The United States Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) was originally established as the United States Army Aeromedical Research Unit (USAARU) in October 1962. As envisioned by Major General Spurgen Neel, U.S. Army (Retired), the unit’s mission was to provide direct aviation medical research support to all Army aviation and airborne activities, and to provide a central aeromedical research and reference library. Technical evaluation of aircraft and personnel equipment, aeromedical in-flight observations, and field problems analysis reported by other aviation agencies were part of the unit’s early research program.

In 1969, USAARU was redesignated a Laboratory. Construction began on a new vivarium, and a year later, the Helicopter In-flight Monitoring System (HIMS), an airborne system capable of simultaneously measuring pilot and helicopter performance, was designed, built, and installed aboard the Laboratory’s JUH-1J research helicopter. Lighting systems and paint schemes for collision avoidance were being addressed.

In May 1978, ground was broken for a new laboratory facility, with completion in March 1981. During the 1980s, USAARL scientists and support staff became increasingly involved in field studies throughout the Army in assessing hazards of military systems and operations, and biomedical means of enhancing soldier selection, performance, and protection.

Today, laboratory and field studies continue on the ground and in helicopter flight in those research disciplines unique to USAARL – vision and visual enhancement/protection, auditory injury/protection, impact injury/protection, jolt effects, crew stress/workload, and physiological life support. JUH-1V and JUH-60A aircraft and an NUH-60 flight simulator with specialized cockpit environmental controls help researchers with their flight performance investigations.

Physicians, engineers, and safety experts work together to understand human injuries and damage to personal protective equipment from a crash. Researchers analyze and correct design and operational deficiencies in flight helmets, crashworthy seating, restraint systems, and develop criteria for future Objective Force Warfighter systems.

In 1990, USAARL was honored with the Department of Defense Award for Excellence. For its support and contributions to Desert Shield/Desert Storm, USAARL was awarded the Army Superior Unit Award in 1992.

In April 2004, USAARL was dedicated in memory of the “Father of Army Aviation Medicine,” Major General Neel, for his integral role in the development of the principles of aeromedical evacuation of battlefield casualties.

About the USAARL Emblem

According to lore, the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) emblem was created in the early 1960s to establish the newly created U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Unit’s identity.  The distinctive unit insignia was designed by several researchers and a graphic artist.

The staff entwined with the one serpent, originating in mythology, is symbolic of medicine, healing, and life-giving powers.  Maroon (sanguine) and argent (silver or white) are the colors used by all Army medical organizations.  The Army symbol, a star, is depicted by the letter “A” and the silver wings, which symbolize flight.  Gold and black are colors associated with Army Aviation. 

The sciences studied at the Laboratory are represented by the Greek letter “sigma” symbolizing science and mathematics, and the Greek letter “psi” symbolizing physics, psychology, and psychiatry. 

The gender symbol for males was used from the early 1960s until late 1977 when it was redrawn to represent both males and females, although this symbol is not standard as drawn. 

The symbol for infinity represents USAARL’s never ending commitment – through research - to preserve and enhance the health, safety, combat effectiveness, and survivability of the Soldier.

The surrounding ribbon stands for honor.

The USAARL’s mission is to preserve and enhance the health, safety, combat effectiveness, and survivability of the U.S. Army Aviator and the Soldier. Our vision comprises five major task areas:

• Reduce health hazards and improve human performance in Army aviation platforms, tactical combat vehicles, and weapons systems.
• Evaluate and mitigate health hazards of noise, acceleration, impact, visual demands, and stress and fatigue of systems operators.
• Enhance aviation and combat life support equipment through improved design and performance requirements.
• Assist in the development of entry and retention criteria for specialized high performance military occupations.
• Evaluate medical devices for use aboard military medical evacuation aircraft.

"Through research, the USAARL supports the U.S. Army Medical Department’s mission to “conserve the fighting strength.”

The objectives of USAARL's research programs are to prevent or minimize health hazards in the military operations environment and sustain the aviator’s individual performance. The laboratory conducts research in acoustics, vision, crew workload, stress and fatigue, and life support systems.

The objectives of USAARL’s research programs are to prevent or minimize health hazards in the military operations environment and sustain the aviator’s individual performance. The laboratory conducts research in acoustics, vision, crew workload, stress and fatigue, and life support systems. Current research efforts focus on the health hazards of Army aviation, tactical vehicles, selected weapons systems, and airborne operations.

• Head supported mass effects on soldiers
• Helmet impact and protection
• Crashworthiness and injury protection
• Safety and life support equipment evaluation
• Aircrew communications and hearing protection
• Aeromedical device testing and certification
• Health effects of repeated jolt
  status monitoring
• Corneal topography and optical aberration modeling
• Vision, visual performance, and vision standards
• Aircrew workload, performance, and sustainment, and pharmaceutical countermeasures
• Aircrew selection and retention
• Cockpit displays, display/systems integration, and night vision goggles compatibility
• Spatial disorientation, fatigue, and crew coordination
• Circadian rhythm effects on performance
• Physiological status monitoring

To accomplish its mission and research objectives, the USAARL utilizes a variety of Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDTE) facilities, including:

• NUH60 Blackhawk research helicopter flight simulator with environmentally controlled cockpit
• Instrumented JUH60A helicopter equipped with aircrew performance and
• physiological flight data recording systems
• Multi-axis ride simulator
• Visual science laboratories
• Anechoic and reverberation chambers
• Free-fall and standard helmet drop towers
• Sleep facility with brain mapping systems
• Real-time in-flight EEG monitoring system

In the future, the USAARL will continue to pursue its vision of becoming the Department of Defense center for excellence for rotary-wing aeromedical research and consultation on issues related to the support of the Soldier/aviator and optimization of the human-system interface. This vision will be achieved by being an organization that consistently demonstrates a total commitment to our mission and a dedication to our products and services. Our goal is to be recognized as the Army’s focal point for research and expert consultation on issues related to medical, physiological, and psychological support of the Soldier/aviator.