Training Corps Research Articles

US Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Cadets’ Knowledge of Exercise-related Musculoskeletal Injuries

US Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Cadets’ Knowledge of Exercise-related Musculoskeletal Injuries

Effect or Treatment Heterogeneity? Policy Evaluation with Aggregated and Disaggregated Treatments

Binary treatments in empirical practice are often (i) ex-post aggregates of multiple treatments or (ii) can be disaggregated into multiple treatment versions after assignment. In such cases it is unclear whether estimated heterogeneous effects are driven by effect heterogeneity or by treatment heterogeneity. This paper provides estimands to decompose canonical effect heterogeneity into the effect heterogeneity driven by different responses to underlying multiple treatments and potentially different compositions of these underlying effective treatments. This allows to avoid spurious discovery of heterogeneous effects, to detect potentially masked heterogeneity, and to evaluate the underlying assignment mechanism of treatment versions. A nonparametric method for estimation and statistical inference of the decomposition parameters is proposed. The framework allows for the use of machine learning techniques to adjust for high-dimensional confounding of the effective treatments. It can be used to conduct simple joint hypothesis tests for effect heterogeneity that consider all effective treatments simultaneously and circumvent multiple testing procedures. It requires weaker overlap assumptions compared to conventional multi-valued treatment effect analysis. The method is applied to a reevaluation of heterogeneous effects of smoking on birth weight. We find that parts of the differences between ethnic and age groups can be explained by different smoking intensities. We further reassess the gender gap in the effectiveness of the Job Corps training program and find that it is largely explained by gender differences in the type of vocational training received.

Unconditional quantile regression with high‐dimensional data

This paper considers estimation and inference for heterogeneous counterfactual effects with high‐dimensional data. We propose a novel robust score for debiased estimation of the unconditional quantile regression (Firpo, Fortin, and Lemieux (2009)) as a measure of heterogeneous counterfactual marginal effects. We propose a multiplier bootstrap inference and develop asymptotic theories to guarantee the size control in large sample. Simulation studies support our theories. Applying the proposed method to Job Corps survey data, we find that a policy, which counterfactually extends the duration of exposures to the Job Corps training program, will be effective especially for the targeted subpopulations of lower potential wage earners.

Pedagogical system of consolidation of cadet study groups and formation of favourable psychological climate in them

The article is devoted to the issues of consolidation of heterogeneous cadet training groups and the formation of a favorable psychological climate in them. The necessity of developing collectivist relations among cadets in order to increase the effectiveness of their educational activities, foster feelings of mutual assistance and responsibility is considered and justified. The article presents the definition of the cadet training team as a heterogeneous community in terms of characteristics, reveals the psychological structure of the training team, including the components of consolidation, favorable psychological climate, high performance of educational activities and conditions for the development of each cadet. The pedagogical system of consolidation of educational groups of cadets is characterized, considering various contingents of students as subjects, which in this context represent precisely heterogeneous groups, distinguished by one of the characteristics (giftedness, dependent behavior, special educational needs, etc.). The importance of building this system at the initial stage of the formation of the team is emphasized, when with the help of diagnostic tools it is possible to see and understand how the cadet evaluates himself as a person, to build the process of his adaptation and entry into the cadet corps training group.

Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes in Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadets.

Military members' knowledge of concussion signs and symptoms may be critical to appropriate concussion identification and health-seeking behavior, particularly for those in leadership roles. The current study aimed to characterize concussion knowledge and attitudes among future military officers undergoing U.S.-based Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) training. Army and Air Force ROTC cadets at 2 large, public universities were utilized for a survey-based observational study. The study was approved by the institutional review board at both university research sites. Cadets completed a modified Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitude Survey to obtain cadets' Concussion Knowledge Index and Concussion Attitude Index, where higher scores are preferable. Cadets' concussion knowledge and attitudes were characterized via descriptive statistics. Cadets (n = 110) had a mean Concussion Knowledge Index of 18.8 ± 3.2 (range = 9-23, out of 25). Potentially detrimental misconceptions included: belief that typically concussion symptoms no longer persist after 10 days (79.1%) and brain imaging shows visible physical damage following concussion (74.5%). Mean Concussion Attitude Index was 60.6 ± 7.4 (range = 46-75, out of 75). In general, cadets reported higher agreement with safe concussion behavior than what they believe peers would report. Cadets were found to have a high concussion knowledge, yet common misconceptions remained. Cadets consistently reported safe choices but were less sure that peers felt similarly; future investigations should evaluate ROTC concussion social norms and education should note peers' beliefs supporting safe concussion attitudes.

Access to Care, Reporting Behaviors, and Quality of Athletic Training Service Interactions for Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets

Purpose: Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs prepare student-civilians to become leaders through strenuous physical and leadership training. Unlike their student-athlete counterparts who have direct access to athletic training services, ROTC cadets may or may not have a healthcare provider available. The purpose of this study was to examine the access to care and reporting behaviors of ROTC cadets with a secondary aim exploring the quality of healthcare service interactions relative to patient-centered care. Methods: An online survey assessed access to care using a self-report tool on the type of medical providers available to the ROTC cadets (n=132, age=20±3 y) dispersed between the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, and their illness/injury history and reporting behaviors. The participants who sought care for an injury/illness also completed the Consultation and Relational Empathy tool to measure the level of patient-centered care by the healthcare provider with follow-up analysis using the Consultation Care Measure tool for all athletic training service interactions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: ROTC cadets reported access to 2±1 healthcare providers including a designated civilian physician (26.5%), athletic trainer (23.5%), and ROTC peer first responder (14.4%). However, 50.8% of respondents stated they were unsure what healthcare providers were available. In total, 22.7% of cadets reported being injured and 26.5% reported being sick/ill while participating in ROTC activities. Of those who stated they had sustained an injury during ROTC, 59.9% seldomly or never reported their injury. The ROTC cadets who sought healthcare expressed they were satisfied with their injury (35.96±10.60) and illness (35.48±13.10) treatment from a patient-centered viewpoint. Conclusions: The ROTC cadets reported a general unfamiliarity with the healthcare providers available to them. Despite the reporting behaviors, the cadets reported being satisfied with the care they received.

A measurement scale developed to investigate the effect of leaders' perceptions regarding attitudes towards and commitment to quality management of training

AbstractIt is broadly acknowledged that, for quality management to be effective, it needs to be viewed and implemented as a dynamic and active process by people in an organisation, specifically its leaders. This study aimed to determine the level of leaders' commitment with regard to their perceptions and attitudes concerning quality management of training in corps training units within the South African Army. The Leader Perception and Attitude Scale was developed for this purpose. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 229 leaders at six of the eight South African Army's corps training units. Correlation coefficients were determined, and structural equation modelling was performed. The results indicated that leaders' attitudes had a statistically significant influence on their commitment (p < 0.001), whereas perceptions had no statistically significant influence (p = 0.488). The results contrast with previous studies, which have mostly indicated that perceptions influence employee commitment. By targeting leaders' attitudes, therefore, the South African Army may be able to design and implement appropriate strategies to improve leaders' commitment and thereby enhance training effectiveness. The potential usefulness of a scale that measures the level of commitment of leaders and is able to indicate the level of effect that perceptions and attitudes can have, may be of interest to other military settings and organisations that conduct in‐house training.

Heightened Sexual Misconduct Victimization Rates among Reserve Officers' Training Corps Women: Results From a Campus Climate Survey.

Sexual assault, harassment, and stalking are commonplace among college students, with identified subgroups being particularly at risk (e.g., Greek-life organizations and intercollegiate athletics). Despite higher rates of sexual misconduct among active-duty military and service academy women, no research has examined the risk for Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) women. A total of N = 1,562 college women were sampled from a sexual misconduct campus climate survey. ROTC women reported higher victimization rates for all variants of sexual misconduct and violence relative to the broader student population, as well as previously established high-risk groups. Directions for future research and implications for prevention programming/response are presented and discussed.

Combatant socialization and norms of restraint: Examining officer training at the US Military Academy and Army ROTC

Can armed groups socialize combatants to norms of restraint – in essence, train soldiers to adopt norms of international humanitarian law on the battlefield? How can social scientists accurately measure such socialization? Despite being the central focus of organizational and ideational theories of conflict, studies to date have not engaged in systematic, survey-based examination of this central socialization mechanism theorized to influence military conduct.This study advances scholarly understanding by providing the first comparative, survey-based examination of combatant socialization to norms of restraint, using surveys and interviews with US Army cadets at the US Military Academy (USMA), Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), and active duty Army combatants. Additionally, to better understand ‘restraint’ from combatants’ perspective, this study introduces the concept of the ‘combatant’s trilemma’ under which combatants conceptualize civilian protection as part of a costly trade-off with the values of military advantage and force protection.Survey results hold both positive and negative implications for socialization to law of war norms: military socialization can shift combatants’ preferences for battlefield conduct. However, intensive norm socialization may be required to shift combatants’ preferences from force protection to civilian protection norms. Study findings hold significant implications for understanding violence against civilians in conflict and for policies to disseminate civilian protection norms in armed groups worldwide.

Energy-Adjusted Dietary Intakes Are Associated with Perceived Barriers to Healthy Eating but Not Food Insecurity or Sports Nutrition Knowledge in a Pilot Study of ROTC Cadets.

Military service is inherently demanding and, due to the nature of these demands, the term “tactical athlete” has been coined to capture the physical requirements of the profession. Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets are a unique subset of the military service community, and the complexity of their training and educational pursuits increases their susceptibility to unhealthy eating patterns. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the relationship between the perceived barriers to healthy eating, food insecurity, sports nutrition knowledge, and dietary patterns among Army ROTC cadets. The usual dietary intake was gathered from (N = 37) cadets using the General Nutrition Assessment Food Frequency Questionnaire. The perceived barriers to healthy eating were measured using a set of scales consisting of social barriers (6 items, α = 0.86), access barriers (2 items, α = 0.95), and personal barriers (2 items, α = 0.67), with higher-scale scores indicating greater perceived barriers. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to measure the association between the energy-adjusted dietary intakes and the scores on the barriers scales. Energy-adjusted intakes of calcium (ρ = −0.47, p ≤ 0.01), fiber (ρ = −0.35, p = 0.03), vitamin A (ρ = −0.46, p ≤ 0.01), vitamin C (ρ = −0.43, p ≤ 0.01), fruit (ρ = −0.34, p = 0.04), and vegetables (ρ = −0.50, p ≤ 0.01) were negatively correlated with the perceived personal barrier scores. The energy-adjusted intakes of fiber (ρ = −0.36, p = 0.03), vitamin C (ρ = −0.37, p = 0.03), and vitamin E (ρ = −0.45, p ≤.01) were negatively correlated with perceived social barriers, while energy-adjusted vitamin C intake was negatively correlated with perceived access barriers (ρ = −0.40, p = 0.01). Although additional research is needed to better understand the dietary patterns of ROTC cadets, among the participants in this study, greater perceived personal, social, and access barriers were associated with less nutrient-dense eating patterns. Interventions aimed at addressing such barriers may prove beneficial for the improvement of diet quality among ROTC cadets.

The Potential Role of Functional Motor Competence to Promote Physical Military Readiness: A Developmental Perspective.

Decreased physical fitness in military recruiting populations is problematic for the development of physical military readiness (PMR) and presents a threat to national security. The demonstration of low levels of fitness may be an indicator of a more foundational problem in the physical development of military recruits. We propose the development of functional motor competence (FMC) across childhood and adolescence as a necessary antecedent to advanced PMR training and military-specific tasks (i.e., rucking and obstacle course navigation) and as an integral part of sustained PMR. The development of FMC supports increases in cardiovascular and muscular endurance through repeated efforts performed during practice and in sport, as well as muscular power as many FMC movements mimic plyometrics in a strength in conditioning sense. We posit that an inadequate foundation in FMC will serve as a barrier to achieving sufficient PMR and combat success of the fighting force. We propose three possible solutions to ensure sufficient PMR levels through the implementation of developmentally appropriate FMC-based training. First would be promoting FMC-based training in junior reserve officer training corp and ROTC programs. Second would be a more global approach, on the scale of the National Defense Education Act, specifically focusing on promoting quality daily physical education that could reach millions of children. Third, individual branches could begin promoting the tenets of foundational FMC training concepts in their physical training manuals, which ideally would address FMC before and throughout basic training, as well as subsequent active duty training.

Bone, Biomarker, Body Composition, and Performance Responses to 8 Weeks of Reserve Officers' Training Corps Training.

Military personnel engage in vigorous exercise, often resulting in higher bone mineral density; however, leg bone injuries occur frequently in this population. Predictors of change in tibial bone quality and strength need to be characterized in this high-risk population. To examine the effects of an 8-week military training intervention on total body and site-specific bone density and tibial bone quality, serum biomarkers (parathyroid hormone and sclerostin), body composition, and physical performance and to investigate which outcome variables (biomarkers, body composition, and physical performance) predict estimated tibial bone strength in college-aged Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) participants. Prospective cohort study. University of Oklahoma. The ROTC participants (14 males, 4 females) were matched for sex, age, and mass to physically active control participants (14 males, 4 females). The ROTC participants engaged in an 8-week training intervention, while the physically active control group made no changes to their exercise routines. Preintervention general health questionnaires were completed. Pre-, mid-, and postintervention bone scans (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography); serum blood draws (parathyroid hormone and sclerostin); and physical performance measures (muscle strength and aerobic capacity) were obtained. The ROTC participants exhibited increased hip bone density mineral and content (both P values ≤ .02) after the 8-week intervention. Sclerostin, but not parathyroid hormone, was a positive correlate and predictor in all ROTC models for estimated bone strength at the fracture-prone 38% tibial site (ie, 38% of the tibial length proximal to the distal end of the tibia). Both groups displayed decreased total body and regional fat mass, and ROTC participants' aerobic capacity increased (all P values ≤ .05). All bone, body composition, and performance measures either improved or were maintained in response to ROTC training. Sclerostin should be further investigated as a potential early indicator of changes in estimated tibial bone strength in military cohorts.

Cognitive Load Impairs Time to Initiate and Complete Shooting Tasks in ROTC Members.

Multitasking typically requires an individual to simultaneously process cognitive information while performing a motor task. Cognitive motor interference (CMi) is encountered when cognitive challenges negatively impact motor task performance. Military personnel encounter cognitively taxing situations, especially during combat or other tactical performance scenarios, which may lead to injury or motor performance deficits (i.e., shooting inaccuracy, delayed stimulus-response time, and slowed movement speed). The purpose of the current study was to develop four cognitive motor shooting paradigms to determine the effects of cognitive load on shooting performance in healthy Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets. Thirty-two healthy collegiate ROTC members (24 male and 8 female; 20.47 ± 1.24 years, 174.95 ± 10.58 cm, and 77.99 ± 13.90 kg) were recruited to complete four simulated shooting tasks with additional "motor" challenge (180° turn, gait, weighted, and unweighted landing) and with and without a "cognitive" decision-making challenge requiring response selection and inhibition to both auditory and visual stimuli, totaling eight multi-task cognitive motor shooting conditions. The current study was approved by the university's Institutional Review Board. Task initiation (seconds), task completion (seconds), and number of misses were calculated to determine marksmanship efficiency and accuracy. For each task, a multivariate repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted for the combined dependent variables. If the overall multivariate repeated-measures ANOVA was significant, follow-up univariate ANOVAs were conducted for each dependent variable. Alpha was set at α = 0.05 for all analyses. Task initiation increased for the cognitive condition for the 180° turn (4.29 ± 1.22 seconds baseline, 5.09 ± 1.39 seconds cognitive; P < .05), gait (2.76 ± .60 seconds baseline, 3.93 ± .62 seconds cognitive; P < .05), unweighted (1.27 ± .57 seconds baseline, 3.39 ± .63 seconds cognitive; P < .05), and weighted landing (1.46 ± .72 seconds baseline, 3.35 ± .60 seconds cognitive; P < .05). Task completion time increased for the cognitive condition for the 180° turn (3.48 ± 1.53 seconds baseline, 4.85 ± 1.24 seconds cognitive; P < .05), gait (7.84 ± 2.07 seconds baseline, 9.23 ± 1.76 seconds cognitive; P < .05), unweighted (5.98 ± 1.55 seconds baseline, 7.45 ± 1.51 seconds cognitive; P < .05), and weighted landing (6.09 ± 1.42 seconds baseline, 7.25 ± 1.79 seconds cognitive; P < .05). There were no statistically significant differences in the number of misses for any of the tasks between conditions (P > .05). The addition of a cognitive load increased both task initiation and task completion times during cognitive motor simulated shooting. Adding cognitive loads to tactical performance tasks can result in CMi and negatively impact tactical performance. Thus, consideration for additional cognitive challenges into training may be warranted to reduce the potential CMi effect on tactical performance.

The injury risk profile of an Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps population: A preliminary descriptive study

ObjectivesArmy Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) prepares cadets for military service where lower extremity injuries can occur. The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS), Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Y-Balance (YBAL) have not been used to evaluate injury risk in the ROTC. Higher physical fitness lowers injury risk in basic training recruits, it is unknown if previous high school sport participation affects injury risk in the ROTC. The purpose of this study was to evaluation the LESS, FMS, YBAL and high school sport participation in the ROTC. DesignDescriptive study. SettingUniversity. Participants78 ROTC (49 males, 29 females; 19.7 ± 2.3yrs; 1.71 ± 10.1 m; 62.5 ± 21.2 kg). Main outcome measuresLESS, FMS, YBAL and sports participation were collected and scores were calculated. Means, standard deviation and range were reported for each test. Distribution of scores within injury risk categories were evaluated. Sport participation frequency was reported. ResultsThe mean LESS and FMS scores were 7.1 ± 2.1 and 14.6 ± 2.1, respectively. The average YBAL composite score was 90.2% ± 12.0. 68% were poor on the LESS. 46.1% were high risk on the FMS. 69.2% were high risk on the YBAL composite. Seventy-seven percent reported at least one year of participation in high school sports. ConclusionsROTC population demonstrated poor jump landing mechanics and were high risk on the YBAL composite.

Change-Event Steals "Athlete" from "College Athlete": Perceived Impact and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress.

IntroductionThis research sought to establish the impact of the change-event of COVID-19 on college athletes and members of other campus groups (eg, marching band, eSports, Reserve Officers Training Corps). The specific purpose was to assess the perceived impact and impact on mental health (eg, depression, anxiety, and stress).MethodsThe survey battery presented a total of 37 items. Demographic, sport or group-specific, and academic-related questions were included alongside the assessment of psychological well-being coming from the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21.ResultsThere were 249 participants completing some or all of the survey battery. It is notable that 172 participants (69.1%) indicated “a lot has changed”. Common one-word responses to the experience surrounding this change-event were feeling disappointment, upset, frustrated, sadness, annoyance, and depression. Life events that conjured similar magnitude of emotion included significant injury, surgery, and losing a loved one. There were no differences by sport for the depression subscale, but 110 participants reported elevated scores and females had a higher mean depression subscale score compared with males. Differences between sports for the anxiety subscale were negated when evaluating Bonferroni correction for multiple tests, but 69 participants reported elevated scores and females had a higher mean anxiety subscale score compared with males. There was no difference by sport for the stress subscale, but 77 participants reported elevated scores and females had a higher mean stress subscale score compared with males.DiscussionAuthors urge the campus and athletics community to be diligent in monitoring the holistic wellness of college athletes and members of other campus groups. Mainly, we contend it is important to consider that COVID-19 is a significant and widespread change-event, and other change-events are known to have significant impact. We should consider that COVID-19 may be acutely and longitudinally impactful to the American college student.

Kinetic and Kinematic Analysis of Various Drop Jump Performances in Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Cadets.

Merrigan, JJ, O'Toole, KB, Wutzke, CJ, and Jones, MT. Kinetic and kinematic analysis of various drop jump performances in army reserve officer training corps cadets. J Strength Cond Res 36(3): 738-746, 2022-The purpose was to examine effects of sex, drop height, and external loads on drop jump mechanics in Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets and whether findings were associated with strength. Males (n = 14) and females (n = 12) completed maximal isokinetic concentric (slow-C and fast-C) and eccentric (slow-E and fast-E) knee extensions and flexions at 60°·s-1 and 180°·s-1. After 72 hours, 3 drop jumps were performed under 3 conditions (i.e., 30 cm unloaded [30UL], 30 cm loaded 15 kg [30L], and 60 cm unloaded [60UL]). No sex × condition interactions existed for any metric (p > 0.05). The 30L condition resulted in slower eccentric and concentric center of mass (COM) and angular velocities, reduced concentric vertical ground reaction forces (vGRF), and lower jump performances. Although 60UL resulted in greater eccentric COM and angular velocities, peak vGRF, impulse, and rate of force development (p < 0.008), no differences existed in jump performances. Males had faster COM and angular concentric velocities and smaller knee valgus angles, but no different vGRF compared with females. The change in the peak hip angle, because of 60UL, was associated with knee extension eccentric and concentric strength, whereas changes in knee angles were associated with eccentric strength. Likewise, eccentric strength influenced the effects of 30L on landing vGRF more so than concentric strength. Initial strength training is recommended, specifically emphasizing eccentric actions, before performing loaded (15 kg) drop jumps to reduce the increase of landing forces. However, caution may be required when performing drops from 60 cm because of increased forces, although no decline in jump performances were noted.

308 Sleep Quality Predicts Discrepancy between Objective and Self-Ratings of Performance in Cadets during U.S Army ROTC Advanced Camp

Abstract Introduction U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Advanced Camp (AC) is a month-long capstone course that evaluates Cadet leadership. Although the relationship between sleep and objective performance is well established, less is known about how sleep may impact self-perception of performance, especially in the military context. This study examined the impact of habitual sleep on self-expected and objective AC performance. Methods 577 Cadets (age 22.22 ± 2.74; 74.36% male) completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline to measure subjective sleep quality (Global; higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality) and total sleep time (TST) in the month before training. Self-expected AC performance was captured by asking Cadets to estimate what their final performance score would be and objective performance was determined from summary scores from Instructors. Performance discrepancy was calculated as the difference between Cadet’s expected and objective scores. Regression models assessed the predictive utility of habitual TST and Global on performance. Results Ordinal regressions showed that as Global increased, expected AC score also decreased with an OR of .684 (95% CI, -.694 to -.064), Wald χ2(1) = 5.56, p = .018. Further, Global independently predicted performance discrepancies, where the odds of a difference existing between a Cadet’s self-expected and their objective performance was .895 less likely for those with increasing Global (p = .028). Together TST and Global predicted discrepancy magnitude between Cadet self-expected and objective performance, F(2, 349) = 2.99, p = .05, with Global as a independent predictor p &amp;lt; .05. Independent findings related to TST were varied and warrant further testing. Conclusion Cadets with poorer sleep quality prior to AC self-expected to perform worse and had discrepancies between their self-expected and objective performance when compared to those with higher sleep quality. TST enhanced the predictive power of Global when predicting magnitude of performance discrepancy. Therefore future research examining Global, while accounting for TST, is warranted to better understand how sleep may influence self-expectations of military performance. Support (if any) Support for this study came from the Military Operational Medicine Research Program of the United States Army Medical search and Development Command.

305 Subjective sleep predicts Cadet performance during U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Advanced Camp

Abstract Introduction U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Advanced Camp (AC) is a 29-day training that assesses military skills and leadership potential in college students training to become Commissioned Officers (i.e. Cadets). Military trainings are widely known to disrupt normative sleep. Additionally, operational sleep disruption is linked to performance decrements. This study examined the ability for objective and subjective sleep during ROTC AC to predict Cadet performance. Methods One hundred and fifty-nine ROTC Cadets (age 22.06±2.49 years; 76.1% male) wore an actiwatch device continuously for 29 days during AC. Paper surveys administered at the end of AC captured subjective sleep metrics during the training. ROTC instructors evaluated Cadet performance and provided scores of overall class rank and summary performance. Multiple and ordinal linear regressions assessed the predicative utility of subjective (sleep duration [SD]; Global score [Global] from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and objective (Total Sleep Time [TST]; Sleep Efficiency [SE]; Sleep Latency Onset [SOL]; Wake After Sleep Onset [WASO] from actigraphy) sleep on performance. Results The interaction of SD and Global, when controlling for age and gender, significantly predicted increased Cadet rank, F(4,153) = 3.09, p = 0.018. Models testing the prediction of SD and Global on summary performance score were non-significant. Further, regressing of both Cadet rank and summary performance individually on objective sleep metrics, when controlling for age and gender, resulted in non-significant findings. Conclusion Subjective and objective sleep showed no significant individual predictive utility on performance. However, the combined subjective model significantly predicted that Cadets who slept worse (lower SD; higher Global) during AC received a lower rank at the end of the training. These findings suggest there may be a unique combined predictive utility of subjective sleep on performance when compared to the predictive power of individual variables. Therefore, subjective sleep may be better for predicting operational performance than objective sleep. Future analyses will refine these models and examine how performance on individual AC events may be influenced by sleep. Support for this study came from the Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP) of the United States Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC). Support (if any):

Sex-related Differences in Functional Movement Screen Scores Among Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadets.

The primary aim of Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) programs is to prepare cadets for future military service. To successfully complete one of these programs and perform active duty responsibilities, cadets must be able to complete a variety of physical tasks. Therefore, performing movement screening may be useful for identifying potential movement disparities that could lead to injury. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether sex-related differences in movement patterns exist on the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). The FMS is a tool that uses seven functional movements to assess movement pattern deficits and asymmetries; deep squat, hurdle step, inline lunge (ILL), shoulder mobility, active straight-leg raise (ASLR), trunk stability pushup (TSPU), and rotary stability. Archived data for 93 (male, n = 69; female n = 24) ROTC cadets were provided to the primary investigators for analysis. Independent t-tests (P < .05) were conducted to analyze differences in assessments between sexes. Significant differences between sexes were observed on the ILL (P = .014), ASLR (P < .001), and TSPU (P < .001). Females scored higher on both the ILL (2.13 ± 0.54) and ASLR (2.04 ± 0.69) compared with males (1.81 ± 0.52 and 1.48 ± 0.58). Males scored significantly higher (P ≤ .001) on the TSPU (2.57 ± .581) compared with females (2.00 ± .417). No significant differences were observed in the deep squat (P = .865), hurdle step (P = .829), shoulder mobility (P = .342), and rotary stability (P = .230) assessments. Sex differences in the ILL, ASLR, and TSPU may be because of greater mobility in the ankle and hamstrings and reduced upper-body muscle mass for females compared with males. Males performed better than females on the TSPU test. In conclusion, sex-related differences in FMS performance do exist within the ROTC population. Additionally, these differences should be taken into consideration when designing specific exercise programs for ROTC cadets.

Deborah Zimmermann, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Deborah Zimmermann, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, is chair of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Foundation.