COVID-19: Staff List Table

It has been reported (Wounded Warrior Project Survey, 2019) that up to 70% of Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (Warriors) have difficulty reintegrating into civilian life post deployments. This is especially due to multiple deployments, disconnection from family life, a deep-rooted connection to military culture, camaraderie and reliance on one another under difficult combat circumstances, and exposures to horrific events and moral challenges. Our veterans return home feeling disconnected and lost. They often develop unhealthy habits, gain significant amounts of weight, begin to smoke and/or excessively consume alcohol or other drugs, become isolated, and depressed and lose self-confidence and motivation. They rarely have a place to go to where they are welcome, where they can become healthy again, and where they can make new lifelong trusted friends.

Most of the Warriors are close in age to university undergraduate and graduate students and would benefit greatly by participating in a fitness/wellness program with University of Delaware student athlete “Workout Buddies” where they can also learn about health and wellness in sessions led by University of Delaware faculty content experts. Most Warriors were in top physical and mental shape while on active duty. Warriors respond to challenges. College athletes have a likeminded culture – team cohesion, hard word, encouraging each other, challenging each other to become better, always having each other’s backs. Warriors and college athletes are a good match for this program, not only for the warriors, but also for the athletes.

The aims of this project are:
1. To provide a welcoming community where post 9-11 Veterans, active duty military members and members of the Military Reserves and/or National Guard (a.k.a., Warriors) who have been deployed can come to work out with UD Athletes as workout buddies under the direction of an athletic trainer;
2. To provide health and wellness classes to those listed above, presented by UD faculty and community content experts;
3. To measure the effects (physiological and psychological) this program has on the health and wellness of this military/veteran population; and
4. To learn about the effects of participating in this program has on volunteer student athletes.

PI, Co-PIs, and Project Contributors will complete the UD online COVID-19 employee safety training.

Program activities will follow current Centers for Disease Control and University of Delaware COVID-19 protocols throughout each 12-week session. The following COVID Protocols will be implemented:

All PIs, trainers, and participants, regardless of immunization status, will:

Be strongly encouraged to complete a COVID test, present evidence of negative test within 1 week of first arrival on campus

If a participant tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days prior to coming to campus, then evidence of positive COVID-19 test is to be provided to the PI. No Testing required.

Complete the UD online symptom checker prior to each on-campus session at the following link: https://delawarecx.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9nLQscASC7uHbvv

Register a temperature of <99F upon arrival to the facility

Apply hand sanitizer upon arrival to the facility

Maintain a minimum 6 feet distance from participants

Wear a mask at all times

Use personal exercise mat for floor exercises and sanitizing wipes to clean the mat at the completion of the workout session

Wipe all exercise equipment with sanitizing wipes before and after each use and between participants

During meals, when masks are removed a 12-foot distance will be maintained

Individually bagged meals will be provided.

While drinking water maintain 12-foot distance from all others.

Apply hand sanitizer upon departure from the facility

Additionally all PIs, trainers, participants will be encouraged to :

● Be responsible. Limit your participation in off-campus gatherings. As current/future health care professionals or biomedical scientists, be diligent about following University guidance and lead by example.

● Monitor your health. Don’t come to campus if you are not feeling well.

● Stay well informed. Guidance on how to keep yourself and others safe can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html and https://www.udel.edu/home/coronavirus

● Limit any non-essential travel. Be aware of University and State guidance on traveling.

Veterans and student athletes will be required to sign the attached Covid expectations form at the time they sign the program consent form. A copy of the form with be given to the Veterans and student athletes.

• All Warrior participants must have a letter from their primary care provider stating that they are medically cleared to participate in this project.
• Veteran participants must have a DD214 (Military discharge document) demonstrating that they have been honorably or generally discharged from the military. Active duty and National Guard or Reserve participants must have letters of approval to participate from their commanding officer.
• Each cohort will consist of up to twelve veterans/military members and twelve UD Athletes. The cohort will be split into two groups for workouts and will all meet together for wellness classes each academic semester.
• Each cohort will participate in a 12-week session. A minimum of 80% attendance is required to continue in the program.
• There will be two choices of workout/meeting times. Days and times may vary from semester to semester, depending upon workout space availability
• UD Athlete Volunteers must attend a two-hour orientation to the program, that will include information on military culture, the week prior to the start of the session.
• Veteran and military participants must attend a two-hour orientation to the program.
• Each participant will be paired with a UD College Athlete volunteer to be workout buddies.
• Workout sessions will be held twice a week for 75-minutes each session and will include warm ups, cardio and strength and conditioning exercises, and a cool down session.
• Before or after each workout session, participants will attend one-hour health and wellness classes based on the VCAT Health and Wellness 12-week Model as presented by UD faculty and content experts.
• Each participant will be given a Fit Bit® activity/sleep tracker. Participants will monitor their own daily activities. No data will be collected from these Fit Bits

Beatrice Gaynor

TITLE: Co-I, EMAIL: bgaynor@udel.edu, CONTACT: 3023999179, LAB/FACILITY: FRED RUST ICE ARENA, RM# Weight room

Andrew Douwes

TITLE: Research Assistant, EMAIL: amdouwes@udel.edu, CONTACT: 3016765664, LAB/FACILITY: FRED RUST ICE ARENA, RM# Weight Room

Chayanna Gallargo

TITLE: Research Assistant, EMAIL: chayanna@udel.edu, CONTACT: , LAB/FACILITY: FRED RUST ICE ARENA, RM# Weight Room

Jennifer Graber

TITLE: Co-I, EMAIL: jgraber@udel.edu, CONTACT: 3028318394, LAB/FACILITY: FRED RUST ICE ARENA, RM# Weight room