Military Bases Research Articles

A Community-Engaged Approach to Understanding Suicide in a Small Rural County in Georgia: A Two-Phase Content Analysis of Individual and Focus Group Interviews.

Suicide is a significant public health problem, with disproportionate rates in rural areas. Rural communities face substantial structural and cultural barriers to suicide prevention. This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the need for suicide prevention and gauge the appropriateness of prevention efforts in the context of a rural Georgia county by leveraging existing community resources and knowledge. Twenty one-on-one, semi-structured interviews and two focus groups were conducted, with participants recruited via purposive snowball sampling. Data analysis included qualitative deductive and inductive content analysis from individual interviews and focus groups with community stakeholders. The findings highlight how rural contexts exacerbate drivers of death by suicide and how the substantial loss of community members to suicide contributes to the ongoing crisis and reduces available support. Access to mental health care often depended on a connection to an established public system such as schools, a military base, or Veterans Administration. There were perceived gaps in crisis and post-crisis services, with participants actively trying to address these gaps and build community support through coalition building. This study contributes knowledge to contextual drivers of suicide in rural areas beyond individual-level risk factors. Community-engaged suicide prevention research in rural areas is promising, but there is a need to develop interventions to best support coalition building and capacity development.

Securing Autonomy of Military Barracks Through Renewable Energy Solutions

Abstract This article presents a concept of establishing a network of energy self-sufficient nodes in Slovenia and the EU, within the Defence RESilience Hub Network in Europe project initiated by the Ministry of Defence of Slovenia (MORS). The goal is to reduce the energy dependence of military facilities on external suppliers. A mathematical model of a military site’s micro-grid incorporates multiple energy vectors and their conversion and storage, with a focus on hydrogen technologies. A case study of a military site in Belgium shows that an energy system with solar and wind power can provide sufficient hydrogen for transportation needs and operate the site autonomously for up to 30 days. Additionally, the carbon footprint of the military base as an energy system was calculated, indicating potential reductions in environmental impacts.

A Study on the Actual Problems in Okinawa and Its Attitude Toward the United States in the Context of the Expansion of the Actual Power of the US Military Base in Japan

Against the backdrop of the post-World War II U.S.-Japan security agreement and the construction of U.S. military bases in Okinawa, this article discusses the reasons for the resistance of the Okinawan people to the U.S. military station. The geographical location of Okinawa Island is extremely special, and it is an important checkpoint in the Pacific Ocean. To the north of Okinawa is Japans main island, and to the south of Okinawa is Taiwan Island, which is relatively close to the South China Sea and has an important strategic position. In the process of researching the causes, the article will study the influence of U.S. forces in Okinawa in three aspects. The method is to explore the adverse effects of the US military stationed in Okinawa and the reasons why Okinawans oppose the military based on the local environment and peoples rights and interests in Okinawa. Okinawas solution to the troop garrison problem should be to defend its homeland rights through protests and litigation, and reduce the expansion of U.S. bases in the long term.

SWEDEN'S AND FINLAND'S ACCESSION TO NATO AS A FACTOR IN CHANGING THE EUROPEAN SECURITY SYSTEM

The article analyzes the prerequisites and consequences of the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO. Neutrality is avoiding participation in wars and non-participation in military-political blocs in peacetime, as well as not providing national territory for foreign military bases, and refusing to sell weapons to opposing parties. The Russian ultimatum of November 2021 with the demands that NATO renounce the expansion of the alliance testified to the fact of a deep crisis of the European security system. The trend towards the formation of a multipolar system of international relations has changed the logic of the policy of neutrality. Defeat in the Northern War of 1700-1721 prompted Sweden to switch to a policy of active neutrality. In 1935, Finland declared its intention to pursue a neutral policy with priority given to the Scandinavian direction. After Finland's defeat in the Second World War, the so-called “Finlandization” became a feature of Finnish neutrality. “Finlandization” is considered as subordination of the political course of a weaker country to the interests of a more powerful neighboring country with formal preservation of sovereignty. The process of gradual formation of a multipolar world provoked a change in the geopolitical orientations of the states of Northern Europe. There is constant tension in the Arctic. The USA declared a course for a new Atlanticism aimed at continuing the process of expansion and structural and functional strengthening of NATO. The active phase of the Russian war against Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, was the decisive reason for the decision to join Sweden and Finland in NATO. The methodological support for the conclusions of the article is based on the theory of political realism and problematic and chronological analysis of the modern history of international relations. The scientific novelty of the article lies in determining the complex of geopolitical, military-strategic, historical preconditions and consequences of Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO.

Immunities: State Immunity from Claims of Anti-Union Discrimination at Foreign Military Bases

Immunities: State Immunity from Claims of Anti-Union Discrimination at Foreign Military Bases

Alpha-gal IgE Prevalence Patterns in the United States: An Investigation of 3,000 Military Recruits

IgE to the oligosaccharide galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) is an important cause of allergic reactions to mammalian meat. The "alpha-gal syndrome" is strongly associated with a preceding history of tick bites and in the United States is most commonly reported in parts of the southeast, but there has been limited investigation into national alpha-gal sensitization patterns and the relevance of other risk factors. To systematically investigate alpha-gal IgE prevalence, regional patterns, and risk factors. Alpha-gal IgE was measured by ImmunoCAP in biobanked serum samples collected from 3000 service members who presented for intake to 1 of 10 military bases in the central/eastern United States. Alpha-gal IgE sensitization (cutoff 0.1 international units/mL) was related to home of record at enlistment. Of the cohort, 2456 (81.9%) subjects were male, median age was 19 years (interquartile range: 18-22 years), and alpha-gal IgE was detected in 179 (6.0%). Home of record spanned all 50 states, with a median of 36 recruits per state (range: 3-261). The highest prevalence rates were in Arkansas (39%), Oklahoma (35%), and Missouri (29%), with several other southeastern states >10%. Granular mapping revealed sensitization patterns that closely mimicked county-level Amblyomma americanum reports and Ehrlichia chaffeensis infections. Sensitization was associated with male sex, rural residence, and White race in univariate and multivariable models. In this systematic survey, the prevalence of alpha-gal IgE among incoming military personnel was 6.0%. There were significant regional differences, with an overall pattern consistent with the known range of the lone star tick (A.americanum) and highest frequency in an area including Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.

A Health Survey Revealing Prevalence of Vector-Borne Diseases and Tuberculosis in Papua New Guinea Defence Force Personnel and Families.

The Papua New Guinean Defence Force (PNGDF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) work and train closely. Infectious diseases pose a health threat to both forces, but recent knowledge about the risk at military bases in Papua New Guinea is limited. To improve understanding, a collaborative cross-sectional survey was conducted (March-April 2019) at Lombrum Naval base (Manus province) and Moem Army barracks (Wewak, East Sepik province) plus its Vanimo outpost (Sandaun province). Clinical data, venous blood, and sputum were collected from PNGDF personnel (DF) from the three sites, with point-of-care testing conducted for malaria (microscopy and rapid diagnostic test [RDT]), lymphatic filariasis (RDT), glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (RDT), tuberculosis (GeneXpert), and hemoglobin level. Finger prick blood collected from family members residing at the Wewak base was tested for malaria and hemoglobin level. Overall, 235 DF and 793 family members completed the survey. Microscopy revealed malaria prevalence as 0.4% Plasmodium falciparum and 3.1% Plasmodium vivax among DF and 3.5% P. falciparum, 14.3% P. vivax, and 0.3% mixed P. falciparum/P. vivax among family members. Among DF, 3.9% were G6PD deficient and none tested positive for tuberculosis or for lymphatic filariasis antigen. Anemia was present in 6.5% of DF and 47.3% of family members, predominantly females. Results suggest ongoing exposure to malaria, particularly P. vivax, at study sites, whereas infections of lymphatic filariasis and tuberculosis were not detected. Survey results will inform the PNGDF and the ADF regarding vector-borne disease risk for future sustainable health and disease control interventions.

Public and Private Options in Practice: The Military Health System.

Recent debates over health care reform, including in the context of the Military Health System (MHS) and Veterans Administration, highlight the dispute between public and private provision of health care services. Using novel data on childbirth claims from the MHS and drawing on the combination of plausibly exogenous patient moves and heterogeneity across bases in the availability of base hospitals, we identify the impact of receiving obstetrical care on versus off military bases. We find evidence that off-base care is associated with slightly greater resource intensity, but also notably better outcomes, suggesting marginal efficiency gains from care privatization.

Tidal and Wave Renewable Energy: In Support of Marines during Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations

This study proposes an improved method of military logistics focused on tidal and wave renewable energy that reduces vulnerabilities tied to required resupplies and extends U.S. Marine Corps endurance in forward, austere expeditionary advanced base operations environments, ultimately creating options to persist within an adversary’s weapons engagement zone. Currently, one major problem surrounding traditional military operations is an overreliance on fuel, which results in increased consumption and financial costs, as well as the risk to force and risk to mission associated with logistical resupplies. In this article, both descriptive and explanatory qualitative research methods facilitate an understanding of military logistical problems and then explore current commercial logistical solutions for potential future military applications. The results highlight the ability of tidal energy converters to provide efficient and cost-saving renewable energy solutions at military bases and stations. Further results emphasize wave energy converters as viable renewable energy solutions to support the Marine littoral regiment with 2.8 megawatts of power (reducing consumption by 30 percent), combat operations centers, and light and ultralight hybrid tactical vehicles by cutting the tether of required resupplies, limiting fuel costs, and ultimately reducing the risk to force and risk to mission.

Ovine invasion: sheep as protest objects and animal agents in the Larzac campaign

Abstract In their posters and in their protests, the peasants of the Larzac deployed sheep to help them fight back against the French Army’s plans to expropriate them from the land as part of the expansion of a local military base. In Paris, as in regional courtrooms, sheep served as a visible and disruptive contrast to urban modernity, emblematized in ovine invasions which invited animals to make themselves heard (and smelt) in courtrooms, townhalls and even beneath the Eiffel Tower. This article considers sheep as objects and agents of protest in the Larzac campaign, showing how they embodied contested visions of rural modernity, offered both opportunities for and shaped new methodologies of protest, and came to characterize the way in which this pacifist campaign resonated internationally.

The Spirit of the Convention and the Letter of the Colony: Refugees Defining States in a British Overseas Territory

Abstract Whereas asylum policy is predicated on the assumption that states define refugees, this paper examines how refugees define states. Through the legal case of refugees stranded on a British military base in Cyprus since 1998, I show how refugees and the states that grant them or deny them protection become co-constitutive. The processes involved in judicial activism delineate the modalities through which sovereign governance and refugee agencies operate. I argue that modalities of sovereignty (colonialism, exceptionalism, and diplomacy) interact with modalities of agency (protest, vulnerability, and endurance) to redefine issues of refugee protection, state sovereignty, and externalization of migration management. The case shows the risks that denial of protection entails for states and not just refugees. Methodologically, I propose that a nuanced, ground-level understanding of the role of law in activism allows us a clearer view to these imbrications of sovereign governance and agency, and thus to the ambivalent and multivalent aspects of activism.

Examining the Antecedents of Defence Indigenization for Modernization of Armed Forces in India

When it comes to protecting a nation's sovereignty and national security, the role that the defence industry plays is indispensable.In recent years, there has been an increasing emphasis on indigenization, which refers to the development and manufacturing of military items within the borders of a country. It entails putting in place a robust military industrial base that can both contribute to the nation's overall security and fulfill the requirements of the country's armed forces.The modernization of the armed forces is dependent on acquiring latest military hardware , best served through developing indigenous technology. Given the importance of defence indigenization, this paper tries to examine the antecedents of defence indigenization in India using structural equation modelling. The analysis of the data reveals that government policies and private-public partnership play a vital role in defence indigenization. However, transfer of technology is yet to play a significant role in indigenization. Further, there is a strong relationship between defence indigenization and modernization of armed forces. Defence indigenization can be facilitated by fostering private-public partnerships, enhancing technology transfers, and streamlining government regulations.

Intelligent Surveillance Using Robot Eye and Sensor System

Majority of the advancements, which have been made in the field of robotics are employed in household applications. Surveillance systems are used in guarding and security applications of household and workplaces. This paper presents an advanced surveillance system which integrates sensor system, robot technology and intelligent programming. Robotic surveillance system can be used to replace human guards in dangerous surveillance conditions. Several robots have been developed to assist in these operations. But the full scale employment of robots in crucial fields such as surveillance, security in defence industries and military bases is very limited. The system's overall structure is described, along with descriptions of each component. The robotic system consists of robot eyes, which are capable of sensing an object through IR sensor capability. This robotic system helps in the identification of human presence and alerting respective owners. These operations, performed by the robotic system are achieved using sensors, several number of servo motors, Arduino microcontroller. These components are placed in their respective locations, within a body which is fabricated using the 3D printing technology. The sensors in the robotic system capture the movements of objects. The robotic eyes are fitted with cameras which capture the movements. The robotic system is programmed in such a way that the robotic eyes, move in the direction of object which has been sensed by the sensors and focus on it. If there are multiple moving objects, then one robotic eye focuses on one object, while the other robotic eye focuses on another object. The captured surveillance footage can be viewed through a monitor connected to the robotic system.

CHINA REACTIONS TOWARDS INDIA’S MILITARY MODERNIZATION AT ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

This research studies the factors that lead to India's military modernisation in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI). The research focuses on the geostrategic elements of the ANI and the contemporary Sino-Indian relationship. This research has three objectives namely 1) to study the factors that led to India's military modernization, 2) to examine the impact of India's military modernisation on China and 3) to analyse the China's reaction to it. The theory of realism was applied to support the argument of Sino-Indian relations, as both countries have a particular interest in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This research uses a qualitative technique that is based on secondary data references from credible sources, both printed and online. This research findings that the Andaman and Nicobar archipelagos consist of 572 islands and islets chain stretched from the southern tip of Myanmar to the north-western tip of Sumatra is India’s potential fortress of defence in the Bay of Bengal. Since 2001, the Indian government has established a tri-service Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) at Port Blair to protect its sovereignty in the Indian Ocean. India announced the massive weapon procurement plan forecast for a 15 years period (2012-2027), followed by establishment of the Island Development Agency (IDA) in 2017 in effort to shift the archipelago from a merely military base into an active economic hub. This gained reaction from China as it sees India is projecting supremacy over its backyard, creating a possible “security chain” that would supresses China besides the existing “Malacca’s Dilemma”. This research concludes Andaman and Nicobar has a great potential in the future due to its location between two major seas, the South China Sea (SCS) and the Indian Ocean. Its proximity to the Straits of Malacca (SOM) gives leverage over one of the world’s busiest trade chokepoints.

Securing Interests or Undermining Sovereignty? The Political Implications of Foreign Military Basing in Africa

ABSTRACT For decades, foreign military bases have been an integral part of international politics. The presence of foreign military forces in host nations can serve strategic and economic interests, but it can also raise legal, ethical, and political difficulties, especially with regard to sovereignty. Utilizing a qualitative research methodology this article investigates the political consequences of foreign military bases in Africa, concentrating on the conflict between protecting interests and eroding sovereignty. The findings emphasizes the significance for careful assessment of the political ramifications of foreign military bases in Africa as well as the benefits such facilities can offer to host nations.

US “Outposts” in Latin America: Military-Technical Cooperation, Military Bases and Joint Exercises

The authors analyze the forms of interaction between the United States and Latin America in the military sphere. The relevance of studying this issue is due to the aggravation of relations between the collective West and Russia, as well as between the United States and China, within the framework of which Latin America acts as a zone of competition between the world powers. In this regard, the analysis of Latin American vector of US policy in the military aspect from the point of view of Russia’s strategic interests is particularly important. The lack of domestic scientific research on this problem greatly adds to its relevance. As for the novelty, based on the review of the world market of arms and military equipment (AME), this article determines the dynamics and the share of the American producer in the total volume of arms trade. In the context of military-technical cooperation (MTC), the authors also consider the peculiarities of the American military power projection on Latin America, which is a zone of exclusive interests of the United States. Among the key formats of interaction and projection of influence, the authors include the following: arms and military-technical supplies to the armies and security services of the states of the region; training of military personnel in Latin American countries; financing of armies and military units; cooperation programs to optimize the managerial and organizational functions of the Latin American armed forces, establishment and maintenance of various types of military bases, conducting joint military exercises. Using new factual material, we examine each of the listed forms and show the systematic and geostrategic nature of the US influence on the Latin American region in the military aspect. As for military trade, the authors identify the main partners of the United States in South America.

A constructive airborne‐ground matrix algorithm for modern telecommunication systems

AbstractConventional Mobile Communication Systems (MCS) reliably transfer critical messages from authorised remote information sources like military bases and ground control stations in the war field. As tactical advancement grows rapidly, the challenges of transmitting tactical messages via conventional satellite methods increase the processing overhead related to cost, Line of Sight (LOS) communication, packet loss, delay, and retransmission requests. Modern mobile communication systems use Airborne Node Networks (ANN) between satellites and Mobile Ground Nodes (MGNs) as they provide many advantages in mobile communication systems. Hence airborne network reduces the burden of satellites as they are only used as relay stations. The mobility problem caused by ANN and MGNs is solved by proposing a novel constructive airborne‐ground matrix algorithm known as the Who‐To‐Whom (WTW) matrix. With the help of this matrix acting as a reference index, it determines which nodes relate to whom at every time interval T in the tactical environment. This WTW matrix holds precise status/information about connectivity among all stakeholders in the operating environment by carefully and effectively accounting for frequent location changes. The methodology of the proposed matrix is that it contains the physical parameters of the nodes and their behaviour in the tactical environment. The WTW matrix construction algorithm discusses how the reference matrix is constructed in every aerial node to monitor the mobile ground nodes by leading them to safety and providing aerial guidance as they move along the tactical environment. The performance metrics are measured with other existing schemes, and the merits and demerits of the proposed WTW matrix are identified and discussed in detail.

Do U.S. military bases impair the economic growth of the host countries?

The construction of overseas military bases requires significant investment from the defence budget, but the literature is still divided on whether this has a negative impact on the host nation’s economy. This study empirically examines these issues using data from the most recent US defence budget, revenue statistics from military contractors, and financial information from US military bases in Japan. The results of the study suggest that the construction of overseas bases only harms the American economy if they are acquired through military occupation. On the other hand, building overseas bases that are secured through an alliance will support American economic growth.

Potential natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons in fuel contaminated soils: Focusing on anaerobic fuel biodegradation involving microbial Fe(III) reduction

Liquid fossil fuels, collectively known as total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), are highly toxic and frequently leak into subsurface environments due to anthropogenic activities. As an in-situ biological remedial option for TPH contamination, aerobic TPH biodegradation is limited due to oxygen's low solubility in water, and because it is consumed quickly by aerobic bacteria. Thus, we investigated the potential of anaerobic TPH degradation by indigenous fermenting bacteria and Fe(III)-reducing bacteria. Twenty 6–10 m soil cores were collected from a closed military base subject to ongoing TPH contamination since the 1980s. Physicochemical and microbial properties were determined at 0.5-m intervals in each core. To assess the relationship between TPH degradation and microbial Fe(III) reduction, soil samples were grouped into high-TPH (>500 mg kg−1) and high-Fe(II) (>450 mg kg−1), high-TPH and low-Fe(II), low-TPH and high-Fe(II), and low-TPH and low-Fe(II) groups. Alpha diversity was significantly lower in high-TPH groups than in low-TPH groups, suggesting that high TPH concentrations exerted a strong selective pressure on bacterial communities. In the high-TPH and low-Fe(II) group, fermenting bacteria, including Microgenomatia and Chlamydiae, were more abundant, suggesting that TPH biodegradation occurred via fermentation. In the high-TPH and high-Fe(II) group, Fe(III)-reducing bacteria, including Geobacter and Zoogloea, were more abundant, suggesting that microbial Fe(III) reduction enhances TPH biodegradation. In contrast, the fermenting and/or Fe(III)-reducing bacteria were not statistically abundant in the low-TPH groups.

Women Representation in the Military: The Case of the South African National Defence Force, Limpopo Province

Promoting gender equality and women empowerment is a long standing item on the development agenda nationally and internationally. It is also item number five of the 2030 millennium development goals; gender equality, ending all discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic right but a human right. Research has proven that empowering women and girls helps economic growth and development. Empowering women is necessary for women’s enhancement in society and the workplace, the military is no exception. This paper argues on the gender mainstreaming policies in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and whether they are adequately implemented to ensure equal representation of women in all military ranks including combat. The researchers used Liberal Feminist Theory (LFT), which advocates for women’s right to be seen and acknowledged as human rights. The researchers employed a feminist qualitative research methodology and exploratory design. Snowballing sampling technique was used to select participants in the SANDF military air-force base in Hoedspruit, Limpopo and saturation was reached after the fifteenth participant for in-depth interviews. Data was analysed using Thematic Analysis (TA). Findings in the study revealed that women in the military are of the view that the military is making strides in ensuring an equal representation between men and women, however women view themselves as less represented than their male counterparts, regardless of the policies put in place. Results also revealed that that the lack of representation of women in the military is due to the SANDF not being meant for women. The paper therefore concludes that women are not equally represented to their male counterparts in the military and that there is need for improvement towards this in senior and management positions within the SANDF. The study recommends that the SANDF as a government institution could also create a sense of urgency to all the units in the quest to ensure equal representation of women. Creating a sense of urgency not only will ensure that more women can be part of the military, but will also create an awareness of the necessity for women to join the army.