Warrior Research Center | College of Education

Warrior Research Center Capabilities

WRC Capabilities Brief by Dr. JoEllen Sefton Maximizing Readiness Through Improved Health and Performance

The Auburn University Warrior Research Center (WRC) is a specialized research and technology center with the mission of improving force readiness. AU WRC acts as a catalyst for change, bringing together researchers, Military and tactical personnel, government, and commercial partners with the goal of improving equipment, health, performance and wellness of our Service Members, tactical responders, Veterans and Families

Environmental Questions: How can we keep them safe? How well do Tactical Athletes perform in the heat/cold? What is the best way to cool/warm them? Is there a work/rest ratio? Will they use it? How does clothing and equipment impact heat/cold performance / safety? How does acclimatization work? Can we test for it? Can current cooling methods make things worse? How does the heat/cold impact performance? How does the environment impact decision making and response time?

Environmental Factors: Sample Publications

Load Carriage and HSM: Standard load for Soldiers and Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan was 60-120 lbs Firefighters 20 – 100+ lbs Police carriage weight 25-30 lbs Helmets create neck/shoulder issues for all tactical athletes Neck, shoulder and back pain are common Equipment not designed for females or smaller males

How do environmental factors impact physical and cognitive performance? What is the current wellness of our tactical athletes? How can we help them improve given the job, resource and time constraints? What are the best ways to start ROTC Cadets off right in their careers? How does equipment/clothing impact performance in the heat/cold?

Injury Prevention, Treatment, Rehabilitation

What factors lead to injury? How can we predict injury? Can we prevent them? How can we speed RTD? Without increase repeat injury? If we see issues sooner, can we RTD faster? YES!!! How can we personalize interventions instead of one size fits all?

Images of Warrior Research Center personnel at various events and activities

Click here to download a PDF of the Warrior Research Center Capabilities Brief.

MISSION: Assist the United States Armed Forces and to maximize readiness through improved Warrior health and wellness, improved physical and technical performance, and innovative vehicles and equipment in order to fight and win in a complex world. To improve health, wellness, and performance for all tactical athletes enabling them to safely complete the occupational demands of their jobs while staying health and safe.

The Warrior Research Center (WRC):

develops protocols to reduce the number and severity of musculoskeletal injuries;
develops improved rehabilitation and treatments to improve Return to Duty tempo;
explores, develops, and rolls out new strategies to prevent acute and overuse injuries; and
reduces the long-term impact of musculoskeletal issues on our Forces.

JoEllen Sefton, Ph.D., ATC, LAT

Professor, School of Kinesiology
Director, Warrior Research Center
334-844-1694
jmsefton@auburn.edu

Outreach

The Warrior Research Center focuses on research with military, law enforcement, firefighters, Veterans and other groups.

Learn more about our extensive outreach program.

Opportunities

We collaborate with researchers from around the country to apply for funding and conduct cutting-edge research. We also have a graduate program for students looking to further their education and research, and we employ a number of individuals.

A member of the Warrior Research Center works on a computer while military members look on during a research study.

A member of the Warrior Research Center conducts research with military personnel.

An Auburn Police Officer in his patrol vehicle.

The Warrior Research Center works with the Auburn Police Department to optimize officer wellness.

Warrior Research Center Capabilities

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The Warrior Research Center (WRC):

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