructor for Prime for Life 4.5? We are interested in both negative and positive comments. What else is important that I hear?

Thank you for your time.

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