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.'"