Objective To probe into the characteristics and relationships between resilience and sense of happiness in national defense students of higher education institutions.Method A survey of 390national defense students was conducted using questionnaire.Results Average score of resilience in national defense students was（3.74±0.43）

and average total score of all factors was higher than that of ordinary university students. The average total score of sense of happiness was（76.15±11.08）.The differences between total scores on resilience of national defense students from different grades and scores on such factors as emotional stability

friend support and family support were statistically significant（F=2.15

P<0.01）.Score on sense of happiness in national defense students born in urban area was（77.68±11.69）while that of students born in rural area was（75.24±10.65）

and the differences were statistically significant（t=1.98

P<0.05）.Differences in total scores on sense of happiness of national defense students from different grades were statistically significant（F=4.15

P<0.01）.All resilience factors of national defense students were positively correlated with sense of happiness.Self-efficacy

self-acceptance

emotional stability and family support were major predictive factors of sense of happiness in national defense students.Conclusion Overall level of resilience and sense of happiness in national defense students of higher education institutions is good.There is a difference in sense of happiness between national defense students from different grades and different places of birth.Resilience can effectively predict the sense of happiness in national defense students.