Challenges of Operational Environments Study

Recent suicide clusters aboard Naval vessels (e.g., the USS George Bush, the USS George Washington) have highlighted a critical need to better understand risk factors for suicide among various shipboard environments (e.g., in maintenance yards, at sea). Unfortunately, extremely limited research to date has identified individual and organizational factors that are directly associated with harmful and destructive behaviors, including suicidality, in a variety of Naval environments. In response, the Office of Naval Research and the Defense Health Agency have funded a longitudinal study called the Challenges of Operational Environments Study to identify specific shipboard stressors associated with different phases of the aircraft carrier life cycle and determine the effects of these stressors on Sailor’s mental and behavioral health and readiness. Research is needed to provide the Navy with in-depth information on specific risks to Sailors at each phase of the carrier cycle, such that allocation of resources to prevent suicidality and other mental/behavioral health problems can be tailored to meet potentially unique needs at each phase. Additionally, findings from the proposed effort will be used to develop targeted recommendations to improve Sailor mental health and wellbeing that will be provided directly to Navy leaders.

The latest form for Challenges of Operational Environments Study expires 2027-11-30 and can be found here.

Challenges of Operational Environments Survey

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Defense and National Security - Operational Defense