Readiness and Resilience in National Guard Soldiers (RINGS) Project
In 2006, the RINGS Project was launched by a team of researchers from the Minneapolis VA Health Care System in collaboration with the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Army National Guard. Since then, more than 3,500 people affiliated with the Minnesota and Iowa National Guards have helped with RINGS-related research. As a result, we have made major contributions to our understanding of the health and wellbeing of soldiers and their families following deployments.
Thanks to ongoing support from the Minnesota Army National Guard, the RINGS Project has continued to grow and expand its mission. Some of the highlights and successes include the following:
- Learning how soldiers are able to maintain their strength and wellbeing by exhibiting resilience.
- Exploring how post-deployment health and wellbeing can change over time.
- Understanding what types of mental healthcare services are preferred by veterans.
- Learning about the importance of families in enhancing the strength and resilience of soldiers.
- Discovering ways that soldiers and their families have faced the challenges of deployment.
- Evaluating an online training program for family members of veterans.
From RINGS to ARMOR
After over a decade of research, senior RINGS investigators Drs. Polusny and Erbes wanted to further explore the mechanisms behind resilience. In 2017, the ARMOR Study was launched to learn about how soldiers adjust to basic combat training (BCT) experiences (armor.umn.edu). This large-scale study funded through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) follows recruits before and after they return from BCT using multiple waves of survey assessments. Furthermore, ARMOR incorporates state-of-the-art functional and structural neuroimaging with the goal of measuring brain processes underlying resilience. Findings from both ARMOR and RINGS may support the development of more effective resilience-building strategies.
The RINGS and ARMOR Projects have received funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Minnesota Press. RINGS Project leaders continue to provide key information to military commanders, VA healthcare providers, national policy makers, and our local communities about how to strengthen and support military service members and their families.
The Next Iteration of RINGS
In research, it is rare for scientists to have such fruitful and long lasting relationships with participants. The ability to continually gather data over time allows us to explore long-term trajectories of resilience among veterans and their partners. This is something few research laboratories have the ability to do. We have unusual opportunities to understand how the experience of being associated with the military may shape a person years later down the road.
The next phase of RINGS involves testing new experimental measures of mental health and resilience, which will eventually enhance assessments and treatments at clinics across the country, such as VA hospitals. Your participation is critical to our research! We value your time and look forward to learning more about the experiences of soldiers and partners based on your responses.
