Military Branches Research Articles

The Impact of Mammography Screening Guideline Changes Among Women Serving in the U.S. Military.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) modified their screening guidelines for breast cancer in November 2009. Previous studies evaluated the impact of these guideline changes among privately and Medicare insured populations. Women in the military form a unique population exposed to many social, environmental, and occupational hazards that may increase breast cancer incidence. By evaluating mammography screening rates among women in the military before and after the USPSTF guideline changes, this study evaluated the impact of the USPSTF breast cancer guideline change on screening mammography use within the military population and determined whether current guidelines were followed for this high-risk population with universal health care access. This study evaluated the impact of the 2009 guideline changes among the population of universally insured military servicewomen, comparing the proportion of active duty women aged 40 to 64 receiving mammograms from fiscal years 2006 to 2015 using an interrupted time series analysis. Stratified analyses evaluated differences by age (aged 40-49, 50-64), race, military branch, and rank. This research is considered exempt by the Uniformed Services University Institutional Review Board. The proportion of insured military servicewomen receiving mammograms increased from October 2005 through September 2009. A significant decrease occurred in the first quarter of 2010 following the publication of the screening guideline update. From this new baseline, the proportion of women screened increased again through September 2015. Comparative analyses showed more pronounced effects both immediately and over time among the women aged 50 to 64 compared to those aged 40 to 49years and among older enlisted women compared with their officer counterparts. The patterns were near identical in all subgroups; however, no changes in rate were evident among Air Force and black servicewomen aged 50 to 64 and Army and Navy/Marine Corps servicewomen aged 40 to 49years. No racial disparities in screening or impact were noted. The USPSTF guidelines had differential impacts among some subpopulations. While older women, aged 50 to 64years, had a greater temporary reduction immediately after the guideline change, younger women aged 40 to 49years had a longer-term reduction in screening following the guideline changes. No racial disparities in the proportion screened or in the impact of the guideline change were noted in this population with universal health coverage. The lack of Department of Defense standard breast cancer screening guidelines was evident from the different patterns of mammography utilization observed among military branches. To completely understand the impact of the updated screening guidelines, future studies must incorporate research focusing on changes in breast cancer morbidity and mortality as well as updated cost-benefit analyses.

The Department of organization and tactics of medical service. Past, present, future

The Department of organization and tactics of medical service, celebrating its 90th anniversary, is a leading department of our alma mater, as well as a leading academic and scientific centre of the Chief Military Medical Directorate of the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence. The department develops applied research tasks in the sphere of organization of medical service and provision of medical services to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in peacetime and wartime, engages in preparation of directive documents within its profile, analyses efficiency of medical services provided to the armed troops (forces) in daily activities of the medical service and in combat conditions. The department has always taken an active part in the development, preparation and conduct of research command-post and special tactical exercises in conjunction with the medical service of the Russian Federation Armed Forces, as well as in different stages, including the international stage, of the Military Medical Relay Competition jointly with the medical staff of military districts (fleets), branches and services of the Russian Federation Armed Forces. The department is engaged in serious work aimed at training qualified specialists for the overhead structures of the medical service of the Russian Federation Armed Forces, as well as military medics for the army. Over the 90 years of its existence, the department has developed into five new departments: department of military disciplines (operational- tactical training), department of organization and tactics of naval medical service (with a course of naval fighting equipment), department of medical service control automation with a course in military medical statistics, department of military medical supply and pharmacy, department of organization and economics of military healthcare. Among the significant achievements of the Department of organization and tactics of medical service is the development of a number of department-level training courses and academic disciplines some of which have turned (are turning) into independent departments, educational research schools.

Comparison of Air Force, Army, and Navy Emergency Medical Technician Candidates' Performance on the National Registry Cognitive Examination.

Military medics function similarly to civilian emergency medical technicians (EMTs); however, they perform their emergency medical care in combat zones and military treatment facilities. Both civilian and military EMTs must take and pass the National Registry of EMT's cognitive examination to be certified as a Nationally Registered EMT; however, there is a discrepancy in requirements for obtaining and maintaining National EMT Certification between the military branches of the DoD. In our study, we aimed to compare the performance of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), U.S. Army (USA), and U.S. Navy (USN) EMT candidates on the National EMT Certification cognitive examination from 2015 to 2017. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the National Registry of EMT's database for the examination results of all military EMT candidates who attempted the National EMT Certification cognitive examination between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2017. First and cumulative third attempt pass rates and cognitive performance from mean ability estimates (MAEs) on the examination were assessed. Descriptive statistics were calculated and comparisons between branches with regard to passing rates and MAEs were made using chi-square tests and ANOVA, respectively, at the alpha level of 0.05. During the 3-year study period, a total of 3,642 USAF, 14,050 USA, and 1,187 USN candidates attempted the cognitive examination one or more times. The USA candidates demonstrated the highest first attempt pass rates (2015: 78%; 2016: 78%; and 2017: 81%) followed by the USAF candidates (2015: 58%; 2016: 62%; and 2017: 64%) and the USN candidates (2015: 41%; 2016: 56%; and 2017: 62%). The cumulative third attempt pass rates followed a similar trend (e.g., USA: 2015: 94%; 2016: 95%; and 2017: 96%). These differences by branch were statistically significant for each year (P < .001). The overall test MAE scores also differed by branch, but only the USN candidates' MAE scores differed by year. The USA candidates demonstrated the highest MAE from 2015 to 2017 (523) followed by the USAF (489) and the USN (464) candidates. The overall test MAE scores for the USN candidates improved over the study period (2015: 449; 2016: 475; and 2017: 479, P < .001). Military EMT candidates had different performances on the EMT cognitive examination between branches. The USA candidates demonstrated higher pass rates and cognitive performance on the examination compared to their counterparts from the USAF and USN from 2015 to 2017. Further work should be directed at defining the cause of the differences in military EMT candidate performance and determining the characteristics that impact these differences.

The U.S. Marine Corps’ Response to Intimate Partner Sexual Violence: An Analysis of the Family Advocacy Program and the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program

In this article, we show how the U.S. military treats domestic violence and sexual assault as distinct forms of abuse, which has particular consequences for victims of intimate partner sexual violence. We explore how a specific U.S. military branch, the Marine Corps, complicates these issues further by providing services to intimate partner sexual violence victims from two different programs. Analyzing military orders and documents related to Family Advocacy Program and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program, interviews with eight military prosecutors, and the experiences of one military lawyer, we examine program and interactional-level factors that shape victim services, advocacy, and processes. We find that there are program differences in specialized services, coordinated services, and potential breaches of confidentiality related to victim’s cases. We recommend that the Marine Corps recognize the intersections of sexual violence and domestic violence and offer more tailored services to victims of intimate partner sexual violence.

Incidence of Posterior Shoulder Instability in the United States Military: Demographic Considerations From a High-Risk Population

Background: Relatively little is known about the true incidence of posterior shoulder instability in the United States. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to characterize the incidence of posterior shoulder instability in the US military population and to examine which characteristics place these patients at highest risk. We hypothesized that the rate of posterior instability in this cohort of patients would be higher than previously reported. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: All initial cases of posterior shoulder dislocation and subluxation in the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database were screened between 2016 and 2018 using the relevant International Classification of Diseases–Tenth Revision-Clinical Modification codes. Incidences were calculated, and multivariate Poisson regression was used to calculate adjusted rate ratios for the effects of sex, race, age, military service branch, rank, and year. Results: The overall unadjusted incidence was 0.032 per 1000 person-years for posterior dislocations, 0.064 per 1000 person-years for posterior subluxations, and 0.096 per 1000 person-years for all cases of posterior shoulder instability. The total incidence of all shoulder instability was 1.84 per 1000 person-years, with posterior shoulder instability accounting for 5.2% of total cases. For posterior subluxation, significant differences between groups were found in the unadjusted and adjusted rate ratio (ARR) for sex (ARR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.85-5.93 for men), race (ARR, 0.458; 95% CI, 0.294-0.714 for Black servicemembers and ARR, 0.632; 95% CI, 0.421-0.948 for servicemembers of other race), age (ARR, 3.69; 95% CI, 1.56-8.70 for patients aged 30-34 years), and military service branch (ARR, 0.663; 95% CI, 0.460-0.955 for Air Force servicemembers). For posterior shoulder dislocations, a significant difference was found only between men and women (ARR, 4.55; 95% CI, 1.85-11.2 for men). Conclusion: The incidence of posterior shoulder instability among US military personnel is higher than previously reported in the general US population, with a majority of cases due to subluxation. This increased incidence is likely reflective of a young and highly active population along with improvements in awareness and diagnosis of posterior instability in recent years.

Дослідження основних напрямів розвитку сучасної системи стабілізації озброєння

The article considers the structure and principle of operation of the weapon stabilization system, which is technically a set of sensors and a computer system connected to the gun drive. It is established that the oscillations of the body of light armored vehicles (LBT) are random and never fade when moving. The amplitudes of the angular oscillations have a fairly high frequency, which leads to significant movements of the aiming mark relative to the target. The greatest influence on the accuracy of firing have oscillations LBT in the longitudinal plane, changing the angle of elevation of the gun, and angular oscillations in the horizontal plane, changing the angle of horizontal aiming of the gun. It has also been found that the transverse angular oscillations that cause the gun to tilt have less of an effect, but increase with the growth of firing range. The scattering of projectiles also increases due to changes in the direction and magnitude of the vector of the initial velocity of the projectile, i.e. the projectile will always deviate towards the movement of the gun. As a result of the action of various factors, the scattering of shells when firing on the move increases by about 10–12 times. The analysis of the existing classification of LBT armament stabilizers is given. The analysis of the existing combat modules and stabilizers of the armament of the Ukrainian production is carried out and it is established that the Ukrainian military branch has an actual tendency to rapid development. The main directions of development of modern weapon stabilizers are highlighted, the most promising of which is the development of new and increasing the accuracy of existing sensitive elements. The analysis of the latest developments of sensitive elements of LBT armament stabilizers is carried out.

Stanovování a hodnocení kompetencí důstojníka ozbrojených sil České republiky

The article deals with the issue of identification and evaluation of the competencies of senior officers of the Czech Armed Forces. Paper investigates the role of the authorities responsible for military branches and military occupation specialties in the system of defining officer´s competencies. It was also examined the scope of possible application of the competency model of a professional soldier defined by the National System of Occupations in the process of career management. As a comprehensive and optimal solution, a full application of competency model is proposed. The partial application of the competency model is based only on the use of the soft competencies component. Both of these proposals are formulated primarily for the purpose of describing the job position and official evaluation. The paper also brings a number of proposals in the conceptual and normative area circumscribing and strengthening the role of the responsible authorities in the process of defining the officer´s competencies.

Reexamining the “Separation of Church and Space”: Evangelical Protestant Support for Space Exploration in the Trump–Pence Age

President Donald Trump began his presidency in January 2017 by exclaiming, “We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space…” His “Make America Great Again” agenda has included a reinvigorated space policy—spearheaded by the creation of the Space Force military branch and NASA’s Launch America in partnership with the private sector. Prior to this administration, a 2015 study by Ambrosius found that Evangelical Protestants are the least supportive of space exploration when compared with other religious traditions and the public. These findings emerged from the analysis of several national surveys conducted between 2009 and 2011. This present study uses similar methods to revisit these findings in light of Evangelicals’ robust political support for the president and Vice President Mike Pence, the chair of the National Space Council who frequently evokes religious imagery in space-related speeches. Analysis of the General Social Survey conducted between 2004 and 2018 reveals that Trump’s presidency may have modestly altered this wall of separation. Evangelicals in 2018 remain significantly lower than non-Evangelicals in space knowledge, interest, and policy support, but they exhibit greater increases than the non-Evangelical population in space interest and support over levels during the Obama and Bush presidencies.

Prevalence of Eating Disorder Risk and Body Image Dissatisfaction among ROTC Cadets.

Injury risk is multifactorial including non-modifiable and modifiable factors such as nutrition and mental health. The purpose of this study was to estimate eating disorder risk and body image (BI) dissatisfaction among Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) cadets. A total of 102 (male: n = 75, female: n = 27; age: 20 ± 2 years) ROTC cadets self-reported height, current and ideal weight, and completed the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and self-perceived BI current and perceived sex-specific figural stimuli. The overall eating disorder risk for ROTC cadets was 32.4%. No significant differences were found when comparing sex, ethnicity, or military branch. Overall risk of pathogenic behaviors included 11.8% who reported binge eating; 8.8% who used laxatives, diuretics, or diet pills; 8.8% who exercised for >60 min to control their weight; and 8.8% who lost 9.1 kg or more within the last 6 months. We identified significant interactions (p ≤ 0.01) between sex of the solider, overall perceptions of male and female soldiers, and BI self-perceptions. The ROTC cadets in this study displayed eating disorder risk and BI dissatisfaction, which is concerning for tactical readiness, long-term behavioral health issues, and injury from pathogenic behaviors. Education and quality healthcare are necessary to mitigate the increased risk of eating and BI dissatisfaction within this population.

“Even If the Policy Changes, the Culture Remains the Same”: A Mixed Methods Analysis of LGBT Service Members’ Outness Patterns

Despite repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy in 2011 and the ban on open transgender service from 2016 to 2019, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members may be reluctant to disclose their identities to fellow military personnel. This study used data collected through the Department of Defense–funded mixed methods research study conducted from 2016 to 2018. A sample of 248 active duty LGBT service members completed a survey, while a sample of 42 LGBT active duty service members participated in an in-depth interview. Regression analyses tested for differences in outness by demographic and military traits; a thematic analysis of qualitative data contextualizes these findings. Outness to fellow service members varied greatly by rank, military branch, education level, sexual orientation, gender identity, and marital status. The lowest outness was to chaplains (38%), while the highest outness was to LGBT unit friends (93%). Implications for military leadership and service providers are discussed.

Brain cancer incidence: a comparison of active-duty military and general populations.

In the USA, brain cancer disproportionately affects young adults. The US military has a younger age structure than the general population and may have differential exposures related to brain cancer. This study aimed to compare the incidence rates of brain cancer in the active-duty military and general populations to provide clues for future etiologic research. The rates between military service branches were also compared. The data for this study were from the Department of Defense's Automated Central Tumor Registry (ACTUR) and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 9 (SEER-9) registries. Age- and sex-adjusted incidence rates of malignant neuroepithelial brain cancer among adults 20-54 years of age from 1990-2013 were calculated and compared between the two populations, given as incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The age and sex-adjusted incidence rate for malignant neuroepithelial brain cancer was significantly lower in the active-duty population than in the US general population (IRR = 0.62, 95% CI, 0.56-0.68). The reduced incidence rate in the active-duty population was observed in men, all races, individuals 20-44 of age, and for all histological subtypes and time periods assessed. There were no significant differences in rates between the military service branches. The incidence rates of neuroepithelial brain cancer were lower in the active-duty military population than the US general population. This study highlights the need for more research to enhance our understanding of variations in brain cancer incidence between these two populations.

Healthy lifestyles among military active duty service members, and associations with body-building and weight-loss supplement use

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to characterize health behavior profiles among active duty service members and associate these profiles with body-building and weight-loss dietary supplement (DS) use. MethodsBased on U.S. active duty service members who completed the 2011 Health-Related Behavior Survey (n = 39,877), we used latent class analysis to place respondents into latent classes (using healthy/unhealthy food consumption, aerobic activity, strength training, and sleep) and examined associations between latent class and DS use. ResultsWe identified seven health behavior classes that could be classified by physical activity and diet. Three classes with high activity were further characterized by healthy diet (24%); few unhealthy foods (18%); and unrestricted diet (9%). Three classes with low activity were further characterized by restricted diet (15%), healthy diet (15%), and unhealthy diet (6%). The last class (13%) reported moderate levels of all behaviors. The classes did not vary by sleep. Participant characteristics across most classes were relatively homogenous along demographics and military branch. The active classes had relatively higher usage of body-building and weight-loss DSs. ConclusionsLatent classes from health behavior indicators might be considered “market segments”, which can be targeted with distinct messaging. Service members appear to consume DSs as part of an otherwise healthy lifestyle.

Оптимізації розподілу навчальних годин комплексної програми бойової підготовки з’єднання (частини) між спеціалістами (підрозділами) родів військ

Пошук можливих шляхів підвищення ефективності бойової підготовки (БП) військових формувань, як невід’ємної складової їх боєздатності, завжди був і залишається пріоритетним напрямом діяльності та першочерговим завданням командирів і штабів усіх рівнів. На думку авторів, одним із можливих шляхів забезпечення потрібного рівня навченості військових формувань є розроблення та запровадження в практику їх БП принципово нового нормативного документа – Комплексної програми бойової підготовки військового формування типу з’єднання (частина) сил оборони (КПБП). Розроблення КПБП має бути всебічно, зокрема науково, обґрунтованим. Проте в існуючих методиках оцінювання ефективності БП військових формувань, у тому числі її планування, використовуються зовсім різні методи дослідження залежності рівня навченості спеціалістів певної категорії (профілю) та підрозділів родів військ від кількості навчальних годин, які протягом певного періоду виділяються на їх підготовку. Існуючі методики не дозволяють здійснювати раціональний (оптимальний) розподіл навчальних годин між спеціалістами (підрозділами) родів військ для досягнення заданого рівня навченості з’єднання (частини) у цілому. Також ці методики не враховують (враховують частково) обмеження щодо фінансування заходів БП та не передбачають комплексного підходу до забезпечення потрібного рівня боєздатності з’єднань (частин). На думку авторів, нині виникла потреба у використанні методичного апарату, який би, враховуючи рівень фінансування БП, дозволяв визначати оптимальну кількість навчальних годин, а також здійснювати їх оптимальний розподіл між спеціалістами (підрозділами) родів військ для досягнення заданого рівня навченості з’єднання (частини) у цілому. У пропонованій статті викладено основний зміст задачі оптимізації розподілу навчальних годин КПБП між спеціалістами (підрозділами) родів військ для досягнення заданого рівня їх навченості (лінійний варіант). Стаття є логічним продовженням попередніх публікацій за даним напрямом дослідження.

U.S. Navy Bolsters Mental Health Services During Pandemic

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Clinical & ResearchFull AccessU.S. Navy Bolsters Mental Health Services During PandemicNick ZagorskiNick ZagorskiSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:16 Jul 2020https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2020.6b28AbstractWith services ranging from peer counseling groups to psychiatrists embedded within deployed personnel, the Navy’s No Wrong Door program is striving to provide mental health services to all personnel.iStock/Avigator PhotographerAs highlighted by the large-scale outbreak of COVID-19 on the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier that started in late March, the U.S. Navy is not immune to the virus. Given the existing stresses of military service and the close quarters many naval personnel operate in, the COVID-19 pandemic might be a recipe for significant psychological burden.“[S]o far, we have not seen a spike in demand for our mental health services,” said physician Capt. James Reeves, director for primary care and mental health at the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, during a virtual roundtable event in late May discussing how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted the Navy. “Inpatient hospital admissions have even diminished during this time.”While it may still be some time before the mental health effects of COVID-19 emerge, Reeves said he is encouraged by these early trends.The lack of a significant mental health spike is due in part to some broad protective factors, according to Reeves. “As a group, our personnel are all still employed and have access to health care,” he said. As many personnel are accustomed to long periods on vessels, they may also be more resilient to the effects of self-isolation. “Some individuals might even appreciate the necessity of spending more time at home with family,” he said.Reeves also said he believes that the comprehensive mental health program developed by Navy Medicine known as No Wrong Door may be contributing to the positive early data. If Navy personnel experience mental health problems, they have a range of service options—from peer support to psychiatry specialists, Reeves said.In addition to having psychiatrists available at the large Navy hospitals and medical centers, the Navy provides behavioral services (generally psychologists and/or social workers) at many of their smaller on-base primary care clinics. In the last decade, the Navy and other military branches have also started embedding mental health professionals with specific units such as submarine crews, aviators, or special forces. “Each of our units is unique in what it does and has its own culture,” Reeves said, noting that currently about one-third of mental health professionals in the Navy are embedded. “These embedded staff know how the units operate, they deploy with them, and can provide concierge-level care.”Due in part to a multifaceted strategy of peer and professional behavioral services, Navy personnel have not experienced significant mental distress during the COVID-19 outbreak, says Capt. James Reeves.Additionally, a referral program known as Military OneSource can help U.S. servicemembers to connect with non-military counselors if they feel more comfortable going to someone outside their base.Supporting the long-term mental health of Navy personnel requires tending to stressors that were likely around before and will extend beyond the pandemic.“This is especially concerning now since the extra time needed to manage a crisis situation prevents personnel from caring for their personal health,” said Joshua Morganstein, M.D., an associate professor of psychiatry at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and chair of APA’s Committee on the Psychiatric Dimensions of Disasters.Fleet and Family Support Centers on bases and deployment resiliency counselors on ships offer counseling for issues including family illness, marriage problems, or sexual harassment. Additionally, Navy chaplains play a key role in supporting personnel, Reeves said. “People may think of chaplains purely as spiritual help, but they are trained in counseling on issues like grief and loss,” he said.In response to COVID-19, the Navy has been quick to increase virtual mental health services. Reeves noted that most services being offered are telephone-based, though they are ramping up their video-conferencing abilities. Several Navy hospitals have also developed virtual programs to help both patients and caregivers during this crisis.“We know that this pandemic is straining the health care system and creating excess operational stress on caregivers,” Reeves said. “We want our staff to be able to recognize stress symptoms early and ensure they can get the support needed.”Morganstein added that the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at USUHS has created numerous resource sheets on how caregivers, patients, and families can mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. ■The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress pandemic resources are posted here. ISSUES NewArchived

Competencies of military nurse managers: A scoping review and unifying framework.

Aim(s)To identify competencies of military nurse managers and develop a unifying framework of military nurse managers’ competencies.BackgroundMilitary nurse managers shoulder multiple responsibilities because of duality roles, and they should possess competencies that enable them to manage human and material resources during peacetime and wartime. Therefore, nursing management within military context is demanding, such that a comprehensive understanding of their competencies is needed for effective military nursing management. Although relevant studies have focused on different military branches and different levels of managers, there is no standard evaluation framework.EvaluationA scoping review of studies focusing on competencies of military nurse managers from seven databases was carried out.Key issuesNine studies were included in this review, and a framework consisting of six domains of military nurse managers’ competencies was identified: clinical expertise, role model, leadership competencies, human competencies, financial competencies and deployment competencies.ConclusionExisting knowledge of competencies of military nurse managers is limited, and a comprehensive understanding of this topic can provide direction for future work.Implications for Nursing ManagementMilitary nurse managers play substantial roles within the military nursing context. A unifying framework can facilitate personnel recruitment and competency measurement, as well as training protocol development.

INTERRATER RELIABILITY OF ASSESSING THE 1-MINUTE PUSH-UP TEST

Many law enforcement agencies, fire departments and military branches often require members to complete a muscular strength and endurance physical fitness test for entry or as a yearly test to assess their ability to perform essential job duties. Push-ups are common components of a muscular fitness assessment, especially in tactical settings. These tests require a certain level of muscular strength, however, the level of strength needed to be successful in essential job duties is widely debated. Because multiple raters are used to test large groups, scoring inconsistencies can occur due to of a lack of proper movement standard knowledge between raters. PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate interrater reliability of the 1-minute push-up test using video motion capture application across a group of fitness professionals and health science students. METHODS: Data collected from 28 video raters (males, n = 10; females, n = 18, age: 24.8 + 5.5) was analyzed to determine the interrater reliability for the 1-minute push-up test. Raters were recruited from health science courses at the university where this study was conducted. Raters were shown 10 different video recordings of individuals performing the 1-minute push-up tests as a group in a classroom. Raters were instructed to score the performance of each video participants based on the testing procedures and criteria that were provided. RESULTS: A Cronbach’s alpha reliability analysis of the entire sample revealed a high degree of interrater reliability for the push-up test. (α = .987). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this investigation, it appears that the push-up test can be assessed by different raters with a high degree of reliability. These findings are significant for populations, such as military, fire and police, that frequently perform these assessments as part of their yearly evaluations.

Assessing Injury Susceptibility At Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California

Individuals enlisting at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego undergo a physically demanding training regimen. As such, musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) rates during training remain high and account for costly increases in attrition and delays in graduation, thereby impacting force readiness. Earlier injury detection is needed, and functional movement tests such as the functional movement screen (FMS), Y-balance test lower quarter (YBT-LQ) and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (AD-ROM) can provide predictive value for MSKI incidence. PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that functional movement assessments are beneficial tools for movement analysis and injury prediction. METHODS: Male MCRD recruits (N = 407; mean ± SD: age, 20 ± 2 y; height, 174.5 ± 7.3 cm; weight, 76.1 ± 11.4 kg) underwent testing of FMS, YBT-LQ, and AD-ROM prior to beginning training. Injury incidence during training and graduation outcomes were tracked by instructors. RESULTS: Twelve recruits (3%) were dropped from their class due to a lower body stress fracture or strain, delaying graduation for eight, and separating four from enlistment. A one-way analysis of variance revealed statistical group differences (MSKI vs no MSKI) for the FMS hurdle step (HS; F(1,400) = 4.314, p = 0.038) and trunk stability (TS; F(1,394) = 14.600, p = 0.000) assessments, with lower scores in the MSKI group (HS: 1.9 ± 0.5 vs 2.2 ± 0.5, TS: 1.3 ± 1.2 vs 2.4 ± 0.9). During the YBT-LQ anterior direction, the MSKI group showed a greater difference (F(1,394) = 6.536, p = 0.011) between legs (5.5 ± 4.7 cm vs 3.3 ± 2.8 cm). For both leg-ankle-foot complexes, the MSKI group demonstrated higher AD-ROM scores (right: 44.1 ± 4.7° vs 40.5 ± 6.5°; left: 43.3 ± 5.4° vs 41.6 ± 6.5°) with the right side trending toward significance (F(1, 399) = 3.692, p = 0.055). CONCLUSIONS: MCRD recruits who incurred a lower body MSKI during training had a movement analysis of inferior lower body mobility and stability, weaker core stabilization, and poorer single limb stance and imbalance. The increase in ankle flexibility observed in the MSKI group may be a risk factor for overuse Achilles tendon injuries. Results not only apply to MCRD recruits, but could also apply to recruits in other military branches, athletic communities, and first responders seeking screening tools for movement analysis and injury prediction.

0620 Characteristics Distinguishing Special Operational Forces (SOF) Personnel from Non-SOF Peers with TBI: Retrospective Analysis From the VA TBI Model Systems

Abstract Introduction Special Operations Forces (SOF) is an umbrella term which encompasses over a dozen specialized communities across all military branches. Little is known about potential differences in demographic and health characteristics, including sleep, between SOF vs. non-SOF service members. We leveraged existing longitudinal studies of those with history of TBI to examine differences between SOF and non-SOF in the dataset. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from the VA TBI Model Systems, a multi-center longitudinal study of outcomes following TBI rehabilitation. Participants were included if SOF status was known (N = 261). Differences between groups on variables of interest were then classified as “Immaterial”, “Minor,” and “Important” based on either prevalence (categorical data) or degree of difference (continuous data). Results Of included participants, 68 (26%) were identified as SOF and 193 (74%) as non-SOF. SOF were more highly educated and more likely to have history of mild TBI. There were multiple “important” differences in co-morbidity prevalence. SOF participants were more likely to be diagnosed with sleep apnea (36% SOF vs 12% non-SOF). They were also more likely to have been diagnosed with chronic pain, a cardiac condition, high blood cholesterol, and/or osteoarthritis. Conclusion SOF participants differed from non-SOF in a multiple important ways, suggesting this is a different and medically complex population. The most striking finding was that SOF personnel had a significantly greater rate of sleep apnea, relative to non-SOF. The mechanism underlying this difference is not known but may relate to training, blast exposure, weapons use, and mission demands. Further investigation regarding mechanisms, prevalence, and treatment of OSA in the SOF community is needed. Support This research was sponsored by VHA Central Office VA TBI Model Systems Program of Research; Subcontract from General Dynamics Information Technology (W91YTZ-13-C-0015; HT0014-19-C-0004).

Project Management: A Natural Career Destination for Military Veterans

This quantitative study surveys 595 United States military veterans from all four branches of the military in order to ascertain the degree to which the branches of the military prepare individuals for possible future careers in civilian project management roles. Further, the study compares the relative knowledge of project management technical skill areas, processes and personal competencies. Although all branches provided responses indicating a high degree of familiarity with and preparation for project management roles, some significant differences were observed in responses between military branches.

Electronic Book of Memory as a Historical Source for Studying the Irretrievable Human Losses of the Kuibyshev Region in the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940

The article considers a mass electronic source on the problem of irretrievable human losses of the USSR during the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940, available to researchers in the form of a database on several information portals. It is indicated that it was based on the printed Book of Memory dedicated to the fallen soldiers in local wars and conflicts of the twentieth century. The analysis of its representativeness is carried out. The exceptional reliability of the resource is confirmed by the fact that during its creation a huge array of documents from federal and local archives was included in the scientific circulation. The information capabilities of the database for studying the human damage of one of the regions - the Kuibyshev (now Samara) region - were revealed. The relevance of the study is caused by insufficient study of this topic, with the undoubted importance of understanding the deed of all the fallen in the performance of military duty. The author uses the unique capabilities of an electronic resource to fill in the “blank spots” in the issue of human losses. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that quantitative methods of study are applied to it for the first time within the framework of regional history. The number of dead Kuibyshevites during the “winter war” (1737 people) was established, their analysis: age composition, distribution of losses by rank, military branch, cause of death, chronology was carried out.