Frequently Asked Questions

Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the ARMOR Project aims to find out what processes helps soldiers stay healthy and resilient in the face of stress. Specifically, this study will help us learn how soldiers adapt to the stresses of basic training and will look at the effects of military training on brain processes. The strategic information that will be generated by this research is critical to developing new ways to enhance resilience and improve the health and well-being of service members and veterans.

ARMOR Research Staff work closely with the Minnesota National Guard to identify soldiers who may be potentially eligible to participate in the study. A person must meet the following criteria to be eligible for ARMOR:

• At least 18 years old (Service Members under age 18 may participate in the survey only)
• Enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard
• Have not shipped to Basic Combat Training (BCT)

NIH and the Minnesota National Guard are committed to advancing knowledge of what makes soldiers resilient, and the ARMOR Project is one of the most comprehensive studies of resilience in U.S. service members today. Service members enrolled in this study have a unique opportunity to take part in cutting edge research that could improve the training and well-being of future soldiers and veterans across the country.

The ARMOR Project is a longitudinal cohort study. This means that rather than taking a snapshot, a cohort study follows the same group of individuals over time. Participating in this study involves completing a series of surveys before and after basic training. We will ask you to complete a survey about every 6 months (e.g., after returning from BCT, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months).

Some soldiers may also be asked to participate in a laboratory component that includes EEG testing (recording of brain wave patterns) and an MRI scan of the brain while performing challenging computer-based puzzles and games as well as a clinical interview.

Participants will be compensated up to $220 for the survey component, and up to $400 for the laboratory component (total of $620).

As an ARMOR participant, you are essential to the project's success. You will be part of an important project that positively impacts the health and well-being of future service members and veterans. It is important that we receive survey responses from you before and after BCT so that we can understand how soldiers respond and adapt to the challenges of basic training.  

The information you provide is for research purposes only and will not be made available to your superiors or promotion boards.

If you move, we ask that you contact us via phone or email to let us know your new contact information. Contact the ARMOR project at 612-467-5509 or 1-800-444-0945 Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:00pm. You can also update your contact information on this website at this link.

This research is confidential. All data and information obtained about you in this study, as an individual, will be kept in privacy. A numbered code will keep people from linking your name to your survey responses. Only authorized researchers have access to the data. Your information is very secure. No personal identifying information will ever be released and your digital survey responses are protected by all measures required by the VA and University of Minnesota computer security regulations.

Contact the ARMOR project at 612-467-5509 or 1-800-444-0945 Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:00pm.

Yes, as long as you finish it within the time window allotted for the given survey.

Yes you can! You have the option to take your ARMOR surveys on a phone, tablet, or laptop - whichever is most convenient for you!

We would still like to hear from you if you return to training or are deployed. We understand that you may have limited availability, so feel free to let us know that when we call to remind you to complete your survey. It's important that we try to collect survey responses from ARMOR participants every 6 months, so please try to complete your survey during any down time you might have.

The ARMOR Project team will be working with the Minnesota National Guard Recruitment Sustainment Platoon units to learn about opportunities to invite new participants at upcoming drill weekends. You can also contact us to find out when we will be visiting your unit. 

Yes! Regardless of your relationship with the Minnesota Army National Guard, you can still participate! As a participant in ARMOR, you are essential to the project's success and we want to hear from you. You are part of a small group of soldiers selected for this study and every response is valuable. In fact, separation from the military puts you in a very unique position to tell us about your experiences. We would greatly appreciate you completing your follow-up surveys. 

Resilience is the ability to adapt and "bounce back" after a challenging event or overcome a series of obstacles. Most soldiers are resilient and can bounce back after a lot of tough challenges. Research also shows that people are not born with a fixed amount of resilience. Like a muscle, you can build it up and draw on it when you need it. The ARMOR Project will help us learn how soldiers adapt to the stresses of basic combat training and will look at the effects of military training on brain processes. By doing this, we can see how soldiers respond and adapt to the challenges of BCT, which can help us develop new ways to increase resilience and support future soldiers.