On June 8 - 9, 2023, military leaders, university professors, clinicians, advocates, and other thought leaders around the country attended a two-day symposium at the University of South Carolina to assess the current issue of the rise of bone stress related injuries for military trainees during initial entry military training. The two-day symposium was developed and initiated by Moncrief Army Health Clinic, led by Lieutenant Colonel Jason Dailey, Deputy Commander for Clinical Services, located at Fort Jackson, and included presentations from representatives from the University of South Carolina, Prisma Health, USARIEM, and other partner agencies.
Research conducted over the last several years has demonstrated an increase in musculoskeletal injuries amongst trainees at initial entry military training, as well as declines in physical activity, functional movement, and physical fitness levels upon military entrance. This issue poses a current and long-term threat to overall force readiness, through significant lost training time, reduction in the number of trainees who successfully complete bootcamp, and is a financial burden, costing the Department of Defense (DoD) hundreds of millions in medical care each year. As the flagship university of the state of South Carolina, which is home to Ft. Jackson and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, USC is committed strengthening partnerships and utilizing subject matter experts and advanced technological capabilities to identify strategic solutions that will mitigate this issue for the DoD.
I thought the symposium was a great success. To see our local military's leadership ability to rapidly amass national experts on a critically important topic for military readiness by creating support from the military, academia, and not-for-profit military organizations was amazing! I believe that continuing to forge and deepen the partnership between the University of South Carolina and Ft. Jackson will improve both the care of our wounded warriors and athletes of all ages. I will definitely be back next year!Dr. Benjamin Jackson
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Carolina
What a tremendous opportunity for collaboration! One of the best combined meetings I have attended in 23 years. I applaud the efforts made to bring the leading experts in bone health from across the country to Columbia to share ideas and knowledge. Exciting to witness the sharing of ideas in lectures, discussion and especially the small individual meetings! A tremendous step forward for the relationship between the military and University of South Carolina and their continued fight to improve the bone health of our athletes and soldiers.Dr. Jeffrey Guy
Orthopedic Surgeon and Team Physician, University of South Carolina
It was a great collaborative meeting bringing together leaders in orthopedics, rehabilitation, and academe to address mechanisms of bone stress injuries, rehabilitation, and a potential long-term preventative approach to promote soldier health and well-being. I am excited to see continued integration of next-level ideas to help serve the current and next generations of soldiers.Dr. Dave Stodden
Professor & Director, Human Performance & Development Lab, University of South Carolina
This symposium was merely the first step in connecting clinical, research, and educational partners together to better prevent and treat bone stress injuries. Ft. Jackson’s training population makes the issue of particular importance locally, but the lessons learned here will impact the Sports Medicine community globally.LTC Jason Dailey
Deputy Commander for Clinical Services, Moncrief Army Health Clinic
The University of South Carolina has committed to developing more DoD-related partnerships over the course of the last several years, and we look forward to cultivating these relationships in meaningful ways that supports DoD’s mission, and further establishes USC as the preeminent university in the country within the military and veteran community.Jared Evans
Executive Director, Veterans & Military Affairs, USC
