Military Recruits Research Articles

The PREFIT Study: Bone-Targeted Pre-conditioning Reduces Musculoskeletal Injury and Associated Costs in Australian Army Recruit Training

The PREFIT Study: Bone-Targeted Pre-conditioning Reduces Musculoskeletal Injury and Associated Costs in Australian Army Recruit Training

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia Among Military Recruits Undergoing Basic Combat Training

ABSTRACT Introduction The first period of military service consists of a physically and mentally challenging basic combat training (BCT) program. Factors like demanding physical exercise, limited recovery time, and restricted diet choice and food intake may challenge iron intake and homeostasis in recruits undergoing BCT. Iron-deficient individuals may experience reduced work capacity, fatigue, weakness, frequent infections, and increased injury risk. Limited knowledge is available on the extent of this potential health risk among military recruits. The aim of the present study was to systematically review published studies on the prevalence and change in prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency (ID), and ID anemia (IDA) among recruits undergoing BCT. Materials and Methods Electronic searches were conducted in the databases Medline (Ovid), Embase (Embase.com), and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics) from database inception up until April 16, 2024. Inclusion criteria were observational studies with both cross-sectional and observational longitudinal designs that examined the effects of BCT (intervention) on iron status (outcome) in military recruits (population). Extracted data were the number of participants (n), age, sex, country/population, BCT duration, and relevant measures of prevalence and changes in prevalence of anemia, ID, and IDA (primary outcome) and physical performance, mood state, stress fractures, attrition rate, and nutritional supplements (secondary outcomes). The study quality and risk of bias were assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data and The National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool for Before-After (Pre-Post) Studies With No Control Group. Meta-analyses were performed using restricted maximum-likelihood models, and the effect size was calculated as Cohen’s h with 95% CI. Results Twenty-two articles were systematically reviewed (n = 111,764 men and 12,650 women), and six of these papers (n = 388 men and 773 women) were included in the meta-analysis. There was a varying prevalence of anemia, ID, and IDA among military recruits at the start of BCT. Results from meta-analyses showed negligible and nonsignificant effects of BCT on the prevalence of anemia, ID, and IDA. The quality of the included cross-sectional studies ranging from fair to good, whereas a large proportion of the included longitudinal studies were classified as poor. No sign of publication bias was found. Conclusions The prevalence of anemia, ID, and IDA in military recruits seems not to be affected by the completion of BCT shorter than 16 weeks, whereas the effects of longer BCT durations remain unclear. Even though body iron homeostasis seems unaffected, adequate energy and nutritional intake should remain a priority. Future research could focus on dietary interventions to determine the optimal diet among female recruits in specifically exposed populations.

Drafting restraint: Are military recruitment policies associated with interstate conflict initiation?

Are countries that use conscription more restrained in their use of military force? A common argument holds that military conscription restrains leaders from using force because it increases the political cost of war and distributes them more evenly and broadly across the population. Despite this intuition, empirical evidence to support it is at best inconclusive. This article introduces a novel perspective on the relationship between military recruitment (MR) policies and conflict initiation (CI) by arguing that the military’s size relative to society – its military participation rate (MPR) – is an important and overlooked part of this story. MPR is a more direct measure of the population’s exposure to the costs of war, but high MPR may also increase CI by enhancing military capacity. By incorporating MPR into the analysis of CI, both independently and in interaction with conscription, this article provides a more comprehensive understanding of how MR practices shape CI. It tests these new hypotheses about the relationship between MPR, conscription and CI using a variety of time-series models that cover all country-years from 1816 to 2011. The findings do not support the conventional wisdom, instead revealing that neither conscription nor volunteerism is independently associated with restrained initiation of military conflicts abroad. On the contrary, these recruitment practices are more likely to be associated with an increase in the likelihood of CI. These findings indicate that we should be skeptical of traditional arguments that assume conscription leads to restraint in the use of force, either independently or conditional on MPR. These counterintuitive results underscore the need for additional research on the complex relationship between MR practices, civil–military relations and foreign policy.

P-064 Adolescent varicocele: clinical profile and impact of treatment

Abstract Study question What is the clinical presentation of adolescent varicocele and the impact of its repair on semen quality? Summary answer Adolescent varicocele usually presents as testicular pain and does not influence semen quality. Varicocele ligation does not impact postoperative semen results in this patient population. What is known already Varicocele is a common condition characterized by the abnormal dilation of the pampiniform plexus of veins resulting in testicular dysfunction and impaired semen quality. While the effect of varicocelectomy on the fertility potential of adult men has been commonly explored, its impact on semen parameters of adolescents is less commonly investigated. Study design, size, duration The charts of 2171 patients who underwent microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy for clinically palpable disease between 2011-2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients <19 years of age were included in the analysis. Participants/materials, setting, methods The patients’ medical charts were reviewed to include demographic and clinical characteristics; indication of surgery, body mass index, testis size, grade of clinical disease, vein diameter (assessed with scrotal ultrasound) and semen analysis results (WHO 2010). Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed Ranked. Mean ± SD and median (IQR) were used to report normally and non-normally distributed data, respectively. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. Main results and the role of chance A total of 94 adolescent patients were included in the study. Their mean BMI was 22.14±5 Kg/m2, mean left testis size was 12.26 ± 3.05 cm3 and right testis size 13.26±3.94 cm3. The maximum vein diameter 4.7±1.04 mm and right vein diameter 2.21±0.83 mm. 83 patients underwent unilateral Microsurgical Varicocelectomy while 5 patients underwent bilateral Microsurgical Varicocelectomy. Left varicocele was of grades 3, 2 and 1 in 65, 18 and 11 patients, respectively. Surgery was indicated for testis size discrepancy in 36.2% of cases and on elective basis (prior to army recruitment) in 63.8% of cases. Table 1 presents the pre- and post-operative semen parameter results. Patients had normal pre-operative medians of sperm count, total motility and normal morphology. No significant post-operative changes were observed in the semen quality of adolescents. Limitations, reasons for caution Results were obtained from a relatively small sample size. However, varicocele is less commonly performed on adolescents necessitating further studies on this patient population. Wider implications of the findings Results of this study shed the light on the characteristics of adolescents presenting with varicocele. Trial registration number NA

Imprisoned Petticoats: Data from the Prison Records of the Jacobite Rising of 1745

Women of the Jacobite Rising of 1745 significantly contributed to the military power of the Jacobite army. Their participation with the legal system reveals important information about women’s place before the law in eighteenth-century Britain. Women of the period were able and willing to engage in Jacobite intrigue with a lessened degree of danger from capital punishment which made them important to the Jacobite movement by allowing them to assist with escape attempts, military recruitment, and espionage without the danger from judicial repercussions that their male counterparts could face. They proved to be a significant force for the Jacobite political movement, and the hopes of the Stuart claimants would not have lasted as long without the significant support received from the female demographic in eighteenth-century Britain.

Revisiting Propensity to Serve and Motivations to Enlist: Insights and Implications for Contemporary Military Recruitment Challenges and Research

As recruitment challenges persist, understanding enlistment motivations remains pivotal in ensuring military readiness and guiding evolving recruitment strategies. This article examines the enduring relevance of the 2006 study “ Propensity to Serve and Motivation to Enlist Among American Combat Soldiers” by Woodruff, Kelty, and Segal and underscores its significance amid contemporary military recruitment challenges. The original article was selected to be profiled as part of the 50th anniversary issue. Building on work by some of the most important names in military sociology, our research underscores the critical importance of understanding the complex interplay of factors influencing enlistment decisions and the effects of declining propensity to serve for all-volunteer militaries. By recognizing the multifaceted nature of enlistment motivations, we emphasize the importance of tailored approaches to attract diverse cohorts of recruits. Our study not only contributes to military sociology and recruiting actions but has also informed policy discussions, stimulated interdisciplinary research, and facilitated the transmission of scholarly knowledge and mentorship to future generations of scholars and leaders.

Musculoskeletal injury and medical discharge prevalence during Army basic training

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) pose the primary health and operational risk to the military trainee population particularly those within basic training, leading to several issues such as reduced training time, chronic morbidity, and inevitably increased medical discharge. The purpose of the study was to investigate the current incidence, prevalence, and nature of MSKIs across British Army basic training. In addition to identifying the prevalence of MSKI medical discharges concerning the type and nature of the injury. A retrospective analysis of the Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command MSKI and Medical Discharge database was undertaken. Injury data was collected from Primary Care Rehabilitation Facilities at British Army training units, using a standardised procedure. A multiple-choice questionnaire was used within the initial consultation with the clinician to determine the severity and progression of the injury, whilst consenting to a data privacy notice. Prevalence of MSKIs (% recruits) was articulated in relation to the total number of recruits starting each training year. Over the past decade MSKIs have declined from a peak of 47% in men and 58% in women in 2013/14, to 22% in men and 21% in women in the 2022/23 training year, with the prevalence of female MSKIs being lower than male counterparts for the first time in this population. Trauma and overuse injuries correspond for 48% and 52% of these MSKIs respectively in 2022/2023, whereas historically overuse injuries have been responsible for a greater proportion. These overuse and trauma injuries were most common in the early stages of training. Lower limb injuries were more prevalent throughout training, resembling 2021/22 data where lower limb injuries accounted for c.80% of total MSKIs among both sexes. The total number of MSKIs resulting in medical discharges was 70, constituting 1.1% of all recruits. Among these discharges, 54 were observed in men and 16 in women. The prevalence of MSKIs resulting in medical discharges was 4.5% in men and 12.4 % in women. The gap between MSKI prevalence between sexes has decreased with recent data showing prevalence being similar. Despite this, women had an increased risk of medical discharge, suggesting gender differences in the severity of MSKIs. To reduce MSKI prevalence, strategies should focus on lower limb injuries, with an emphasis on the early stages of training.

Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage in a Non-Athletic Child: Implications for Military Recruits.

Hemoptysis is a rare presenting symptom in pediatric and young adult patients with a highly variable outcome ranging from an isolated mild occurrence to severe illness and death. Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) has several reports in adult literature but has not previously been reported in pediatric patients. A 12-year-old female with a history of trisomy X (47, XXX), obesity, depression, anxiety, and obstructive sleep apnea presented to the pediatric pulmonology clinic after several episodes of hemoptysis. Spirometry, imaging, and laboratory evaluation for autoimmune vasculitides and other causes associated with pediatric hemoptysis did not reveal an etiology for the hemoptysis. A combined bronchoscopy with pediatric and adult providers revealed no airway lesions or sources of bleeding. EIPH is a diagnosis of exclusion. This patient was diagnosed with EIPH and had spontaneous resolution with improved fitness. Many military training and service activities are similar to those reported with EIPH. Trainees with various levels of aerobic fitness are at risk of developing EIPH. The hemoptysis evaluation is important for military providers given the range of severity in presentations, even though it is a rare occurrence. In addition to a novel presentation of EIPH, this case demonstrates the value of collaboration between pediatric and adult specialists in the Military Health System (MHS). Military care providers should be aware of this rare phenomenon in service members and trainees who are at risk during maximal aerobic effort.

Military Recruitment Wrongs the Young

Military Recruitment Wrongs the Young

Uniform as Assertion: The Politics of Caste Reservation in Colonial and Post-colonial Armed Forces of India (1930–2020)

Recruitment of lower and middle castes remained a much-debated topic in Indian electoral politics till now. On the one hand, there was intense political debate between various castes, and on the other, there was judicial and administrative debate about social justice. Even though Ambedkar tried to use it as a method of social justice and state-sponsored social alleviation, because of its connection to identity politics, it quickly became a matter of electoral mobilization. Various parties that were attempting to win over various communities with their call for military recruitment eventually strayed from the real motivation behind that Ambedkarian demand. Lastly, since the turn of the twentieth century, the new political rhetoric of Hindutva has intriguingly transformed this call for military recruitment into a different cause. This article discusses how the demand for the Chamar Regiment and the Ahir Regiment in particular became the focal point of this debate for nearly a century.

Beyond the call of duty: Reimagining military service through hero narratives in the US Army’s ‘The Calling’ campaign

Abstract This study employs Erwin Panofsky’s iconographic analysis to decode the 2021 US Army recruiting campaign ‘The Calling’, situating it against the historical backdrop of military recruitment since the all-volunteer force’s inception. Panofsky’s framework allows for a dissection of the campaign’s layered narrative and its animated aesthetics, which notably diverge from prior campaign’s emphasis on the warrior archetype. The analysis progresses from a description of visual and narrative element’s (pre-iconography), to an investigation of symbolic meanings (iconography), culminating in an interpretation of underlying societal attitudes (iconology). ‘The Calling’ reimagines military enlistment as a heroic pursuit, echoing the superhero genre’s origin stories, and emerges as a response to waning interest in military careers. The campaign targets the zeitgeist of the young American population, offering a sense of heroism as compensation in a challenging recruitment climate marked by a robust economy and low unemployment. By presenting service as a ‘calling’, the Army navigates the complex terrain of contemporary cultural values, seeking to resonate with potential recruits on an ideological level, particularly within race and gender minority communities.

The aspirational promise of soldiering: an analysis of military recruitment testimonials

ABSTRACT Young people across the globe willingly join the military, knowing that they may be required to kill, maim, and perhaps even die. Considering the starkness of this barebone condition, armed forces strive to make enlisting desirable through recruitment campaigns. While the appeal of military aspirational promises – particularly the promise of manhood – figure centrally in much critical scholarship, the detailed components of these pledges warrant closer scrutiny. This article therefore explores the aspirational promises pledged in military recruitment campaigns from the US Army and the Swedish Armed Forces. Based on a narrative analysis of video testimonials in which ‘real’ soldiers tell their enlistment stories, we lay bare the overarching story grammar made up of distinct plot points (lack, hardship, agency and growth) that comprise the aspirational promises in these campaigns. In tracing these plot points in two distinct sites, the article offers well-needed insight into how the appeal of contemporary soldiering is being constructed and how this appeal attempts to govern potential soldiers. Despite their differences, the campaigns present soldiering as a or the way to regulate and govern the self in relation to norms about what constitutes a successful, self-fulfilled or complete citizen-subject. The aspirational figures in the testimonials promise that one can redress one’s deficiencies and transcend the racialized, gendered, and classed, etc. limits one confronts in oneself and in civilian life. These soldier stories, despite their hyperreal climaxes and journeys, appear to be real and lived and theirs. Vitally, they could also be ours.

Drafting “Free and Voluntary People” in 1697 and the System of Military Recruitment in Russia on the Eve of the Northern War

In the historiography of the military reforms during Peter I’s reign, the focus has primarily been on the 1699 mass recruitment of conscripts for life (datochnye lyudi), free people (vol’nye lyudi), and itinerants (gulyashchie lyudi), as well as on the recruitment duty imposed in 1705. However, to gain a better understanding of the specifics of the Russian army’s recruitment system prior to the Northern War, the earlier mobilization measures must be considered. This article discusses the course and results of the 1697 recruitment by analyzing the regiments of K. Rigeman and D. Maine. The Order-in-Charge Prikaz records are used to disclose the recruitment mechanisms and their progress in different administrative levels and territories. In addition, the Complete Collection of Laws of the Russian Empire is studied as the major regulatory document, and I. Zhelyabuzhsky’s notes and Patrick Gordon’s diary are examined as the primary sources. Detailed descriptions are provided of where soldiers were registered, what documents were required at different stages of recruitment, and how soldiers were transported to their duty stations. The recruitment rates in various cities are shown. The social consequences faced by conscripts of different origins are outlined. It is concluded that despite the difficulties and problems at certain stages, two new regiments were quickly equipped during the 1697 recruitment. The drafting of free people and itinerants led to serious conflicts, forcing the government to gradually curtail the recruitment. Overall, the practical steps taken during the 1697 recruitment proved to be effective and determined subsequent recruitment campaigns of the late 17th century.

Military Culture's Influence on Enlistment Advice for Potential Military Recruits: An Application of Allport's Intergroup Contact Theory

Military Culture's Influence on Enlistment Advice for Potential Military Recruits: An Application of Allport's Intergroup Contact Theory

Lahure Culture and Educational Achievement in the Gorkha Communities in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal

Nepalese societies have a long history of Gurkha Army culture for centuries. There is no question about the role of this culture in enhancing the socioeconomic status of these communities from the past. However, along with its positive aspects, this trend has brought some possible adverse effects on those communities who are directly or indirectly associated with the Gurkha Army recruitment process. This study has aimed to explain the possible impact on education attainment of youth from these communities due to participation in the Army preparation and selection process. For the study explanatory research methods were used, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data for insightful investigation of the phenomenon, where 184 aspiring youths from different army training centers operated in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Kaski were selected to gather quantitative insights from young individuals from the Gurkha community actively engaged in Army preparation training. Furthermore, qualitative data was collected through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) conducted with esteemed principals and administrative figures from educational institutions offering class 11 and 12 courses in Pokhara, Kaski. The recruitment process for the Army, particularly among youths from the Gurkha communities, presents a significant challenge to educational pursuits, resulting in a diversion of focus away from academic endeavors. This trend has led to a substantial number of individuals prioritizing military training over education. Consequently, this phenomenon has adversely affected educational attainment, limiting future opportunities for these communities. Additionally, the Gurkha community’s historical involvement primarily in Gurkha recruitment has perpetuated their societal exclusion and marginalization. While self-realization within the Gurkha community is crucial, effective governmental policies promoting inclusive education and opportunities are equally imperative. Collaborative efforts between communities and policymakers are necessary to bridge these disparities, fostering an equitable environment and integration beyond traditional roles.

Chen Lifu and Characteristics of Wartime Higher Education in China (1937-1944)

The development and change of wartime higher education significantly impacted China's modern history, and its evolution was closely related to the advocacies and ideas of Chen Lifu, who served as the Minister of Education from 1938 to 1944. This paper first analyzes the merger and relocation of universities with examples such as the Southwest United Nations University and the National Central University, arguing that relocations ensured the continuity and development of higher education in China and nurtured many professional talents. The paper also focuses on the loan and publicly-funded student system, which Chen Lifu adopted mainly to compete for the youth with the Communist Party and the Japanese forces. The system helped a large number of economically disadvantaged students to complete their studies, enhanced young students' sense of responsibility towards the country, stabilized society, and increased the public's trust in the government. Besides, the paper analyzes the military recruitment of young people, briefly describes the recruitment of medical, engineering, and translation students, the peak of military recruitment, and the participation of young expeditionary force in the war, as well as the critical role of these recruitments in the victory of the war.

Equity and Inclusion in Military Recruitment: The Case for Neurodiversity in Uniform

Equity and Inclusion in Military Recruitment: The Case for Neurodiversity in Uniform

Integrating Students with Disabilities at the “Nicolae Bălcescu” Land Forces Academy of Sibiu

Abstract In 2010 Romania ratified the provisions stipulated in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Various studies have highlighted the lack of opportunities, in almost all the domains of social life, for those that struggle with physical or cognitive disabilities, despite the fact that with adjustments, which sometimes require minor investments or just a change of mentality, they could become valuable resources for society. Our paper focuses on the manner in which the education of the students with disabilities can be facilitated at the “Nicolae Bălcescu” Land Forces Academy. Even though at present, in Romania, the military recruitment criteria do not permit the admission of students with disabilities for various reasons of security, numerous modalities can be found to integrate and to employ them, especially due to the endowment of the Academy and to the rapid advancement of technology.

“Filling the Ranks”: Moral Risk and the Ethics of Military Recruitment

If states are permitted to create and maintain a military force, by what means are they permitted to do so? This article argues that a theory of just recruitment should incorporate a concern for moral risk. Since the military is a morally risky profession for its members, recruitment policies should be evaluated in terms of how they distribute moral risk within a community. We show how common military recruitment practices exacerbate and concentrate moral risk exposure, using the UK as a case study. We argue that the British state wrongs its citizens by subjecting them to excessively morally risky recruitment practices. Since, we argue, this risk exposure cannot be justified by appealing to the benefits of a military career for recruits, our argument calls for reform of existing practices. Our method of evaluation is generalizable and therefore can be used to assess other states’ practices.

Evaluating WIC Engagement andFood Insecurity Among Active Duty Military Families.

Nearly a quarter of active duty service members identified as food insecure in a 2022 Department of Defense report. Food insecurity impacts military readiness, retention, and recruitment. The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federal food supplementation program that can mitigate food insecurity for service members with children less than 5 years of age. To date, there is a lack of standardized screening for WIC eligibility or enrollment for service members and their families. This project sought to evaluate WIC awareness and enrollment as well as the prevalence of food insecurity at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. A 26-question survey was developed to assess WIC awareness, source of WIC information, food insecurity, and nutritional insecurity. Our team developed and utilized a novel WIC screening algorithm to rapidly screen families for WIC eligibility. These tools were administered to families presenting for care at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center pediatrics and obstetric outpatient clinics during the month of July 2022. This study was approved by the institutional review board at Walter Reed. A total of 108 (25%) of the 432 surveyed participants were eligible for WIC, with odds of WIC eligibility increasing for lower-ranking and younger service members. Of the 432 participants, 354 (81.9%) were aware of WIC. Enlisted service members were more likely than officers to know about WIC (P = 0.03), and of the 354 participants aware of WIC, a higher proportion of enlisted rank respondents learned about WIC from a military source (P = 0.01). Among the 108 participants eligible for WIC, only 38 (35.2%) reported being enrolled in WIC. Among WIC-eligible respondents who knew about WIC, being enrolled in the WIC program was not associated with rank, branch of service, sponsor gender, or sponsor age. Despite proven efficacy, WIC remains an underutilized resource for eligible military families. Our results show that a standardized screening approach at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center increased identification of WIC-eligible active duty service members by 180%, with approximately $150,000 a year in increased food supplementation benefits. Military healthcare and readiness leaders should embrace efforts to increase knowledge of, referral to, and enrollment in WIC to increase family health, well-being, and military family readiness.