Combat Forces Research Articles

Neuroinflammatory Biomarkers Associated With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury History in Special Operations Forces Combat Soldiers

Special Operations Forces (SOF) combat soldiers are frequently exposed to blast and blunt neurotrauma, most often classified as mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Repetitive mTBI may increase the risk of developing long-term neurological sequelae. Identifying changes in neuroinflammatory biomarkers before chronic conditions emerge could serve as preliminary evidence of developing neuropathology. To determine the effects of mTBI history, lifetime mTBI incidence, and recency on blood biomarker concentrations of axonal protein neurofilament light (NfL), glycolytic enzyme neuron-specific enolase (NSE), astrocyte-expressed S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B), and neurotrophic cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in healthy, active duty SOF combat soldiers. Self-reported mTBI history/recency and fasted blood samples were collected in this cross-sectional study of 104 asymptomatic SOF combat soldiers. Biomarker concentrations were quantified using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare groups. Post hoc tests with appropriate corrections were conducted as warranted. Soldiers with mTBI history had higher NSE concentrations than those without (z = -2.60, P = .01). We also observed significant main effects of lifetime mTBI incidence on NSE (χ(3) = 9.52, P = .02) and S100B (χ(3) = 8.21, P = .04) concentrations and a significant main effect of mTBI recency on NfL concentration (χ(2) = 6.02, P = .049). The SOF combat soldiers with mTBI history had increased NSE. Longitudinal studies in this population are needed due to between-subject heterogeneity in biomarker concentrations. The NfL concentrations in our SOF combat soldiers-regardless of mTBI history or recency-were similar to values previously reported in civilian acute TBI patients.

DESIGN OF GPS AND COMPASS HELMET VISUAL DATA USING MICROCONTROLLER FOR MARINE FORCE OF INDONESIAN NAVY

The Marines are a component of the combat forces owned by the Navy. In carrying out their duties as infiltration forces and landing forces, sophisticated equipment is needed to support each movement in terms of knowing the position of coordinates in the form of latitude longitude and compass direction to facilitate the movement of troops in carrying out operational tasks. For this reason, a tool was made to visually know the position of the latitude and longitude of the compass, making it easier for troops to carry out their duties both on the training ground and on the battlefield. This tool is in the form of a Design Combat Helmet for Visual Data Viewer GPS and Microcontroller-based Compass for the Navy Navy. This tool uses Arduino Mega Pro Mini 2560 as a microcontroller, V.KEL 2828U7G5LF as a GPS module, HMC5883L as a Compass module and Wemos Oled LCD 64x48 0.66 "as an analog data viewer. This tool has a working principle like Google Glass that can display data visually. How it works in order to display data visually is to use the reflection of a small mirror that will be enlarged using a convex lens or loop lens and then transmitted the reflection to a visual viewer that is placed in front of the eye. In order to get data in the form of latitude longitude and compass direction alternately a push button is used which is designed as a data selector switch or counter. In testing, this tool proved to be accurate in taking GPS data and compass direction after compared with equipment that has the same function. For the V. KEL2828U7G5LF GPS Module compared to FURUNO GPS and Google Map, while for the HMC5883L Compass module compared to the Android Compass Application.
 
 Keywords: GPS data, Compass, Visual Combat Helmet

An Autonomous Attack Guidance Method with High Aiming Precision for UCAV Based on Adaptive Fuzzy Control under Model Predictive Control Framework

With its superior performance, the unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) will gradually become an important combat force in the future beyond-visual-range (BVR) air combat. For the problem of UCAV using the BVR air-to-air missile (AAM) to intercept the highly maneuvering aerial target, an autonomous attack guidance method with high aiming precision is proposed. In BVR air combat, the best launching conditions can be formed through the attack guidance and aiming of fighters, which can give full play to the combat effectiveness of BVR AAMs to the greatest extent. The mode of manned fighters aiming by manual control of pilots is inefficient and obviously not suitable for the autonomous UCAV. Existing attack guidance control methods have some defects such as low precision, poor timeliness, and too much reliance on manual experience when intercepting highly maneuvering targets. To address this problem, aiming error angle is calculated based on the motion model of UCAV and the aiming model of BVR attack fire control in this study, then target motion prediction information is introduced based on the designed model predictive control (MPC) framework, and the adaptive fuzzy guidance controller is designed to generate control variable. To reduce the predicted aiming error angle, the algorithm iteratively optimizes and updates the actual guidance control variable online. The simulation results show that the proposed method is very effective for solving the autonomous attack guidance problem, which has the characteristics of adaptivity, high timeliness, and high aiming precision.

Greater Fitness Is Associated With Improved Functional Movement Characteristics in Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians.

Hernández, LM, Coffin, SD, and Taylor, MK. Greater fitness is associated with improved functional movement characteristics in explosive ordnance disposal technicians. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1731-1737, 2022-Low fitness and poor functional movement (FM) have been linked to higher musculoskeletal injury risk. The FM Screen (FMS) and Y-Balance Test (YBT) are useful indicators of potential injury risk in military personnel. U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians are the premier combat force for countering explosive hazards and must operate in austere environments. To safeguard health and mission success, it is critical to assess factors related to injury risk in this specialized military population. This study evaluated the relationship between fitness and FM characteristics in 64 male EOD technicians (mean age ± SD = 34.2 ± 7.0 years). Body fat percentage (BF%), maximum volume of oxygen uptake (V̇o2max), muscular strength, and FM (i.e., FMS, YBT) were assessed. Body fat percentage and V̇o2max were associated with FMS and YBT scores (all p < 0.05). A nonlinear model further revealed that the group with the lowest V̇o2max values had the bottommost FMS and YBT scores (all p < 0.01), but FM scores did not differ among those with a higher V̇o2max, implying a "threshold" effect. No correlations were observed with muscular strength. By characterizing the unique and shared contributions of BF% and V̇o2max, and exploring the nonlinear relationship between V̇o2max and FM, this study expands on accruing data that indicate individuals who are more physically fit have better FM and lower injury risk. Although muscular strength is a critical element of overall fitness, body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness may more strongly influence FM and injury risk.

Neurofilament Light Not Associated With Concussion History Or Recency In Special Operations Forces Combat Soldiers

Special Operations Forces (SOF) combat soldiers sustain high rates of blast and blunt neurotrauma. Most are mild traumatic brain injuries (i.e., concussion). Repetitive concussions may develop long-term neurological sequelae. Detecting the effects of cumulative exposure to concussion may be helpful to recognize and intervene therapeutically before chronic symptoms begin emerging. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is an abundantly expressed cytoskeletal component of large caliber myelinated subcortical axons. Peripheral increases may indicate ongoing axonal disruption or chronic repetitive white matter injury within the brain. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of concussion history, lifetime incidence, and recency on NfL concentrations in SOF combat soldiers. METHODS: 185 SOF combat soldiers (age=33.0±3.5 yrs) participated in our cross-sectional study and self-reported concussion history (90 no, 95 yes), lifetime incidence (0, 1, 2, 3+) and recency (<1 month, <1 year, >1 year). Fasted blood samples were obtained from an antecubital vein at a standardized time for all subjects. Serum was separated and stored until analysis. Serum NfL levels were quantified using sandwich enzyme immunoassay kits according to manufacturer instruction. Medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs) were reported because NfL concentrations were not normally distributed. A Wilcoxon rank-sum analysis compared NfL concentrations between those with and without concussion history. Kruskal-Wallis tests compared NfL concentrations across lifetime incidence and recency. RESULTS: We did not observe differences in NfL concentrations (z=1.80, p=0.07) between those with (median=449.7 pg/mL, IQR=192.1) and without (median=484.4 pg/mL, IQR=221.2) concussion history. There was no effect of concussion lifetime incidence (X2(3)=3.87, p=0.28) or recency (X2(2)=0.86, p=0.65) on serum NfL concentrations. CONCLUSION: We did not observe differences in serum NfL concentration in SOF combat soldiers based on concussion history, lifetime incidence, and recency. Our SOF combat soldiers were otherwise healthy and asymptomatic. Despite this, our findings suggest SOF combat soldiers demonstrated higher NfL concentrations than those reported for civilian severe brain injury and neurodegenerative disease patients. Funded by USASOC

Optimising structure in a networked Lanchester model for fires and manoeuvre in warfare

We present a generalisation of the classical Lanchester model for directed fire between two combat forces but now employing networks for the manoeuvre of Blue and Red forces, and the pattern of engagement between the two. The model therefore integrates fires between dispersed elements, as well as manoeuvre through an internal-to-each-side diffusive interaction. We explain the model with several simple examples, including cases where conservation laws hold. We then apply an optimisation approach where, for a fixed-in-structure adversary, we optimise the internal manoeuvre and external engagement structures where the trade-off between maximising damage on the adversary and minimising own-losses can be examined. In the space of combat outcomes this leads to a sequence of transitions from defeat to stalemate and then to victory for the force with optimised networks. Depending on the trade-off between destruction and self-preservation, the optimised networks develop a number of structures including the appearance of so-called sacrificial nodes, that may be interpreted as feints, manoeuvre hubs, and suppressive fires. We discuss these in light of Manoeuvre Warfare theory.

Research on Capability Optimization of High Maneuvering Combat Force Based on Mission Completion Quality

In order to optimize the capability of high maneuvering combat force, considering the non-measurability of capability, a capability optimization method based on mission completion quality is proposed in this paper. In this method, the capability optimization objective is replaced by the mission completion quality, and the quality is measured by the mission completion success rate and the mission completion cost. The optimal solution set which is the path with highest success rate and lowest cost is obtained based on the improved NSGA-II. In light of the cost value of each path in this solution set, the solution has various optimization directions. Based on the actual requirements of mission, decision maker can select one from optimal solution set. Thus, the capability of high maneuvering combat force is optimized.

Cerebrovascular Reactivity in Special Operations Forces Combat Soldiers.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how concussion history affects cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in Special Operations Forces (SOF) combat soldiers. We studied 104 SOF soldiers [age = 33.5 ± 4.3years; height = 179.7 ± 6.3cm; 59 (56.7%) with self-reported concussion history]. We employed transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound to measure middle cerebral artery (MCA)velocity. Baseline TCD data were collected for 2min. Changes in MCAvelocity were measured in response to five breath-holding trials and five hyperventilation trials. Cerebrovascular reactivity was quantified by the breath-holding index (BHI), vasomotor reactivity reserve (VMRr), and percent change in overall response curves. Independent t tests were employed to assess group differences in BHI, and VMRr values. We employed mixed effects models with quadratic mean structures to assess group differences in percent change MCAvelocity response curves. There were no significant group differences in BHI (t102 = 0.04, p = 0.97) or VMRr (t102 = -0.33, p = 0.75). There were no group differences in relative MCAvelocity response curves during the breath-holding task (F1,5092 = 0.19, p = 0.66) or during the hyperventilation task (F1,5092 = 0.41, p = 0.52) between SOF soldiers with and without a self-reported concussion history. If CVR deficits exist immediately post-concussion, our study suggests that these deficits recover over time in this population. While long-term neurophysiological effects of blast-related injury are currently unknown, assessing CVR response may provide further insight into cerebrovascular function and overall physiological health following blast exposure.

A Study on the Effect of the Use of Reserve Officers on the Military

Korea Ministry of National Defense has directed the state-of-the-art technology Forces troops structures that can respond to security threats in all directions through the Defense Innovation 2.0, which aims to reorganize the personnel and organizations in response to population decline. An implement of effective analysis to maintain combat power is necessary due to possible restrictions on combat power, especially in division of mobilization where reserve manpower is operated frequently. In this study, the normal operations of the reserve officers were investigated, the direct effects of the combat forces of the reserve officers was analyzed using ARENA modeling, and the budget required to operate the innovation and indirect effects of employment of veterans were studied. The result of the simulation proved to be effective in demonstrating unit combat power when the reserve officer was in full-time operations and economic benefits were also significant in terms of efficiency of defense budget management. Keywords: ARENA(ì•„ë ˆë‚˜), Simulation(ì‹œë®¬ë ˆì´ì ˜), Effectiveness of Regular Service(평시 복무효과), Reserve Officer (예비역 간부)

Army Integrated Combat Model for Synthetic Force based on Information Cognition

Army integrated warfare presents a nonlinear form of system confrontation, which not only changes the decisive factors of combat victory, but also makes the complex interrelations in the system more chaotic. Based on the theory of complex adaptive system, land battle is regarded as a complex system with hierarchical inrush, nonlinear, self-organizing, decentralized control. The integrated combat model of army is established, the influence of firepower, maneuverability, communication perception and other factors on the overall combat capability of the army is studied, the factors are optimized, and the optimal scheme of combat force operation is put forward. It provides certain theoretical support for the development of military weapons and equipment, the rational allocation of troops and the organization of combat coordination in the future.

The Illogical Logic of American Entanglement in the Middle East

The logic of the American approach to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Syria – both in policy and practice – bears striking resemblance to the U.S. approach to Vietnam in the 1960s and 1970s. Despite policies of restraint, it has proven difficult to stop the inertia of war, be it against Communism or terrorism. As this inertia grows, so too does illogical entanglement. Such deepening involvement, whether in Vietnam or the Global War on Terror, often results in combat forces undertaking nation- and state-building missions that they are not designed for, yet have been doing for almost two decades.

The Research on Application of Electronic Warfare Forces of Brigade Combat Team in U.S. Army

In this paper, studies have been researched on the electronic warfare action of brigade combat team (BCT) in U.S. Army, which briefly introduced the composition of the electronic warfare forces of BCT, and focused on the problems about the application of electronic warfare forces in the offensive combat on the basis of the analysis about the coordination of the combat tasks. All of the work has the realistic and directive significance. The U.S. army views that electronic warfare has a very important non-lethal capacity, which can be used in the three categories of actions through electronic attack, electronic protection and electronic supporting. Electronic warfare, as the multiplier of combat effectiveness, can utilize electromagnetic energy or directional energy to control electromagnetic spectrum, attack enemy electronic devices, and provide strong support for ground forces operations

ПІДСТАРШИНСЬКА ШКОЛА ІМ. С. ПЕТЛЮРИ ("СВІТЛАНА") ПРИ ЗАГОНАХ УПА "СІЧ" ТА ІМ. І. БОГУНА (1943–1944)

The main idea of this article is that the Supreme Otaman Symon Petliura School (alias "Svitlana") attached to the "Sich" (later Ivan Bogun) Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) Detachment was one of the first non-commissioned officers schools within the UPA created to reinforce its troops with combat leaders independently. The author's purpose was to understand how the partisan army trained its NCOs at early stages of its development. The article illustrates that the Symon Petliura NCOs School was established on May, 30 1943 and operated until January, 18 1944. In the course of this period, it managed to train two classes of cadets of about 150 men, who subsequently became section and platoon leaders, and military instructors. The training was conducted in Svynaryn Forest on the edge of Verba and Turiysk districts in Volhynia Oblast (guerilla camp "Sich"), and lasted for 10 hours daily. It included: drill, marksmanship and weapon studies, tactical training, guard service, military discipline and army regulations studies. Cadets with best results were taken to continue their studies in UPA officers schools. Not only did cadets study theory but also they had to engage in warfare along with UPA combatant forces. The "Svitlana" School took part in fights of Antonivka, Koniukhy and Radovychi (with Nazi troops); Stavky (with Soviet partisans) and Dominopol, Zasmyky and Kupychiv (Kupiczów, with Polish partisans). When the tension of warfare was at its peak, the NCOs School stopped its educative process and operated as fighting element. During its lifetime, the NCOs School was subordinate to the "Sich" Detachment staff, Prince Sviatoslav Battalion of the Ivan Bogun Detachment and Ivan Bogun Detachment staff directly. After the detachment had been defeated by the Soviet partisans in January, 1944, the NCOs School ceased to exist. Supreme Otaman Symon Petliura NCOs School became a part of UPA training system and provided combat leaders for insurgent units operating within Volodymyr and Gorokhiv OUN District area.

The PLA army after ‘below the neck’ reforms: contributing to China’s joint warfighting, deterrence and MOOTW Posture

ABSTRACT After ‘below the neck’ reforms of operational units in 2017, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Army remains the PLA’s largest service as China seeks to develop forces with increased joint capabilities in the maritime, air, and space/cyber domains. The Army is expanding its ‘new-type combat forces,’ such as Special Operations, helicopter, long-range rocket, and electronic warfare units, to contribute to maritime operations as well as to land missions. It has standardised the structure of group armies and formed new combined arms brigades and battalions. Reform has affected nearly every Army unit resulting in a short-term decline in large-scale training and operational readiness as newly organised units focus on individual and small unit functional training. Senior PLA leaders acknowledge numerous shortcomings in Chinese military capabilities and are cautious about initiating combat operations, preferring instead to achieve China’s objectives through deterrence or actions below the threshold of lethal military force.

The Research on the Teaching Reform of Electronic Countermeasures Tactics

. As a special field of information warfare, electronic countermeasures (ecm) is closely related to training new combat force command talents and supporting the generation of new quality combat effectiveness. At present, as to promote college education focusing the combat, closing the forces, personnel training requirements of electronic countermeasures must be focused on fighting and command, which could establish the teaching orientation by practical requirements, optimize the teaching content by actual combat ability, build the teaching platform with practical conditions, and reform the teaching mode in the practical form. The teaching transformation will be promoted at the new starting point.

Approximate dynamic programming for the military inventory routing problem

The United States Army can benefit from effectively utilizing cargo unmanned aerial vehicles (CUAVs) to perform resupply operations in combat environments to reduce the use of manned (ground and aerial) resupply that incurs risk to personnel. We formulate a Markov decision process (MDP) model of an inventory routing problem (IRP) with vehicle loss and direct delivery, which we label the military IRP (MILIRP). The objective of the MILIRP is to determine CUAV dispatching and routing policies for the resupply of geographically dispersed units operating in an austere, combat environment. The large size of the problem instance motivating this research renders dynamic programming algorithms inappropriate, so we utilize approximate dynamic programming (ADP) methods to attain improved policies (relative to a benchmark policy) via an approximate policy iteration algorithmic strategy utilizing least squares temporal differencing for policy evaluation. We examine a representative problem instance motivated by resupply operations experienced by the United States Army in Afghanistan both to demonstrate the applicability of our MDP model and to examine the efficacy of our proposed ADP solution methodology. A designed computational experiment enables the examination of selected problem features and algorithmic features vis-a-vis the quality of solutions attained by our ADP policies. Results indicate that a 4-crew, 8-CUAV unit is able to resupply 57% of the demand from an 800-person organization over a 3-month time horizon when using the ADP policy, a notable improvement over the 18% attained using a benchmark policy. Such results inform the development of procedures governing the design, development, and utilization of CUAV assets for the resupply of dispersed ground combat forces.

Development and application of a questionnaire to self-rate physical work demands for ground combat soldiers

PurposeThe aim of the present study was to identify the most physically demanding work tasks for Swedish ground combat soldiers through the development and application of a questionnaire survey. This is the first in a series of studies aiming to describe the development process and validation of physical selection standards in the Swedish armed forces. MethodsBased on procedural documentation, combat manuals and job analyses, a questionnaire was developed that defined and rated the perceived physical strain of 30 work tasks for ground combat soldiers. To assess validity, an expert focus group was used and psychometric analysis performed. The questionnaire was then distributed to 231 ground combat soldiers, of whom 165 responded (71%). ResultsThe questionnaire was validated in three steps to achieve face and content validity, and internal consistency was acceptable (Chronbach's alpha ≥0.95). Of the 30 work tasks included in the survey, transport of wounded was rated as the most demanding task for both aerobic capacity and strength. Other highly demanding tasks for aerobic capacity included combat movement (low/high crawl), dismounted attack in close country, urban and rough terrain and carrying heavy loads. There were no gender differences for either aerobic or strength demands in the top five most challenging tasks based on proportions. ConclusionsThis study identified the most physically demanding tasks performed in the Swedish ground combat forces. Almost all the physically demanding tasks found in the present study contain elements of lifting and carrying, which require muscular strength and muscular endurance, with no gender differences.

Leaving Afghanistan: Enduring Lessons from the Soviet Politburo

A systematic analysis of formerly classified Soviet Politburo documents challenges popular misconceptions about the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. The archival evidence indicates that, far from being a near-complete and chaotic failure, the withdrawal was based on a coherent exit strategy that initially achieved its limited objectives. Moscow's strategy enabled Soviet-trained Afghan forces to withstand the insurgent offensive and allowed the Afghan government to remain in power nearly three years after the Soviet combat forces departed. The Soviet-installed Afghan government ultimately collapsed not from military defeat or bankruptcy but from internal political strife and betrayals. Even though Soviet leaders failed to secure long-term gains as their strategy ran out of time, their experience provides relevant lessons for U.S. strategy formulation in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces and is an instructive case that can inform theories of great-power retraction from foreign intervention in general.

Performance Evaluation of Force Combat Training Based on AHP and BP Neural Network

Performance Evaluation of Force Combat Training Based on AHP and BP Neural Network

Dynamic multi-objective optimization of battlefield support resources based on Interactive Genetic Algorithm

With the deterioration of the international environment and the intensification of military conflicts, the scale, type, direction and emphasis of military activities are constantly changing. which requires the corresponding adjustment of maintenance and support resources to ensure that the wartime support tasks are met in various battlefield environments. Based on the background that the support demand and battlefield situation have changed and the original resource support scheme can not meet the needs of wartime support tasks, this paper readjusts the support resources dynamically to ensure the strong support of combat forces, constructs a dynamic multi-objective optimal allocation model of battlefield support resources, formulates corresponding strategies, and presents a heuristic algorithm for solving the model.