USAF TSOMPT Fellowship
7/9/2018 12:00:00 AM | General
CURRICULUM | PUBLICATIONS / PRESENTATIONS
FACILITIES / RESOURCES |ADMISSIONS |FACULTY
About
Mission Statement: Produce agile, critical, interdisciplinary experts in operational physical therapy who treat, regenerate and prepare the human weapon system to operate in any environment.
Vision Statement: Physical therapy leaders exemplifying the highest standards of practice, shaping policy, and educating others.
Program Goals
1. Master Clinician: Graduates will be neuromusculoskeletal experts who demonstrate clinical mastery by efficiently analyzing, synthesizing, and contributing to the evidence base,ensuring clinically adaptive and cutting-edge care for the operational force.
2. Force Regeneration Specialist: Graduates will optimize the force's ability to treat and regenerate the human weapon system. They will design and execute advanced recovery protocols that measurably decrease non-deployable status and accelerate return-to-duty timelines.
3. Operational Readiness Strategist: Graduates will be leaders who fluently translates mission requirements into targeted clinical and strategic action. They will expertly analyze operational requirements, communicate risk, and integrate Physical Therapy's role to measurably elevate unit and command operational readiness across the Air Force.
4. Human Performance Expert: The Fellow will demonstrate advanced expertise across the spectrum of human performance, providing specialized musculoskeletal consultation and planning that measurably enhances force resilience, capacity, and durability in any environment.
5. Master Learner & Policy Shaper: Graduates will embody the qualities of a master learner by demonstrating continuous clinical and professional development. They will proactively amplify the application of evidence and actively shape policy and practice standards for Physical Therapy at the Department of War (DoW), national, and global levels.
Program History
The USAF Tactical Sports & Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (TSOMPT) Fellowship began in late 2014 as the brainchild of then-USAF Associate Corps Chief for Physical Therapy Col Joe Rogers. Air Force PT had been embedding PTs in Special Warfare (then known as Battlefield Airman) units since 2011 and the supply of PTs with the skills required in this environment was minimal. Col Rogers directed Lt Col Joel Dixon (now Col, retired), and Lt Cols (now both retired) Brian Young and Eric Wilson to assess the training needs and opportunities for AF PTs prior to embedding them in SW units. They determined that there was not a civilian or military training program that could meet all the training needs for this population. At that time, Col Rogers directed Lt Col Wilson to develop a training program that would fill this void. In early 2015, it was determined an OMPT Fellowship located at the USAF Academy would be able to provide the training necessary to prepare AF PTs for embedded positions. In the spring of 2015, final coordination occurred between AFPC and the 10 MDG (at USAFA) to locate the fellowship at USAFA, with the initial cohort starting in June 2016. HPERB approved 1 funded and 1 unfunded Fellow each (later, both were funded) for a 14-month program. Col Rogers appointed Lt Col Wilson as the Program Director and Lt Col Dixon as the Deputy Program Director.
On 19 October 2015 the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency & Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) recognized TSOMPT as a developing program. Dr. Derek Vraa was added as faculty in January 2016. January and February 2016 were spent preparing TSOMPT's accreditation application package. In May 2016, TSOMPT received provisional accreditation just in time for the start of Cohort #1.
In the fall of 2017, the Special Warfare Training Wing at Lackland AFB, TX was standing up and approved three full-time faculty billets (1 active-duty, 2 civilian) in the Special Warfare Human Performance Squadron (SWHPS). In 2018-2019 the Associate Corps Chief for Physical Therapy, Col Jim Shields, changed the PD to an active-duty PT position and the APD to a GS position. In the summer of 2019, two additions were made to the TSOMPT faculty. After graduating from TSOMPT's 3rd cohort, Maj Adrian Marrero was added as a full-time faculty member, and Lt Col Dan Watson was named the program director.
In 2022 the program secured an increase in program length from 14- to 18-months. Cohort 8, beginning in January 2024, was the first cohort to complete the 18-month program.
Shifting AF priorities has required the Fellowship to adapt to emerging needs. A major part of this adaptation has been rebranding the program to the USAF Physical Therapy Operational Readiness Fellowship beginning in January 2025. The Fellowship remains well-positioned to continue to produce clinicians and leaders primed to meet the increasing demand across the Air Force.
FACILITIES / RESOURCES |ADMISSIONS |FACULTY
About
Mission Statement: Produce agile, critical, interdisciplinary experts in operational physical therapy who treat, regenerate and prepare the human weapon system to operate in any environment.
Vision Statement: Physical therapy leaders exemplifying the highest standards of practice, shaping policy, and educating others.
Program Goals
1. Master Clinician: Graduates will be neuromusculoskeletal experts who demonstrate clinical mastery by efficiently analyzing, synthesizing, and contributing to the evidence base,ensuring clinically adaptive and cutting-edge care for the operational force.
2. Force Regeneration Specialist: Graduates will optimize the force's ability to treat and regenerate the human weapon system. They will design and execute advanced recovery protocols that measurably decrease non-deployable status and accelerate return-to-duty timelines.
3. Operational Readiness Strategist: Graduates will be leaders who fluently translates mission requirements into targeted clinical and strategic action. They will expertly analyze operational requirements, communicate risk, and integrate Physical Therapy's role to measurably elevate unit and command operational readiness across the Air Force.
4. Human Performance Expert: The Fellow will demonstrate advanced expertise across the spectrum of human performance, providing specialized musculoskeletal consultation and planning that measurably enhances force resilience, capacity, and durability in any environment.
5. Master Learner & Policy Shaper: Graduates will embody the qualities of a master learner by demonstrating continuous clinical and professional development. They will proactively amplify the application of evidence and actively shape policy and practice standards for Physical Therapy at the Department of War (DoW), national, and global levels.
Program History
The USAF Tactical Sports & Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (TSOMPT) Fellowship began in late 2014 as the brainchild of then-USAF Associate Corps Chief for Physical Therapy Col Joe Rogers. Air Force PT had been embedding PTs in Special Warfare (then known as Battlefield Airman) units since 2011 and the supply of PTs with the skills required in this environment was minimal. Col Rogers directed Lt Col Joel Dixon (now Col, retired), and Lt Cols (now both retired) Brian Young and Eric Wilson to assess the training needs and opportunities for AF PTs prior to embedding them in SW units. They determined that there was not a civilian or military training program that could meet all the training needs for this population. At that time, Col Rogers directed Lt Col Wilson to develop a training program that would fill this void. In early 2015, it was determined an OMPT Fellowship located at the USAF Academy would be able to provide the training necessary to prepare AF PTs for embedded positions. In the spring of 2015, final coordination occurred between AFPC and the 10 MDG (at USAFA) to locate the fellowship at USAFA, with the initial cohort starting in June 2016. HPERB approved 1 funded and 1 unfunded Fellow each (later, both were funded) for a 14-month program. Col Rogers appointed Lt Col Wilson as the Program Director and Lt Col Dixon as the Deputy Program Director.
On 19 October 2015 the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency & Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) recognized TSOMPT as a developing program. Dr. Derek Vraa was added as faculty in January 2016. January and February 2016 were spent preparing TSOMPT's accreditation application package. In May 2016, TSOMPT received provisional accreditation just in time for the start of Cohort #1.
In the fall of 2017, the Special Warfare Training Wing at Lackland AFB, TX was standing up and approved three full-time faculty billets (1 active-duty, 2 civilian) in the Special Warfare Human Performance Squadron (SWHPS). In 2018-2019 the Associate Corps Chief for Physical Therapy, Col Jim Shields, changed the PD to an active-duty PT position and the APD to a GS position. In the summer of 2019, two additions were made to the TSOMPT faculty. After graduating from TSOMPT's 3rd cohort, Maj Adrian Marrero was added as a full-time faculty member, and Lt Col Dan Watson was named the program director.
In 2022 the program secured an increase in program length from 14- to 18-months. Cohort 8, beginning in January 2024, was the first cohort to complete the 18-month program.
Shifting AF priorities has required the Fellowship to adapt to emerging needs. A major part of this adaptation has been rebranding the program to the USAF Physical Therapy Operational Readiness Fellowship beginning in January 2025. The Fellowship remains well-positioned to continue to produce clinicians and leaders primed to meet the increasing demand across the Air Force.
Program Outcomes
93% Pass Rate
Air Force Hockey holds on against Mercyhurst Saturday Night
Sunday, February 15
Stacy McIntyre and Player POST SJSU
Saturday, February 14
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Saturday, February 14
Falcons drop shootout to Mercyhurst on Friday
Saturday, February 14
