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BRIDGEPORT, Calif. (Feb. 22, 2026) Rebecca McClintock, a research physiologist with Naval Health Research Center’s (NHRC) Environmental & Thermal Physiology team, meets with a military medical student in the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center lecture hall, to establish a baseline on his ability to recall a 9-line medical evacuation request and to record current levels of stress and anxiety prior to his cold-water immersion experience. These baseline results allow the researchers to build a clearer picture on the effects of the cold-water shock response on warfighters and analyze critical components that determine their ability to get back into the fight. Through its cold-water immersion studies, NHRC develops life-saving strategies that enable the warfighter to overcome the initial, lethal shock of entering frigid water. This vital research provides U.S. Naval, Marine Corps, and joint forces with the tools to maintain cognitive function and enhance survivability in the most extreme maritime environments. (U.S. Navy photo by Matthew Reyes/released)