Armstrong State University recently entered into a three-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine. The university’s Department of Physical Therapy will work with the research institute to refine military screening and assessment tools used to determine readiness and deployability of soldiers.
 
“The goal of our mutual effort with Armstrong is to contribute meaningful progress towards the development of strategies to prevent injuries,” said Maj. Richard Westrick, deputy chief of the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine’s military performance division. “We also aim to reduce the time it takes soldiers to recover from musculoskeletal injuries.”
 
The Army touts medical and health readiness as a top priority. Over 300,000 musculoskeletal injuries -- which may include ankle sprains, knee injuries and shoulder dislocations -- were reported among active duty Army soldiers in 2014 and accounted for 76 percent of the medically non-ready population. Collectively, more than 10 million duty days were lost that year due to injuries.
 
“We are constantly looking to identify solutions to mitigate the effects of musculoskeletal injury on military readiness,” noted Westrick. “The great thing about collaborations between Army researchers and experts in academia is the ability to leverage expertise from both worlds.”
 
Faculty and student researchers from Armstrong’s Department of Physical Therapy have been working with units at Hunter Army Airfield and Fort Stewart to address injury risk and screening projects, which align with the mission at U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, he said. The CRADA furthers this mission by allowing soldiers to come to Armstrong’s campus and physical therapy students to go to Army posts for research purposes.
 
“It is an honor for Armstrong to join elite research universities across the U.S. who partner with the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine,” noted Nancy Henderson, who works as a full-time assistant professor in Armstrong’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program and as a part-time physical therapist with the local military bases. “It is a unique experience for our students, who, in turn can help the Army.”
 
Students in Armstrong’s physical therapy program study musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, neuromuscular and integumentary physical therapy and participate in professional clinical experiences.
 
“This is an exciting development, as we have a long history of supporting military-affiliated students and veterans,” said Armstrong President Linda M. Bleicken. “The Department of Physical Therapy’s participation in the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine’s initiative is important as we support the health and readiness of our valued military members.”
 
Armstrong is ranked 4th in the nation among four-year schools on Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges 2017 list and has been recognized as #20 in Online College Plan’s Top 4-Year Colleges for Veterans. The university has also been honored as a Top 100 Military Spouse Friendly School by Military Spouse magazine and a Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs magazine. As well, Armstrong has a Green Zone program to support military-affiliated students on campus through faculty and staff awareness training and waives all mandatory fees for active duty military.
 
In addition to providing a supportive campus environment for military-affiliated students, Armstrong is also part of a network of universities that guarantees transferability of credits for military students, provides in-state tuition for members of the military and their families and offers college credit for military experience.
 
As a complement to Armstrong’s main campus in Savannah, the university operates the Armstrong Liberty Center in Hinesville, which helps members of the military community and their families pursue higher education and earn college degrees in key fields in Liberty County. An expanded facility in downtown Hinesville opened to students in January 2016.