Military Cadets Research Articles

The effect of Stop-X injury prevention program on landing mechanics and core stability in military cadets

Background. Poor landing mechanics and core stability are risk factors contributing to knee injuries, especially Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury, in military cadets. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the Stop-X injury. Methods. In this quasi-experimental study, 40 cadets were purposefully recruited and randomly assigned either to an intervention (INT, n=20, age=19.05±0.68 years, height=1.75±0.06 m, weight=72.70±4.18 kg, BMI=23.77±1.68 kg/m2) or control group (n=20 participants, age=18.70±0.65 years, height=1.77±0.06 m, weight=74.10±4.90 kg, BMI=23.53±2.24 kg/m2). Landing Error Scoring System and McGill’s stability tests were used to evaluate landing mechanics and core stability at the baseline and the end of the study. Then, the INT group performed the Stop-X program as a warm-up program before each training session for eight weeks, whereas the CON group carried out their routine warm-up program during this time. Mann-Whitney U and ANCOVA tests were used to evaluate the changes. Results. The results obtained in the intervention group in post-test in comparison with the control group showed that there was a significant reduction in Landing Error Scoring System test scores (P=0.001), and there were significant enhancements in core stability tests (P=0.001). Moreover, the results in the intervention group revealed significant reduction in Landing Error Scoring System test scores (P=0.001) and significant enhancements in core stability tests (P=0.001), but there no significant differences were observed in the control group (P>0.05). Conclusion. In sum, the Stop-X injury prevention program may have improved landing mechanics and enhanced core stability in military cadets. Thus, Stop-X program may have reduced the risk factors associated with knee injuries in military cadets. Practical Implications. Our findings suggested that the Stop-X injury prevention program may have been used as a suitable warm-up program in military service instead of traditional warm-up to improve the neuromuscular and biomechanical risk factors.

Methods of activating cognitive activity of military university cadets at lectures

Methods of activating cognitive activity of military university cadets at lectures

Реализация коммуникативной практики на учебных занятиях по иностранному языку в военном вузе

The foreign language speech of a military specialist is characterized by a limited selectivity of vocabulary, which comes to the question: is it enough for a future officer to possess only a professional terminology base? 
 This article is devoted to the problems of general and professional language training of a military school cadets aimed at the developing a professional communicative competence. 
 The article highlights the systematic approach to the question of using communicative activities in foreign language classes, including non-traditional exercises and tasks for teaching cadets of both linguistic and non-linguistic sections fluent foreign language, in order to prepare future military specialists for effective communication activities at the international level.

Реализация коммуникативной практики на учебных занятиях по иностранному языку в военном вузе

The foreign language speech of a military specialist is characterized by a limited selectivity of vocabulary, which comes to the question: is it enough for a future officer to possess only a professional terminology base? 
 This article is devoted to the problems of general and professional language training of a military school cadets aimed at the developing a professional communicative competence. 
 The article highlights the systematic approach to the question of using communicative activities in foreign language classes, including non-traditional exercises and tasks for teaching cadets of both linguistic and non-linguistic sections fluent foreign language, in order to prepare future military specialists for effective communication activities at the international level.

Musculoskeletal Injury Risk in a Military Cadet Population Participating in an Injury-Prevention Program.

Background and Objectives: Musculoskeletal injuries are a major health hazard among military personnel. Previous research has proposed several exercise-based strategies for prevention. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an exercise-based injury-prevention program on the incidence of musculoskeletal injury, motor performance and psychosocial status. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six Estonian Military Academy cadets were randomly assigned into either an intervention or control group. The intervention group followed a neuromuscular exercise-based injury-prevention warm-up program, three times per week for 6 months. The control group continued with the usual warm-up. The main outcome measure was injury incidence during the study period. Additionally, evaluation of isokinetic lower-extremity strength, postural sway, physical fitness and psychosocial status was included pre- and post-intervention. Results: During the 6-month study period, the musculoskeletal injury incidence was 43% in the intervention group and 54% in the control group (RR = 0.8; 95% CI = 0.41 to 1.99). The noted 20% risk reduction was not statistically significant (p = 0.59). Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and control group in motor performance or psychosocial status measures. Conclusions: In conclusion, no effect of the exercise-based injury-prevention program on injury risk, motor performance or psychosocial status could be detected.

Leadership Skills Development of Military Cadets

This study endeavoured to examine the leadership skills development of military cadets and how this was impacted by instructor roles, motivation to lead and individual hardiness of the cadets. A total of 331 military cadets in their final academic year responded to a questionnaire survey. The quantitative data was analysed using both a descriptive and inferential methods, which included the Pearson correlation test, multiple linear regression analysis, and the independent sample T-test. The findings revealed a significant relationship between instructor roles, motivation to lead, individual hardiness with military cadet leadership skills development. While the multiple linear regression analysis revealed that individual hardiness was a vital predictor in leadership skills development of among military cadets.

Subtle impairments of perceptual-motor function and well-being are detectable among military cadets and college athletes with self-reported history of concussion.

A lack of obvious long-term effects of concussion on standard clinical measures of behavioral performance capabilities does not preclude the existence of subtle neural processing impairments that appear to be linked to elevated risk for subsequent concussion occurrence, and which may be associated with greater susceptibility to progressive neurodegenerative processes. The purpose of this observational cohort study was to assess virtual reality motor response variability and survey responses as possible indicators of suboptimal brain function among military cadets and college athletes with self-reported history of concussion (HxC). The cohort comprised 75 college students (20.7 ± 2.1 years): 39 Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) military cadets (10 female), 16 football players, and 20 wrestlers; HxC self-reported by 20 (29.2 ± 27.1 months prior, range: 3-96). A virtual reality (VR) test involving 40 lunging/reaching responses to horizontally moving dots (filled/congruent: same direction; open/incongruent: opposite direction) was administered, along with the Sport Fitness and Wellness Index (SFWI) survey. VR Dispersion (standard deviation of 12 T-scores for neck, upper extremity, and lower extremity responses to congruent vs. incongruent stimuli originating from central vs. peripheral locations) and SFWI response patterns were the primary outcomes of interest. Logistic regression modeling of VR Dispersion (range: 1.5-21.8), SFWI (range: 44-100), and an interaction between them provided 81% HxC classification accuracy (Model χ 2[2] = 26.03, p < .001; Hosmer & Lemeshow χ 2[8] = 1.86, p = .967; Nagelkerke R 2 = .427; Area Under Curve = .841, 95% CI: .734, .948). Binary modeling that included VR Dispersion ≥3.2 and SFWI ≤86 demonstrated 75% sensitivity and 86% specificity with both factors positive (Odds Ratio = 17.6, 95% CI: 5.0, 62.1). Detection of subtle indicators of altered brain processes that might otherwise remain unrecognized is clearly important for both short-term and long-term clinical management of concussion. Inconsistency among neck, upper extremity, and lower extremity responses to different types of moving visual stimuli, along with survey responses suggesting suboptimal well-being, merit further investigation as possible clinical indicators of persisting effects of concussion that might prove to be modifiable.

Basic Assessment of Military Academy Cadets Selected on the Basis of Merit

Based on reports on the implementation of recruitment activities for Taruna and Taruni Akmil candidates in 2019 and 2020, several problems were found during the recruitment and selection process for Taruna Akmil. These problems certainly must be resolved by the Indonesian Army, with the aim of getting the best and quality Military Academy cadets. Departing from these problems, the researcher conducted an evaluation of the policy of the Army Chief of Staff Decree No. Kep/1023/XII/2016 concerning Technical Instructions on Admission of Military Academy Cadets and Cadets based on a merit system. This research was conducted using the literature review method. Several criteria are used to identify the application of the merit system during the recruitment and selection process for Akmil Cadets. These criteria are equal opportunity, open competition and fairness, and passing grade. The results found were that the recruitment and selection policies for Cadets of the Military Academy had supported the implementation of the merit system. However, problems occurred when the policy was implemented, which ultimately resulted in these criteria not being met during the recruitment and selection process for Academy Academy Cadet.

Customizing virtual interpersonal skills training applications may not improve trainee performance

While some theoretical perspectives imply that the context of a virtual training should be customized to match the intended context where those skills would ultimately be applied, others suggest this might not be necessary for learning. It is important to determine whether manipulating context matters for performance in training applications because customized virtual training systems made for specific use cases are more costly than generic “off-the-shelf” ones designed for a broader set of users. Accordingly, we report a study where military cadets use a virtual platform to practice their negotiation skills, and are randomly assigned to one of two virtual context conditions: military versus civilian. Out of 28 measures capturing performance in the negotiation, there was only one significant result: cadets in the civilian condition politely ask the agent to make an offer significantly more than those in the military condition. These results imply that—for this interpersonal skills application, and perhaps ones like it—virtual context may matter very little for performance during social skills training, and that commercial systems may yield real benefits to military scenarios with little-to-no modification.

Organizational and pedagogical conditions for the professional mobility formation of military university cadets

Organizational and pedagogical conditions for the professional mobility formation of military university cadets

ϲ�ղ� �� �������������� ϲ����IJ˲� ������������ ϲ�������� ��� ������� �������

The State Defense Forces are understood as the Armed Forces of Ukraine, military formations, law enforcement and other bodies that are entrusted with the functions of ensuring the defense of the state. The main goal of training any military unit is constant combat readiness to perform assigned tasks. In accordance with the State Defense Forces Training Doctrine, training is divided into: combat training and personnel training. Combat training (individual and collective training of military personnel) is carried out in military units, and personnel training is carried out in military educational institutions. For high-quality training, the personnel of combat subunits of military units and cadets of military educational institutions must be constantly present during classes. At the same time, the military personnel should not be distracted by other activities, especially such as being on duty and doing household work. Certain activities must be carried out by training support units. For this purpose, we made an analysis of the activities of military units, military educational institutions and developed an approach to staffing of the training support units of the State Defense Forces. In accordance with the developed approach, training support units should be in each military unit and military educational institutions. These units should consist of at least two structural elements that will provide: ? round-the-clock securing the military units (educational institutions) facilities; ? carrying out the permit regime; ? perform household and other work that is carried out in military units (educational institutions) for the purpose of their functioning. Staffing of the training support units of the State Defense Forces using the developed approach will allow for combat training and training of personnel without their separation from being on duty and housekeeping.

Структурные компоненты системы формирования у курсантов военного вуза готовности к профессиональной межкультурной коммуникации

The aim of the study is to develop and theoretically substantiate a set of structural components of the system for the formation of readiness for professional cross-cultural communication among military university cadets. The author of the paper identifies the regulatory and target, content-related, organisational and activity and evaluative and effective components of the system for the formation of readiness for professional cross-cultural communication among military university cadets. Each component of the pedagogical system performs a certain function, while the totality of the selected components makes it possible to consider the system for the formation of readiness for professional cross-cultural communication as an integral entity. The author describes in detail the content of each component, in which the principles, methods, means and technologies used to implement the system for the formation of cadets’ readiness for professional cross-cultural communication within the educational process are highlighted and analysed. Scientific novelty of the study lies in developing the content of the pedagogical system for the formation of cadets’ readiness for professional cross-cultural communication in the framework of training at a military university. As a result, the structural components that contribute to the effective implementation of the elaborated pedagogical system for the formation of cadets’ readiness for professional cross-cultural communication in the framework of training at a military university have been identified and characterised.

Examining Cadets’ Beliefs about Meditation Using the Reasoned Action Approach

Meditation has been shown to be a character and virtue formation tool due to its emotion regulation capabilities. Training academies can help their students better develop their character by enabling meditation behavior acquisition. This study examines United States Military cadets’ beliefs about meditation as a means of informing education and intervention programming to maximize the likelihood of cadets adopting the behavior. Implications and suggestions for character education programs are provided.

Testing a supervisor‐led extension of self‐reflection resilience training: A controlled trial randomized by platoon at the Royal Military College

AbstractThe study tested an extension of a promising adaptive self‐reflective approach to resilience training. The extension integrated resilience training content in routine workplace activities via supervisors. Participants were military cadets (N = 168), randomized by platoon into two conditions. The control condition received the original self‐reflective resilience training only (n = 85), and the intervention condition additionally received a supervisor‐led extension of this programme (n = 83). Participants completed assessments of depression and anxiety symptoms and perceived stress at four time points over five months. Cadet performance scores were also obtained. Findings indicated that participants receiving the supervisor‐led extension demonstrated better psychological outcomes earlier than cadets in the control condition. However, at Time 4 both interventions had equivalent levels of mental health outcomes and perceived stress. The supervisor‐led condition demonstrated better average performance than the control condition for the performance measure congruent to the workplace activity in which the extension was applied. Mechanisms for the effectiveness of the supervisor‐led extension were explored. Analysis suggested that perceived supervisor support for the individual mediated the intervention–psychological outcome relationship. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of a scalable resilience intervention and speaks to a role of supervisors in facilitating resilience via supportive interactions.

Frontal plane projection angle predicts patellofemoral pain: Prospective study in male military cadets

BackgroundPatellofemoral pain (PFP) is a major source of knee pain. Identifying who may develop PFP is of paramount importance. PurposeTo assess whether Frontal plane projection angles (FPPA) and hand held dynamometry (HHD) strength measures can predict development of PFP. Study designProspective evaluation of individuals undertaking a military training programme. MethodsMale military recruits were enrolled and prospectively followed up from enrolment to completion of 12-weeks training. Lower limb kinematics (FPPA, Q-angle, hip adduction angle, knee flexion, ankle dorsiflexion, and rearfoot eversion angle) measured during running, single leg squatting (SLS), and single leg landing (SLL) and isometric muscle strength of hip abductors and knee extensors. ResultsBody mass, hip abductor muscle strength, Q-angle during SLS and SLL, FPPA during SLL all significantly different between the PFP and non-injured groups and predicted PFP, highest predictor variable was FPPA during SLL (Odds Ratio = 1.13, P = 0.01). A FPPA≥5.2° during SLL predicting PFP with a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 70%. ConclusionParticipants who developed PFP had a number of physical factors significantly different than the non-injured group, most predictive was a larger FPPA during SLL, with angles greater than 5.2° associated with a 2.2x greater risk. Clinical relevanceAssessing FPPA during SLL could be used to determine who was predisposed to PFP.

Effects of resilience training on mental, emotional, and physical stress outcomes in military officer cadets

ABSTRACT Resilience is an important factor in counteracting the harmful effects of stress and is associated with healthy physiological and psychological responses to stress. Previous research has demonstrated the effectiveness of resilience fostering training programs in psychobiological stress response and recovery. Few studies, however, have examined training effects in real-life high-stress situations. In this study, we compare effects of a brief resilience training (RT) and an active control training in diversity management (DMT) on psychobiological stress response to and recovery from an intense military exercise of 81 male officer cadets. Five weeks after training completion, autonomic, endocrine, and subjective state measures of cadets were measured while undergoing stressful military exercise. The RT group perceived the military stressor as more challenging, and showed higher values in motivation and positive affect than the DMT group. Cortisol increased in both groups during stress, but showed a lower cortisol increase in the RT group thereafter. These results suggest that this brief resilience training helped cadets reframe the stressful situation in a more positive light, experiencing more positive emotions, and recovering faster from stress. To strengthen young military leaders in stressful situations, resilience promoting programs should become part of basic or leadership trainings.

Optimizing Concussion Care Seeking: A Longitudinal Analysis of Recovery

Background: Approximately half of concussions go undisclosed and therefore undiagnosed. Among diagnosed concussions, 51% to 64% receive delayed medical care. Understanding the influence of undiagnosed concussions and delayed medical care would inform medical and education practices. Purpose: To compare postconcussion longitudinal clinical outcomes among (1) individuals with no concussion history, all previous concussions diagnosed, and ≥1 previous concussion undiagnosed, as well as (2) those who have delayed versus immediate symptom onset, symptom reporting, and removal from activity after concussion. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Participants included 2758 military academy cadets and intercollegiate athletes diagnosed with concussion in the CARE Consortium. We determined (1) each participant’s previous concussion diagnosis status self-reported at baseline (no history, all diagnosed, ≥1 undiagnosed) and (2) whether the participant had delayed or immediate symptom onset, symptom reporting, and removal from activity. We compared symptom severities, cognition, balance, and recovery duration at baseline, 24 to 48 hours, date of asymptomatic status, and date of unrestricted return to activity using tests of parallel profiles. Results: The ≥1 undiagnosed concussion group had higher baseline symptom burdens (P < .001) than the other 2 groups and poorer baseline verbal memory performance (P = .001) than the all diagnosed group; however, they became asymptomatic and returned to activity sooner than those with no history. Cadets/athletes who delayed symptom reporting had higher symptom burdens 24 to 48 hours after injury (mean ± SE; delayed, 28.8 ± 0.8; immediate, 20.6 ± 0.7), took a median difference of 2 days longer to become asymptomatic, and took 3 days longer to return to activity than those who had immediate symptom reporting. For every 30 minutes of continued participation after injury, days to asymptomatic status increased 8.1% (95% CI, 0.3%-16.4%). Conclusion: Clinicians should expect that cadets/athletes who delay reporting concussion symptoms will have acutely higher symptom burdens and take 2 days longer to become asymptomatic. Educational messaging should emphasize the clinical benefits of seeking immediate care for concussion-like symptoms.

Дидактический комплекс упражнений в интерпретации и создании инфографики на иностранном языке для курсантов военного вуза

The aim of the research is to develop and present the authors’ didactic set of exercises that allows forming and improving the skills and abilities to interpret and create infographics based on data from a foreign language professionally oriented text among military university cadets. The content of the paper focuses on the description of the didactic potential of infographics as a teaching medium, the interdependence of types of speech activity and basic actions of cadets, groups and examples of exercises. Scientific novelty of the research consists in systematising types of students’ activities when working with infographics, classifying basic actions and identifying groups of exercises in interpretation and creation of infographics based on a foreign language professionally oriented text. The research findings make it possible to apply the proposed didactic set of exercises in practice effectively, to achieve high results when teaching a foreign language to military university cadets.

Training cadets at higher military educational institutions to solve military applied computational problems using customized software

The article considers the relevant issue of teaching military university cadets to solve military applied computational problems using customized software. Though utilizing software has several advantages over traditional teaching methods, educational practice shows there are a few problems concerning its effective operation in the educational process. For example, many higher education teachers experience difficulty using it in their professional activity. Accordingly, the research aims to study the organization of cadet training which would contribute to the development of practical skills of utilizing customized software to solve military applied computational problems.The article focuses on the process of teaching cadets at higher military educational institutions to solve computational problems using customized software. Based on the integration of the classical approach and the approach relying on using software tools to solve mathematical problems, we identified and revealed seven stages of the latter. These include: a problem statement; mathematical formalization; designing an algorithm to solve the problem; implementing the solution to the problem with the aid of customized software; debugging and testing the program; performing calculations, analyzing and verifying the results; generalizing the problem. The article provides an example of solving the computational problem of the ballistic design of a small arms cartridge given to cadets of higher military educational institutions. The case study illustrates the execution of the specified stages in the sequence mentioned above. As a result, it became possible to examine the use of customized software in teaching cadets at military universities to solve military applied computational problems.

Task demand and load carriage experience affect gait variability among military cadets

Load carriage is an inevitable daily task for soldiers. The purposes of this study were to explore the extent to which gait variability (GV) is affected by load carriage and experience among military cadets, and whether experience-related differences in GV are dependent on task demand. Two groups of cadets (30 experienced, 30 less experienced) completed a load carriage task in each of three load conditions (no load, 16 kg, 32 kg). Three categories of GV measures were obtained: spatiotemporal variability, joint kinematic variability, and Lyapunov exponents. Compared to traditional mean gait measures, GV measures were more discriminative of experience: although both groups showed similar mean gait measures, the experienced participants had reduced variability in spatiotemporal measures (p ≤ 0.008) and joint kinematics (p ≤ 0.004), as well as lower levels of long-term local dynamic stability at the ankle (p = 0.040). In both groups, heavier loads were also caused increased GV (p ≤ 0.018) and enhanced short-term local dynamic stability at the knee (p = 0.014). These results emphasize the importance of GV measures, which may provide a more complete description of adaptability, stability, and control; highlight alternate movement strategies during more difficult load carriage; and capture experience-related differences in load carriage strategies.