Skip main navigation

Military Health System

Clear Your Cache

Health.mil has undergone a recent update. For the best user experience we recommend clearing your browser cache.

Researchers Connect with Warfighters to Guide Tech Development

Image of Military personnel trying an immersive training device. Audiologist Dr. Amy Boudin-George, Defense Health Agency Hearing Center of Excellence, Clinical Care Section chief, tries her hand in a T-38 immersive training device at the 560th Flying Training Squadron ("Charging Cheetahs"), Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas on Dec. 7. The HCE team visited several operational units in December at JBSA, to better understand warfighter hearing and communication needs (Photo by: Elsa Granato, Hearing Center of Excellence)

Researchers with the Defense Health Agency's Hearing Center of Excellence are connecting directly with warfighters, to better understand the hearing and balance challenges they experience in an operational environment.

"We're making a concerted effort to 'get out of the clinic' and connect and interact with operational military units in their mission environments," explained Dr. Jeremy Nelson, HCE research branch chief.

The team's first venture outside the clinic focused on pilot training and flight operation activities at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph on Dec. 7. There they met with staff and pilots from the 560th Flying Training Squadron, 559th MDS Flight Medicine, Aerospace Physiology, and Aircrew Flight Equipment.

"The objective here was to experience some of the noise exposures many of these individuals deal with regularly when performing their missions," said Nelson.

A tour of the 433rd Airlift Wing's C-5 hangar at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas early December completed the two-day outreach, where HCE staff got a firsthand look at C-5 flight operations with a tour of the aircraft.

"They demonstrated that hearing and balance health, as well as communication, play important roles in the execution of military training and flight operations," Nelson summed up after the tours. "For these kinds of engagements, the hope is for our team to gain a better appreciation of military flight operations, and how things like movement and noise influence the ability to communicate," said Nelson. "This line-side military engagement was a great success."

Military personnel testing an ejection seat parachute harness
Natasha Gorrell, Defense Health Agency Hearing Center of Excellence, health promotion and education expert, tests out an ejection seat parachute harness trainer at aircrew flight equipment, 12th Operations Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas on Dec. 7. (Photo by: Elsa Granato, Hearing Center of Excellence)

According to Nelson, the overall outreach initiative has several distinct functions.

"These activities will help us better understand warfighter missions and issues they encounter in the hearing, balance and communication spaces, and will identify opportunities for HCE to potentially assist with operational or training missions," Nelson explained.

The activities could also serve as a way to talk with service members about hearing protection, overall hearing health, and HCE's mission to reduce noise-induced hearing loss, according to Nelson.

Nelson added the outreach could build a network of potential users interested in advancing technology transition and testing new or novel hearing protection devices.

"These interactions will hopefully influence nearly all activities at the HCE. By building a robust network of operational unit partners, we can more directly solicit feedback on initiatives and capability requirements, develop relationships for future studies, technology development, etc., as well as create awareness of and advocates for our organization," said Nelson.

The future warfighter outreach plan includes additional visits to operational units within the JBSA area, and visits to Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. The outreach also will eventually leverage HCE's regional research teams across the United States to interact directly with all service branches, according to Nelson.

"Military medicine exists to, first and foremost, support the warfighter," said Air Force Lt. Col. Samuel Spear, HCE branch chief. "If we don't regularly engage with that audience, understanding the missions they perform and the challenges they encounter, there is a much greater chance we will miss the mark in our efforts to 'preserve the fighting force' and 'improve performance.'"

You also may be interested in...

Calendar Event
Mar 13, 2025

TBICoE Clinical Recommendation Training Series: Assessment of Dizziness and Visual Disturbances Following Concussion

This clinical recommendation training provides medical staff with a single, comprehensive reference for the assessment and management of dizziness and visual disturbances following mild TBI.

Topic
Feb 25, 2025

Public Health

Public Health supports the move from a health care system to a system of health by focusing on the prevention of disease, disability, and death in garrison and while deployed.

Article
Jan 15, 2025

U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine is Updating Guidance on Cold-Weather Injuries

A service member is exposed to cold air in environmental test chamber after undergoing a treatment called ischemic preconditioning

As efforts in the Arctic region continues to accelerate, senior leaders need to be confident that warfighters under their command will be able to operate at peak effectiveness for long periods in extreme cold. That’s why experts in nutrition, physical performance, and extreme environments from the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine ...

Article
Jan 14, 2025

U.S. Army Provides Soldiers, Families Variety of Mind, Body Resources

Chaplains and religious affairs specialists provide various types of counseling and training

As the new year begins, soldiers, their families and U.S. Army civilians have a variety of tools and programs available to support their overall well-being. From holistic health and fitness initiatives to spiritual readiness resources, free counseling, sleep assistance, and family support programs, the U.S. Army is committed to fostering resilience ...

Article
Jan 7, 2025

January is National Radon Action Month: Learn to Manage Risk

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated January as National Radon Action Month

The Environmental Protection Agency has designated January as National Radon Action Month, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has chosen the last week of January as Radon Awareness Week. This is the perfect time to think about testing your home for radon.

Article
Dec 27, 2024

Frozen on the Slopes: How a Soldier Learned from a Close Call

Graphic of someone on skis falling in the snow

Several years ago, I was stationed in Colorado. I’d never snow skied, but after my first initiation-by-fire trip, I was feeling comfortable and actually considered myself a somewhat fearless skier. I would go hard and fast until I hit something or just fell. Ski equipment would scatter from where I fell to where I slid to a stop—meaning I spent a lot ...

Video
Dec 9, 2024

Warrior Care: A Marine Finds Community with Art

Warrior Care: A Marine Finds Community with Art

Lance Cpl Sara Vanegas is a Marine with the Wounded Warriors Batallion East at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. She is a talented artist who is finding community through her art and the Warrior Care Program. Learn more about the many resources and programs available at health.mil/warriorcare.

Article
Dec 2, 2024

Military Health Expert Explains how Strength is Relative to Body Weight

People working out outside

Each military service selects its physical fitness tests to meet its unique mission needs. All services’ fitness tests include measures of aerobic fitness, such as a timed run, and muscular health, such as the push-up. Depending on the service, the fitness test can include sprinting, carrying weighted items, or deadlifts.

Article
Nov 27, 2024

Veteran Experiencing Vision Loss Finds New Hope Through Blind Rehabilitation Center

For help dealing with the emotional challenges of his vision loss, as well as the daily physical challenges he faced, veteran Charles Alewine, was referred to the Major Charles Robert Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veteran’s Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center in Long Beach, California. The BRC offered him the support system he desperately needed.

For help dealing with the emotional challenges of his vision loss, as well as the daily physical challenges he faced, veteran Charles Alewine, was referred to the Major Charles Robert Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veteran’s Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center in Long Beach, California. The BRC offered him the support system he desperately needed.

Topic
Nov 6, 2024

Research & Innovation

Defense Department’s overall investment for medical research and development (R&D) with Research, Development, Testing, and Development (RDT&E) dollars.

Skip subpage navigation
Refine your search
Last Updated: March 06, 2025
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on X Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery