Research Summaries

Back Development and Evaluation of Enhanced Training and Injury Recovery Program for SOP Operators

Fiscal Year 2015
Division Graduate School of Business & Public Policy
Department Graduate School of Business & Public Policy
Investigator(s) Cunha, Jesse M.
Sullivan, Joseph A.
Sponsor Office of Naval Research (Navy)
Summary The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Navy SEAL/SWCC enhanced training programs on SOF operator readiness. We will study how the introduction of the training programs impacted SEAL/SWCC rates of injury, recovery time, reduction in pain associated with injuries, and we will elicit SEAL/ SWCC current views on the program. Our results will help inform decision makers in weighing the program’s costs and benefits.
SOF Operators such as Navy SEAL/SWCC are more likely to successfully accomplish missions when pain free and in peak physical and mental condition. A challenge is that intense training requirements/regimens to reach peak levels take their toll. Injuries sustained in training and chronic pain can impact SOF operator availability and undermine unit readiness. Operator injuries also occur off-hours. Operators may be injured, sick, or experience chronic pain at various intervals throughout their careers. A challenge is to reduce pain associated with injuries (and sickness) and the impact it has on operator availability and performance, and to speed diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Given existing force structures, operational commanders need to minimize both the risk and recovery time for injuries to have a fully ready force prepared and available for future deployments.
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Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal