Command Personnel Research Articles

Test–retest reliability of the Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) tool and modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS) in US military personnel

The Military Acute Concussion Evaluation 2 (MACE 2), which includes the Vestibular-Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) tool and the single-leg stance component of the modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS), was introduced in 2018 as an assessment of acute mTBI in US military personnel. However, the reliability of the VOMS and mBESS in this population has not been established. ObjectivesThe primary purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of the VOMS across a 6-month period in healthy, uninjured US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) personnel. DesignActive duty/heathy military personnel (n=108) completed the VOMS and mBESS at baseline and follow-up 6 months later (±1 month). MethodCronbach's alpha was used to examine the internal consistency of the VOMS and mBESS at both time points. Two-way mixed intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) with consistency agreement were used to evaluate test–retest reliability. ResultsVOMS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α=0.99), whereas, the mBESS demonstrated poor internal consistency (α=0.29). Test–retest reliability of VOMS items was moderate-to-good with ICCs ranging from 0.60 to 0.81. Test–retest reliability was moderate for mBESS total score (ICC=0.59) and double-leg stance (ICC=0.73), while single-leg (ICC=0.49) and tandem (ICC=0.02) stances were poor. ConclusionsThe findings suggest that VOMS has high internal consistency and moderate-to-good test–retest reliability. mBESS has poor internal consistency and poor-to-moderate test–retest reliability. The results suggest that VOMS is a reliable addition to the MACE-2, whereas, mBESS single-leg stance is less reliable. As such, mBESS double-leg stance may be a more reliable measure of balance in this population.

ДОСВІД І ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ СУЧАСНОГО ТРЕНАЖЕРНОГО ОБЛАДНАННЯ У НАВЧАЛЬНО-ТРЕНУВАЛЬНИХ ЦЕНТРАХ МОРСЬКОГО ПРОФІЛЮ

Проаналізовано та узагальнено досвід використання сучасних тренажерних устаткувань у комплексі з інформаційно-комунікаційними технологіями (ІКТ) для формування інформаційно-освітнього професійного середовища у навчально-тренувальних центрах (НТЦ) морського профілю та визначено перспективи його розвитку в системі морської освіти. З’ясовано, що це безпосередньо пов’язано з проектуванням і впровадженням в їх освітню діяльність нових типів тренажерних устаткувань у комплексі з ІКТ, якими обладнані сучасні суднові системи управління та експлуатації морського транспорту. З’ясовано, що професійна підготовка майбутніх моряків із їх використанням ІКТ суттєво впливає на підвищення безпеки судноводіння, зменшення ризику виникнення небезпечних та аварійних ситуацій на морі. Проте ефективність їх використання в освітньому процесі НТЦ повністю залежить від здатності рядового та командного складу успішно опановувати та застосовувати найсучасніші досягнення інформаційного суспільства для реалізації посадових обов’язків на судні. Для цього слід в їх професійній підготовці враховувати як основні досягнення традиційної педагогічної системи і водночас запропонувати нові методологічні підходи та дидактичні основи формування їх професійної компетентності з використанням сучасних ІКТ. З цією метою запропоновано впровадження сучасних ІКТ у цих центрах і розвиток їх інформаційно-освітнього професійного середовища, яке надає можливість контекстно використовувати тренажерне устаткування для створення віртуальної реальності професійної діяльності моряків. З цією метою обґрунтовано педагогічні основи використання сучасних тренажерних устаткувань у комплексі з ІКТ. Проаналізовано сучасні наукові напрацювання у сфері експлуатації морських суден, які пройшли випробування або плануються до впровадження у сферу морського транспорту в інших державах і будуть використані при розробленні сучасних тренажерних устаткувань. Особливу увагу приділено підготовці моряків до роботи у багатонаціональних екіпажах і рекомендовано освітній процес будувати з випередженням, шляхом використання іноземної мови при формуванні практичних навичок і вмінь на тренажерних устаткуваннях у комплексі з ІКТ для зменшення небезпеки катастрофічного розвитку аварійних подій у сфері підвищеного ризику на морі.

Research on Fault Location and Intelligent Inspection Based on Gps + Gis Transmission Line

Transmission line inspection management is to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the power grid of a basic work. Through the line inspection workers could find that the potential risk factors, the necessary maintenance. So as to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the entire power system, this article designed an intelligent inspection system. The inspection system integrates the global positioning system, geographic information system, computer network communication technology. It can minimize the leakage detection system, the wrong test, saving costs, increase business efficiency and ensure safe and stable operation of transmission lines. In addition, the system can effectively supervise and manage the inspectors to ensure that the inspection is in place record, store and position reminders of incident data such as faults, accidents and equipment defects during the inspection process, and command personnel. But it makes it easier to pay close attention to the operating staff, so that it can grasp the safety of field staff in a timely manner, when an emergency situation can quickly locate the staff, and according to the system to provide navigation guidance to give the appropriate support or organization to rescue, And effectively put the “people-oriented, safety first” concept to implement.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ КАДРОВОЙ РАБОТЫ ПО КОМПЛЕКТОВАНИЮ КОМАНДНЫХ ДОЛЖНОСТЕЙ ВОЕННО-ВОЗДУШНЫХ СИЛ КРАСНОЙ АРМИИ В 1944–1945 ГГ.

The article is devoted to the issues of staffing the command positions of the Red Army Air Force in the third period of the Great Patriotic War and the role of personnel bodies in their resolution. It is noted that the activities of the military tribunals in this period are characterized by a high percentage of convictions of the command staff of the Red Army and references are made to documents confirming the existence of facts of unjustified prosecution of command personnel. During this period, the main principles for selecting officers for further career advancement were the level of their professional skills and political reliability.

Structure and severity of pathological anxiety response in the representatives of the command staff of the merchant and passenger navy

During 2016–2019, 180 navy commanders of Ukraine were surveyed: 110 members of the merchant navy command staff and 70 members of command staff of the passenger navy. All surveyed were male, citizens of Ukraine. Clinical-psychopathological and psychodiagnostic methods were used for studying the specific manifestations of anxiety response of the command staff of the merchant and passenger navy, to determine the need to create system-specific measures for the protection of their mental health. It is shown that more than half of the representatives of the command staff of the merchant (69,1 %) and passenger (57,1 %) navy have signs of mental maladaptation, which in most cases do not reach clinically outlined severity. A significant number of command personnel of both the merchant and passenger navy have manifestations of pathological alarming responses and alarming symptoms, predominantly of moderate intensity. In the commanders of the merchant navy more intense manifestations of alarming symptoms are observed, the average severity of which is approaching the upper limit of subclinical values, in representatives of the passenger navy the average severity of alarming symptoms is approaching to the upper limit of the standard indicators. A lower indicator of alarming symptoms among commanders of the passenger navy is due to a significantly larger number of persons without signs of mental maladaptation, while a significantly increased level of alarming response of merchant navy captains is due to a large number of respondents with preclinical maladaptive manifestations. The data obtained should be taken into account in the development of specific measures of psychotherapy and psychoprophylaxis for this contingent, which is the perspective of this study.

Защищая Ленинград (1941–1944 гг.)

The article is devoted to the analysis of the activities of the NKVD extermination battalions of the Leningrad Region in the battle for Leningrad in the period from 1941 to 1944. On the basis of archival documents and materials of the newspaper “Narkomvnudelets”, the organizational activity of state and military authorities and socio-political organizations is considered, aimed at mobilizing the personnel and population of the city and region to defeat the German fascist troops, increasing the effectiveness of their combat and political training, education in the spirit of patriotism and hatred of the enemy. It shows the courage and heroism of the Soviet people — the defenders of the city on the Neva. The paper also presents an analysis of the violations that occur by the command personnel in the service activities and education of the personnel in the units and subunits and the measures taken by the management bodies to eliminate them. The author comes to the conclusion that servicemen, residents of Leningrad and the region, the entire population of the country acted as a single whole in selfless struggle against the fascist invaders, made an immortal feat in the years of the past war, which will forever remain in the memory of all mankind.

Patterns and Associations of Shoulder Motion, Strength, and Function in MARSOC Personnel Without History of Shoulder Injury.

Military personnel are at an increased risk of shoulder injuries due to training and deployment demands, however, there is a lack of information on the tactical athlete's upper extremity profile. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine shoulder musculoskeletal characteristics, including range of motion (ROM), strength, and function, and the relationships between these measures in Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) personnel without history of shoulder injury. Participants included 195 full-duty male MARSOC personnel (age: 25.38 ± 2.85 yr; height: 1.79 ± 0.06 m, mass: 82.79 ± 7.88 kg) without history of shoulder injury. Measurements of ROM, strength, and function were obtained bilaterally. Shoulder internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) ROM were summed to calculate total arc of motion (ARC). Shoulder IR and ER strength were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer. Function was evaluated with an explosive push-up. MARSOC personnel present with significantly increased ER ROM, and decreased IR ROM and ARC in their dominant shoulder. They demonstrated greater IR strength and peak force during the explosive push-up on the dominant side but no bilateral differences in average or peak rate were found. Correlation analyses suggest a weak inverse relationship between strength and ARC (r = -0.15 to -0.24). Positive relationships between strength and function were identified except for dominant IR strength and push-up variables. Those with the greatest ARC demonstrated significantly weaker IR and ER strength compared to those with less motion. MARSOC personnel demonstrate shoulder ROM and strength symmetry patterns similar to overhead athletes. Increased dominant shoulder strength does appear to translate to a bilateral functional performance, but overall performance may be limited by the weaker nondominant upper extremity. As ARC increases, IR and ER rotation strength decrease. Repetitive, increased loading of the dominant shoulder during functional movements and training may increase risk of chronic, overuse-type injuries, common to the military. Unilateral exercises and movement analysis should be incorporated to encourage proper development of bilateral shoulder strength, which may be particularly important in those with high ranges of ARC.

Strengthen the Army Colleges and Joint Ventures Improve the Quality of Command Personnel Training

Military academy, troops are two important stages of shaping military talents. Army colleges and universities is the main channel, joint operations command training forces is that they eventually exercise mature stage. Military academy and troops only work together, doing things that more closely, to ensure the quality of the talents cultivation. Therefore to strengthen military academy and forces combination education, set up scientific training system, pays special attention to the joint operations command personnel training.

Simulate a Training System for Train Dispatching Command in High-speed Railway

The safety issues of high speed railway have always been widely concerned by people. With the rapid development of high speed railway technologies, China has not only achieved great success, but will also popularize a complete set of modern high speed railway technologies to the rest of the world. Systematic, mature and stable dispatching command system for high speed railway is the foundation to guarantee its safety operation. The research thereon can provide good training conditions to cultivate dispatching command personnel with good skills and high quality to better ensure the safety of high speed railway.

THE CORRELATION OF VALUES, SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTITUDES OF MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL READINESS FOR CHANGE

Introduction. Modern military servicemen quite often should cope with operational and military tasks in non-standard and sometimes extreme situations. Therefore, the problem of psychological and pedagogical support of professional development of the military personnel aimed at their valuable attitudes and readiness formation to perform professional duties under uncertainty is brought into focus. The effective solution of this problem requires studying of various psychological aspects of valuable orientations of the military personnel. The aim of the present article is to investigate the link between the interrelationships of values, socio-psychological attitudes of the military personnel and their personal readiness for change. Methodology and research methods. In the course of the work, the following theoretical methods of the research were used: an overview analysis of works in the field of value orientations, socio-psychological attitudes of the individual, personal readiness for change. Practical methods involve a questionnaire PVQ-R (Portrait Values Questionnaire – Revised) by Sh. Schwartz; a technique for diagnosing socio-psychological attitudes of the person by O. Potemkina; the methodology «Personal Change – Readiness Survey» (PCRS) developed by A. Rolnik, S. Hezer, M. Gold and K. Hall in the adaptation of N. Bazhanova and G. Bardier. The processing of the data obtained during the study was carried out using a statistical information processing program – SPSS version 19. Results and scientific novelty. Available studies have not treated the issue of psychological and pedagogical support of professional development of the military personnel in much detail. Thus, sufficient availability to study the interrelationships of values and socio-psychological attitudes of young military personnel in the process of their professional socialization has been revealed. The criteria of formation of this system are designated; significant correlations of values, social and psychological attitudes of the military personnel are revealed. Today, personal readiness for changes is one of the most important elements of psychological training of a soldier to accomplish combat service support tasks. Practical significance. The results of this research can be used by military psychologists to organize psychological and pedagogical assistance of the military personnel starting the career and holding the corresponding trainings and workshops; to develop recommendations for the senior command personnel and the educators of military educational institutions when planning and conducting educational work with young officers.

«MERCIFUL SHIP» WRECK (DEDICATED TO THE CENTENARY OF BLACK SEA TRAGEDY)

Data on work of hospital courts of the Black Sea fleet are presented in article during World War I and operations of fleet on evacuation of wounded from a zone of military operations in Turkey. Most found data on the command and medical personnel of the hospital vessels «Portugal» and «Forward» according to archival materials are submitted. Data on criminal act the German U-33 and U-38 submarines on attacks and a sinking of hospital courts are submitted.

Musculoskeletal Injury Reporting by U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) Personnel

Musculoskeletal Injury Reporting by U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) Personnel

Distance learning and heuristics in the education of civil defence emergency personnel

Distance learning and heuristics in the education of civil defence emergency personnel

Seroprevalence of Dengue Fever in US Army Special Operations Forces: Initial Results and the Way Ahead.

The endemicity of dengue fever (DF) and, consequently, sequelae of DF are increasing worldwide. The increases are largely a result of widespread international travel and the increased range of the mosquito vectors. US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) personnel are at an increased risk of exposure to dengue based on their frequent deployments to and presence in dengue endemic areas worldwide. Repeated deployments to different endemic areas can increase the risk for developing the more serious sequelae of dengue: dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Information about the seroprevalence rate of dengue in USASOC personnel, in particular, is lacking and is critical to assessing the risk, tailoring preventive medicine countermeasures, leveraging field diagnostics, and maintaining mission capability. In the first part of a two-part project to assess baseline seroprevalence in USASOC units, a random, unit-stratified sample of 500 anonymous serum specimens from personnel assigned to the highest-risk units in USASOC were screened for dengue using a microneutralization assay. Of the 500 specimens screened, 56 (11.2%) of 500 had neutralizing titers (NT) (MN₅₀≥10) against at least one DENV serotype. Subsequent sample titration resulted in 48 (85.7%) of 56 of the samples with NT (MN₅₀≥10) against at least one dengue serotype for an overall dengue exposure rate of 9.6% (48 of 500). The second part of the ongoing project, started in 2012, was a multicenter, serosurveillance project using predeployment and postdeployment sera collected from USASOC personnel deployed to South and Central America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Preliminary results show a 13.2% (55 of 414) seropositivity rate. The significance of these findings as they relate to personal risk and operational impact is discussed.

Based on Interval-Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy Information of Joint Operations Commander and Staff Ability Assessment

For assessing the joint operations command and staff objectively, the paper established a joint command personnel ability evaluation of multilayer index system. In view of the majority of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information that is only used for single layer multi attribute index system. In the case of the two grade index attribute weights unknown, we utilized the score vector projection formula and obtained the pros and cons of the commanders in all levels under the one class index attribute. Finally we apply the ladder structure comprehensive assessment method to get the comprehensive ranking. It provide a certain basis for the selection of the joint operational commanders

Residual Effects of Combat-Related Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has gained considerable notoriety during the past decade of conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, the relationship between combat-related mTBI and residual mTBI symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and neurocognitive deficits remains unclear. The purpose of the study was to compare residual mTBI and PTSD symptoms, and neurocognitive deficits among U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) personnel with diagnosed blunt, blast, and blast-blunt combination mTBIs. This study involved a retrospective medical records review of 27,169 USASOC personnel who completed a military version of the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment Cognitive Test (ImPACT), Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS), and PTSD Checklist (PCL) between November 2009 and December 2011. Of the 22,203 personnel who met criteria for the study, 2,813 (12.7%) had a diagnosis of at least one mTBI. A total of 28% (n=410) of USASOC personnel with a history of diagnosed mTBI reported clinical levels of PTSD symptoms. Personnel with a history of diagnosed blunt (OR=3.58), blast (OR=4.23) or combination (OR=5.73) mTBI were at significantly (p=0.001) greater risk of reporting clinical levels of PTSD symptoms than those with no history of mTBI. A dose-response gradient for exposure to blast/combination mTBI on clinical levels of PTSD symptoms was also significant (p=0.001). Individuals with blast/combination mTBIs scored higher in residual mTBI (p=0.001) and PTSD symptoms (p=0.001), and performed worse on tests of visual memory (p=0.001), and reaction time (p=0.001) than those with blunt or no mTBI history. Individuals with combination mTBIs scored lower in verbal memory (p=0.02) than those with blunt mTBIs. Residual PTSD and mTBI symptoms appear to be more prevalent in personnel with blast mTBI. A dose-response gradient for blast mTBI and symptoms suggests that repeated exposures to these injuries may have lingering effects.

Acute Care for Exercise-Induced Hyperthermia to Avoid Adverse Outcome from Exertional Heat Stroke

Exertional heat stroke (EHS) is a major concern in military trainees performing intense physical exercise, with substantial morbidity rates. Prehospital diagnosis of EHS is essentially clinical. Thus, soldiers, command personnel, and medical staff are taught to recognize this injury and immediately begin aggressive treatment to prevent further deterioration. During 2007, 5 otherwise healthy Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were diagnosed with EHS while performing strenuous exercise. They were treated vigorously according to the IDF EHS-treatment protocol and were referred to the emergency department. On arrival at the emergency department, physical examination including rectal temperature was unremarkable in all soldiers. Blood and urine workup showed near-normal values. No other medical conditions that could have explained the clinical presentation were found. All soldiers were discharged shortly afterward, with no further consequences. A heat-tolerance test was performed several weeks after the event and was interpreted as normal. All soldiers returned to active service. Because the initial clinical findings were very suggestive of EHS and because no other condition could have explained the prehospital transient hyperthermia, we suggest that these soldiers were correctly diagnosed with EHS, and we propose that rapid vigorous cooling prevented further deterioration and complications. We suggest calling this condition aborted heat stroke.

Managing Wildfire Events: Risk‐Based Decision Making Among a Group of Federal Fire Managers

Managing wildfire events to achieve multiple management objectives involves a high degree of decision complexity and uncertainty, increasing the likelihood that decisions will be informed by experience-based heuristics triggered by available cues at the time of the decision. The research reported here tests the prevalence of three risk-based biases among 206 individuals in the USDA Forest Service with authority to choose how to manage a wildfire event (i.e., line officers and incident command personnel). The results indicate that the subjects exhibited loss aversion, choosing the safe option more often when the consequences of the choice were framed as potential gains, but this tendency was less pronounced among those with risk seeking attitudes. The subjects also exhibited discounting, choosing to minimize short-term over long-term risk due to a belief that future risk could be controlled, but this tendency was less pronounced among those with more experience. Finally, the subjects, in particular those with more experience, demonstrated a status quo bias, choosing suppression more often when their reported status quo was suppression. The results of this study point to a need to carefully construct the decision process to ensure that the uncertainty and conflicting objectives inherent in wildfire management do not result in the overuse of common heuristics. Individual attitudes toward risk or an agency culture of risk aversion may counterbalance such heuristics, whereas increased experience may lead to overconfident intuitive judgments and a failure to incorporate new and relevant information into the decision.

THE POWER OF POLITICS

Based on close observation of Regional Command (South) personnel in and around Kandahar, Anthony King offers an early assessment of Hamkari, a counter-insurgency approach that prioritises the political. But does the West really understand the complexities of the tribal fabric of patronage that underpins Afghan society? ISAF must find a way to engage with the power-brokers, or risk ploughing resources and lives into an impossible vision of a centralised state.

Surge Capacity Concepts for Health Care Facilities: The CO-S-TR Model for Initial Incident Assessment

Facility-based health care personnel often lack emergency management training and experience, making it a challenge to efficiently assess evolving incidents and rapidly mobilize appropriate resources. We propose the CO-S-TR model, a simple conceptual tool for hospital incident command personnel to prioritize initial incident actions to adequately address key components of surge capacity. There are 3 major categories in the tool, each with 4 subelements. "CO" stands for command, control, communications, and coordination and ensures that an incident management structure is implemented. "S" considers the logistical requirements for staff, stuff, space, and special (event-specific) considerations. "TR" comprises tracking, triage, treatment, and transportation: basic patient care and patient movement functions. This comprehensive yet simple approach is designed to be implemented in the immediate aftermath of an incident, and complements the incident command system by aiding effective incident assessment and surge capacity responses at the health care facility level.