College Warrior Athlete Initiative and academic nursing

Objective: The College Warrior Athlete Initiative (CWAI) determined if a key element of military occupational culture, referred to as the "battle-buddy" concept of pairing college athletes with veterans, could be applied to Student Service Members/Veterans (SSM/V) health promotion. Participants: Fifty veterans of fifty-seven enrolled completed the program in seven separate cohorts between 2016 and 2017. Methods: The veteran-student athlete pairs or small groups exercised twice a week for 75 min under the supervision of a certified athletic trainer and attended wellness classes. Results: Of the data from 50 veterans, over 2/3rd of veterans lost weight during their 12-week program and reported increased overall health, mood, energy levels and social engagement. Conclusions: This exercise intervention program implemented at two university campuses indicates the benefits of engaging SSM/Vs and college students for physical exercise to improve health. Results provide a foundation for academic nursing in conjunction with other university departments to increase peer cohesion and a sense of community for SSM/Vs.