Wingman-Connect for early-career U.S. Air Force members
Effectiveness Trial of Wingman-Connect Implemented Across Career Phases
Wingman-Connect teaches group skills and builds supportive relationships to help early-career U.S. Air Force members handle stress and lower suicide risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145141 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you're an early-career Airman, Wingman-Connect would be delivered in small groups by regular Air Force staff during training rather than by researchers. Classes are randomized to receive either the Wingman-Connect program or an active control, and participants will be followed for one year to track outcomes. The trial measures individual suicide risk and base-level suicide attempts and examines whether improved relationships and coping explain any benefits. The program is tested under real-world conditions across two early-career phases to see how it works when run by Air Force personnel.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are early-career U.S. Air Force personnel in Initial Technical Training or the subsequent early-career phase at participating bases.
Not a fit: People not serving in the Air Force, those beyond the targeted early-career phases, or individuals needing intensive individualized psychiatric treatment may not receive benefit from this group-based prevention program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower vulnerability to suicide and reduce suicide attempts by strengthening social support and coping skills among Air Force members.
How similar studies have performed: Previous pilot and smaller studies of group-based relationship and resilience programs show promise, but large-scale randomized evidence for universal suicide prevention in the military is limited.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wyman, Peter a — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Wyman, Peter a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.