Military Readiness Research Articles

Person, Environment, Occupational Performance (PEOP) Role in Holistic Health and Fitness Performance of Army Soldiers

Medical readiness is a major source of overall military readiness, and Army occupational therapy practitioners are uniquely qualified professionals to enhance readiness within the Army. The literature lacks a theoretical paradigm that guides occupational therapy practitioners with improving readiness in the Army and a unifying model that provides consistent terminology of the internal mechanisms of change for Army occupational therapy practitioners. This article uses two case studies to propose the implementation of the Person, Environment, Occupational Performance (PEOP) model to promote client-centered care and holistic health and fitness performance strategy development provided in the military context.

Antimicrobial resistance of enteric pathogens in the Military Health System, 2009 - 2019.

Acute diarrhea (AD) can have significant impacts on military troop readiness. Medical providers must understand current trends of enteropathogen antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in service members (SMs) to inform proper, timely treatment options. However, little is known of enteric pathogen profiles across the Military Health System (MHS). The primary objectives of this study were to identify gaps in enteric pathogen surveillance within the MHS, describe the epidemiology of AMR in enteric pathogens, and identify trends across the MHS both within the Continental United States (CONUS) and outside of the Continental United States (OCONUS). Health Level 7 (HL7)-formatted laboratory data were queried for all specimens where Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter species, as well as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) (STEC) were isolated and certified between 1 January 2009 - 31 December 2019. Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) results were queried and summarized where available. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each organism by specimen source, year, and susceptibility testing availability. Among a total of 13,852 enteric bacterial isolates, 11,877 (86%) were submitted from CONUS locations. Out of 1479 Shigella spp. and 6755 Salmonella spp. isolates, 1221 (83%) and 5019 (74%), respectively, reported any susceptibility results through the MHS. Overall, only 15% of STEC and 4% of Campylobacter spp. specimens had AST results available. Comparing AST reporting at CONUS versus OCONUS locations, AST was reported for 1175 (83%) and 46 (78%) of Shigella isolates at CONUS and OCONUS locations, respectively, and for 4591 (76%) and 428 (63%) of Salmonella isolates at CONUS and OCONUS locations, respectively. This study revealed inconsistent enteropathogen AST conducted across the MHS, with differing trends between CONUS and OCONUS locations. Additional work is needed to assess pathogen-specific gaps in testing and reporting to develop optimal surveillance that supports the health of the force.

Outcomes of LGBTQ culturally sensitive training among civilian and military healthcare personnel.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) military servicemembers are at higher risk of developing health problems compared to heterosexual peers. To improve outcomes and address negative attitudes, previous literature has recommended education of healthcare personnel. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the knowledge and skill outcomes of an LGBTQ cultural sensitivity training program. We used a pretest/posttest design. Participants completed the Ally Identity Measure (AIM) to assess three subscales: knowledge and skills, openness and support, and oppression awareness. Participants included both military and civilian healthcare personnel from multiple disciplines. Descriptive statistics and pairwise analyses were used. A total of 101 participants answered both pretest and posttest. Across all AIM subscales, posttest scores demonstrated statistically significant (P<0.001) increases from mean pretest scores. Completion rates for the pretest and posttest were 99% and 93%, respectively. The majority of participants were female (75%) and non-Hispanic (87%), composed of Caucasians (39%) and Asians (33%). Over one-third (39%) of participants were aged 30-39. Fifty percent were active-duty military and more than half (58%) of all participants did not have prior training in LGBTQ patient care. Statistically significant differences were found between the pretest and posttest scores for the knowledge and skills subscale (M=2.64-3.70). The most significant increases were observed in Item 12 and Item 15 (M=2.72-3.70) regarding awareness of theories and skill development to provide proper support, respectively. These significant findings contribute to the currently limited research exploring LGBTQ cultural sensitivity training in both civilian and military settings. To our knowledge, this is the first time a cultural sensitivity training of this depth has been provided to active-duty servicemembers. Further research and development of similar educational programs integrating interactive participation can potentially aid in the delivery of improved care and military readiness for all servicemembers.

Methodology of military-patriotic education of higher education students in the process of physical culture and health activities

The article examines the methodology of military-patriotic education of higher education students in the process of physical culture and health-related activities. The relevance of the selected research is indicated, which is determined by society's need for a responsible, self-confident, determined, physically fit individual who is able to understand and realize his role in the life of the people, the state, the Motherland and be ready to protect it. We specified the methodology of military-patriotic education of higher education students in physical culture and health activities, which involves a combination of effective content, forms, and pedagogical conditions, taking into account the developed criteria and indicators of the studied phenomenon. The methodology provided for the implementation of effective pedagogical conditions, namely: the introduction of effective content, forms and methods with the aim of instilling in students of higher education motivation for applied military training and readiness for conscript military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine; involvement of higher education students in the organization and holding of competitions in various types of physical and recreational and military applied training based on the creation of success situations; ensuring comprehensive work with teachers and trainers regarding the military-patriotic upbringing of higher education students in the process of physical culture and health activities. The following content of military-patriotic activity is defined: military-sports games and team competitions, pentathlon, shooting, sports and game activities, physical and military- tactical training. Military-applied sports (overcoming obstacles, all-around, target shooting, terrain orientation, swimming in uniform, etc.). Traditional physical culture and health activities (athletics, sports games and others). The process of military- patriotic education of students of higher education in physical culture and health activities is built on the basis of methodological and psychological-pedagogical concepts: personal-oriented education, personal-developmental training and others; principles: accessibility, clarity, systematicity, subject-subject interaction and others.

Policy Effectiveness: Indonesia-China Defense Cooperation Study

Each country carries out defense cooperation with different levels of commitment. This study aims to analyze the factors that influence KPIT in increasing the readiness of the Indonesian military. As a follow-up, the Indonesian government, in this case the Ministry of Defense, has implemented regulatory and allocative actions. Several rules have been published, socialized, controlled and supervised. The appointment of officials has been carried out and supported by existing resources, so that all activities according to the agreement of the two countries have been carried out. Defense cooperation is hypothesized to be useful and has implications for military preparedness even though it is influenced by the strategic environment. Primary data was collected through a survey of 95 people who had participated in KPIT activities, interviews and focus group discussions with competent parties. Secondary data obtained from various documents. The collected data were analyzed using a qualitative approach supported by quantitative data. The results of the analysis show that KPIT activities have very little impact on military preparedness in Indonesia. However, these activities are very beneficial for the actors and have huge implications for individual alertness. This study also found that KPIT activities contributed to increasing Indonesia's national strength through military preparedness. Exchange of information and the defense industry can improve the quality of organization, doctrine, policies, military education curricula, transfer of defense equipment technology, including the possibility of joint production. Joint military exercises can improve anti-terror capabilities, military self-defence, hostage release, and others.

Active Duty Service Members Newly Presenting With Low Back Pain in Fiscal Year 2017: Health Care Utilization, Access to Care, and Private Sector Costs Over 2-year Follow-up.

Low back pain (LBP) has accounted for the most medical encounters every year for the past decade among Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs) of the U.S. Armed Forces. The objectives of this retrospective, descriptive study were to classify LBP by clinical category (Axial, Radicular, and Other) and duration (Acute, Subacute, and Chronic) and examine the LBP-related health care utilization, access to care, and private sector costs for ADSMs over a 2-year follow-up period. The Military Health System Data Repository was queried in fiscal year 2017 for all ADSMs (ages 18-62) with outpatient encounters documented with any of 67 ICD-10 diagnosis codes indicative of LBP. A 1-year clean period before the first (index) outpatient LBP encounter date was used to ensure no recent history of LBP care. Patients were eligible if continuously enrolled and on active duty for 1 year before and 2 years following the index visit. Patients were excluded for non-musculoskeletal causes for LBP, red flags, or acute trauma within 4 weeks of the index visit and/or systemic illness or pregnancy anytime during the clean or follow-up period. A total of 52,118 ADSMs met the inclusion criteria, and the cohort was classified by duration of LBP symptoms as Acute [17,916 (34.4%)], Subacute [4,119 (7.9%)], and Chronic [30,083 (57.7%)]. Over 2-year follow-up, 419,983 outpatient visits were recorded, with the majority occurring at MTFs [363,570 (86.6%)]. 13,237 (25.4%) of ADSMs in the total cohort were documented with no other LBP-related visits beyond their index encounter. In contrast, the Chronic cohort comprised the highest number of encounters [371,031 (89.2% of total encounters)], including 86% of imaging studies performed for LBP, and accounted for $9,986,606.17 (94.9%) of total private sector costs over the 2-year follow-up period. Interventional pain procedures ($2,983,767.50) and physical therapy ($2,298,779.07) represented the costliest categories in the private sector for the Chronic cohort, whereas Emergency Department ($283,307.43) and physical therapy ($137,035.54) encounters were the top contributors to private sector costs for the Acute and Subacute cohorts, respectively. Overall reliance on the private sector was highest for specialty care, including 10,721 (75.4%) interventional pain procedures and 306 (66.4%) spine surgeries. Uncovering current trends in health care utilization and access to care for ADSMs newly presenting with LBP is vital for timely and accurate diagnosis, as well as early intervention to prevent progression to chronic LBP and to minimize its negative impact on military readiness and quality of life. This retrospective, descriptive study highlights the burden of chronic LBP on health care utilization and costs within the Military Health System, including reliance on the private sector care, amounting to $10,524,332.04 over the study period.

Changes in eating pathology symptoms during initial military training in men and women and associations with BMI and injury risk

Nutritional fitness, which comprises food choices, meal timing, and dietary intake behaviors, is an important component of military service member health and performance that has garnered recent attention. This study utilized generalized linear mixed effects modeling (GLMM) to investigate changes in eating pathology symptoms in men and women during initial military training (Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (OCS)). Associations among eating pathology, musculoskeletal injury risk and BMI were also assessed. This investigation includes data from the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (EPSI) and BMI at the start of OCS (n = 598: Male n = 469, Female n = 129) and end of the 10-week program (n = 413: Male n = 329, Female n = 84), and injury surveillance throughout. At baseline, female candidates presented with greater body dissatisfaction, binge eating, purging, and restricting, but lower negative attitudes toward obesity compared to male candidates (p < 0.001). Eating symptoms changed during military training indicated by decreased body dissatisfaction in women (p = 0.003), decreased excessive exercise and negative attitudes toward obesity in men (p < 0.001), decreased cognitive restraint (p < 0.001), restricting (p < 0.001), purging (p = 0.013), and muscle building (p < 0.001) and increased binge eating (p < 0.001) in both sexes. Changes in restricting were significantly related to changes in BMI during training (p < 0.05). The likelihood of future injury was 108 % higher in female candidates than males and decreased by 5 % for each unit increase in excessive exercise. Eating attitudes and behaviors change during military training environments and are associated with military health and readiness outcomes including BMI and injury risk.

TriService Nursing Research Program: A critical component to support military nursing science

TriService Nursing Research Program: A critical component to support military nursing science

Developing Military Doctors: An Institutional Approach to Medical Force Readiness in Graduate Medical Education.

Military physicians are required to not only meet civilian accreditation standards upon completion of their Graduate Medical Education (GME) training programs but also be proficient in the military-unique aspects of their field, including medical care in austere environments and management of combat casualties. They must also be familiar with the administrative and leadership aspects of military medicine, which are often absent from the training curriculum. The San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium Military Readiness Committee, by incorporating questions of military relevance into each GME program's mandatory Annual Program Evaluation, identified curricular gaps upon which military readiness training objectives and opportunities were developed. These activities included a lecture series on the sustainment of medical and military readiness, an interactive procedural skills training event, trainee involvement in operational pre-deployment exercises, and the development of an elective operational rotation in Honduras. The Military Readiness Committee provides a model for other military GME institutions to develop training goals and opportunities to strengthen the preparedness of their trainees for military service.

Formation of psycho-physical readiness of military personnel by means of special physical training

The main advantages of modern professional armies are the possibility of selecting for military service people who meet the standards of mental and physical fitness for military service to the greatest extent, as well as the introduction of increased requirements for their military and professional training. Taking into account the peculiarities of the participation of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in military operations and the experience of conducting combat operations, the psychological and physical readiness of servicemen to perform assigned tasks is becoming increasingly important, in the formation of which special physical training plays the main role. The events of recent years have shown how important is the psychophysical readiness of military personnel to conduct combat operations, to perform tasks in extreme conditions, the ability to overcome the effects of increased stress on the psyche, their ability to successfully resist the influence of various stressogenic factors, while maintaining high performance. The purpose of the article is to conduct an analysis and generalization of literary sources and guiding documents about the issues of the military personnel psychophysical readiness improving by means of Special Physical Training.&#x0D; The problem of psychophysical readiness acquires special significance in the professional activity of military personnel. This is caused by the specifics of military-professional activity and its high social significance in terms of the protection of state interests and the country's defense capability. Applied Military Physical Exercises (AMPE) are actively used to solve the problems of psychological training of servicemen in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations. AMPE includes: hand-to-hand combat, overcoming obstacles, moving through mountainous terrain, paramilitary cross country with throwing grenades and riffle shooting, forcing water obstacles and other exercises with maximum mental and physical stress. On the basis of the above, it is appropriate to define the psychophysical training of military personnel as a pedagogical process of forming the psychological stability of a military personnel during physical exercises with high density and load with special means that require neuropsychological stress.

Service discharges among US Army personnel with selected musculoskeletal and skin conditions: a retrospective cohort study

ObjectivesTo determine the probability of discharge from military service among soldiers following an incident diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis or systemic lupus erythematous.MethodsAll soldiers on active...

Safe Administration and Low Healthcare Utilization Following Musculoskeletal Corticosteroid Injections by U. S. Military Physical Therapists.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries make up a significant proportion of conditions treated by military healthcare providers during wartime. Though many common MSK injuries may benefit from corticosteroid injection (CSI), a shortage of qualified military clinicians has led to diminished access to appropriate care. Longer wait times to receive treatment pose detrimental effects on military readiness and have garnered the attention of military leaders. One solution was the development of advanced training for United States Air Force physical therapists (USAF PTs) to gain clinical privileges in administering CSI. The objectives of this study were to determine in USAF PTs (1) the prevalence of those with privileges to administer CSI; (2) the type and (3) safety of MSK CSI administered; (4) incidence of CSI complications; (5) healthcare utilization following CSI; and (6) barriers to obtaining and practicing CSI privileges. United States Air Force PTs with CSI privileges received instructions to follow a link to an anonymous Google survey. Electronic medical record reviews were conducted by three USAF PTs to determine the occurrence and severity of CSI complications provided by USAF PTs and advanced healthcare providers (AHPs). The principal investigator conducted further review of the patients' electronic medical records to calculate healthcare utilization following CSI administered by USAF PTs. A hospital administrator selected cases of similar diagnoses treated with CSI by USAF AHPs. The number selected cases treated by AHPs are similar to the number of CSI cases treated by USAF PTs. Eleven USAF PTs held CSI privileges. No major complications associated with CSI were recorded. Of the 95 CSI cases treated by USAF PTs, 27 (28.4%) reported increased pain compared to 24 (27.9%) of 86 CSI cases treated by AHPs (P = .94). Healthcare utilization for the number of follow-up visits, imaging, and additional laboratory tests following CSI by USAF PTs was lower compared to AHPs (chi-square; P < .0069). Nine percentage of USAF PTs held CSI privileges. United States Air Force PTs were equally safe as AHPs who administered CSI and associated with a lower rate of healthcare utilization following the intervention. Training USAF PTs to administer CSI could be the standard for all USAF PTs who meet qualification requirements. Adoption of similar training and credentialing policies for civilian PTs warrants further exploration.

BMI and Physical Activity, Military-Aged U.S. Population 2015–2020

Obesity and physical inactivity are considered possible U.S. national security threats because of their impact on military recruitment. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of (1) BMI eligibility for military entrance, (2) adequate physical activity participation among the BMI-eligible population, and (3) combined BMI eligibility and adequate physical activity. This cross-sectional study of nonpregnant, military-aged civilians (aged 17-42 years) used objectively measured weight and height data and self-reported aerobic physical activity data from the 2015-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. BMI eligibility was defined as 19.0-27.5 kg/m2, per Department of Defense regulation. Adequate physical activity for entering initial military training was defined as ≥300 minutes/week of equivalent moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity from all domains, approximating U.S. Army guidance. Participants meeting both definitions were further classified as eligible and active. Analyses were conducted in 2021-2022. Of military-aged participants (unweighted n=5,964), 47.3% were eligible by BMI. Among BMI-eligible participants, 72.5% reported adequate physical activity. Taken together, 34.3% were both eligible and active. The prevalence of eligible and active status was higher among males, persons who were younger and non-Hispanic White, college graduates, and those with higher family income than among their counterparts. Among the military-aged U.S. population, slightly under half were eligible to enter the military on the basis of their BMI, and only 1 in 3 met BMI eligibility and were adequately physically active. Equitable promotion of healthy weight achievement and physical activity participation may improve military preparedness.

An Australian Approach to Space Warfare

ABSTRACT Australia is currently experiencing a reinvigorated space program with a new space agency, significant industry investment in space ventures, and the Australian Defence Force embracing the military advantage conferred by space systems. Coincidentally, geostrategic instability has led Australia’s government to raise its military preparedness in the face of increased risk of state-on-state conflict. Accordingly, military planners are considering not only what future space capabilities are needed by Australia, but the prospect of space warfare and what the state should do to protect its equities in the space domain. We conclude that developing a stronger normative framework is the best option for the preservation and growth of Australia’s future space capabilities.

A state-by-state and regional analysis of the direct medical costs of treating musculoskeletal injuries among US Army trainees

IntroductionLow physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) are well-known factors for chronic diseases generally and cardiovascular diseases specifically. The economic burden from these chronic diseases is also well documented, as is their disproportionate prevalence among states in the Southern region of the U.S. Low PA and PF have also become recognized factors impacting military readiness and national security. Specifically, low PA and PF are highly correlated with musculoskeletal injures (MSKIs), now considered the greatest medical impediment to military readiness. Prior research shows low PF and MSKI incidence are greater among Army recruits from Southern states, however no previous research has investigated the economic impact of MSKIs at the state- and regional-level. The aim of this study was to determine the economic impact of MSKIs among U.S. Army initial military trainees on a state- and regional-basis. MethodsRosters for recruits entering U.S. Army Initial Military Training (IMT) for fiscal year 2017 were obtained (n = 103,487). Roster data included the unique personal identifier, demographics with postal zip code, training start/end dates, and height and weight and were subsequently linked to medical encounters and cost data from the Military Health System Data Repository. Trainees with one or more MSKIs were considered injury cases (n = 33,509) and were stratified by gender. The percent of trainee MSKI cases was calculated as number of injury cases divided by total number of trainees. For each injury case, the direct medical cost for MSKIs was calculated. The percent of trainees and direct medical costs for MSKIs were aggregated to home-state and regional-levels for the four U.S. Census tract regions. A test for equality of proportions was performed at state- and regional-levels to investigate differences in percent of trainees with MSKIs by state/region. A one-way ANOVA was used to investigate possible differences in medical cost/trainee by region. Results34% (n = 33,509) of all trainees sustained at least one MSKI. State-specific MSKI percentages showed ten states having the greatest percentage of trainees with at least one MSKI, eight of which were from the South region (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN). The South was the only region to have a statistically significantly higher percentage of trainees with MSKIs at 34% (p < 0.001), as compared to all other regions. The total direct medical cost of treating MSKIs among all trainees was $14,891,563. The South was the costliest region ($7,168,997), accounted for nearly 50 % of the total national cost, and had the highest mean MSKI cost/trainee. DiscussionThis study was the first in demonstrating the disproportionate economic burden Southern states pose to the U.S. Department of Defense resulting from its significantly higher MSKI cost. PA and PF are known to ameliorate chronic disease and MSKI burden among general and military populations. Therefore, increasing PA and PF among all young Americans, and specifically those living in Southern states, is imperative for improving public health and reducing the economic and practical burden of MSKIs on military readiness and national security.

Methodology to Assess Individual Shooting Skills that is Predictive of Squad Level Performance in a Close Combat Training Engagement

Marksmanship, a critical aspect of military lethality training and readiness, is one area of military assessment that includes standardized quantifiable measures. However, assessment of marksmanship in a traditional live-fire setting can be costly, time consuming, and dangerous, while frequently only providing rudimentary objective measures of performance. Additionally, traditional methods of assessing individual marksmanship skills have never been associated with squad level performance in a close combat environment. This research created a comprehensive marksmanship assessment methodology which builds on earlier static and dynamic methodologies. Previous methodology metrics were integrated and additional pertinent aspects of active decision making and lethality were incorporated (i.e., detection, recognition, and identification or target discrimination) while minimizing execution time and employing a mobile, low-cost weapon simulator. This methodology provides streamlined metrics on the entire marksmanship process across two critical shooting styles, and can predict performance in squad level close combat training environments.

Măsurile pregătitoare politico-diplomatice și militar-propagandistice ale U.R.S.S. pentru anexarea Basarabiei și a nordului Bucovinei (II)

"A significant turning point in relations between the Soviet Union and Romania was associated with the incorporation of Bessarabia and northern part of Bukovina into the USSR, which took place in the context of Soviet-German rapprochement. To this end, the Soviet leadership developed a set of preparatory political-diplomatic and military-propaganda measures. Soviet political and diplomatic actions were based on fundamental military preparations. In order to prepare and further joining Bessarabia and the northern part of Bukovina to the USSR, the Southern Front was created on the basis of the Kyiv Special and Odessa military districts. Army General Georgy Zhukov was appointed as a commander. The General Staff of the Red Army developed two variants of actions by Soviet troops. The first one provided for measures in case the Romanian government would not agree to the peaceful transfer of Bessarabia and Bukovina to the USSR. The second variant was an action plan in case of a voluntary retreat of Romanian troops west of the Prut. The first option was taken as the base. As early as June 26, 1940, on the border with Romania, the Soviet command concentrated 32 infantry, 2 motorized infantry, 6 cavalry divisions, 11 tank, 3 airborne brigades, 16 artillery regiments of the commander-in-chief’s reserve, 14 corps artillery regiments and 4 separate artillery divisions. In the main areas of the offensive, more than a triple advantage in manpower and means was provided. At the same time, for the purpose of ideological support, a huge propaganda apparatus was prepared to work with the population. In accordance with the Directive of the Main Political Directorate of the Red Army № 0140 (June 21, 1940), a large number of political workers were sent to the disposal of the Southern Front. One month before the start of the military operation, all employees of party and Soviet organizations were considered as mobilized. After appropriate training, they were ready for further activities as editorial staff, propagandists and agitators. Concert brigades and drama theatre groups were organized for the cultural service of the population. There were selected mobile library, gramophone records, and films. Book-mobile was arranged; everything necessary for the publication in Romanian newspaper was completed and provided with everything necessary. Due to the diligence of all these preparatory acts, the territories of Bessarabia and the northern part of Bukovina were occupied by the Red Army according to all the rules of military art (all elements of military operation were used: military force, local military pressure, military intelligence and counterintelligence, agitation and propaganda), thanks to which the USSR could reach its purpose. "

Geopolitical imaginations of war preparations: visual representations of the Romanian armed forces’ military exercises

ABSTRACT This article develops our knowledge of war preparations in Critical Military Studies (CMS) by studying visual representations of the Romanian armed forces’ military training. It draws on feminist and critical military geography to examine geopolitical imaginations that shape, and are shaped, by actors, places, and landscapes of military exercises. While arguing that war preparations are (geo)political practices of power that produce identity, space, and violence, this article opens two new directions in the CMS literature. Firstly, it explores the role of ethnicity in constituting militarized masculinity within military alliances. Specifically, this article shows that exercises envisage the Romanian military as an actor that blends ancient Dacian heroism with technological prowess. This image helps both the Romanian armed forces and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to present themselves as strong and credible military actors. Secondly, it develops our understanding of the spatial construction of militarization. Specifically, it shows that military preparedness animates discourses of Easternness and Westernness, whose coexistence constitutes Romania as a key NATO ally while erasing its past (Socialist) support for peace, anti-militarism, and anti-imperialism. The article contributes to our geographical knowledge of the intersections between militarism, postsocialism and postcolonialism in feminist and critical military studies.

17세기 후반 淸의 정세 변화와 숙종의 武人 양성— 閱武와 觀武才를 중심으로 —

In the late 17th century, having obtained information on the battles between Russia, the Mongols, and the Qing, the court of Joseon predicted the defeat of the Qing and the resulting security crisis in the northern frontier region of Joseon. In response, King Sukjong tried to reinforce Namhan and Bukhan Mountain fortresses and Ganghwa Island, and promote the training of military officers through Royal Military Inspection (Yeolmu) and Royal Military Examination (Guanmujae). During the reign of King Sukjong, these special military inspections and military examinations attended by the king were concentrated during the wars between Russia, the Mongols and the Qing. King Sukjong attempted to increase the military readiness and enhance the bond and loyalty of the army through direct contact with military officers. Yeolmu and Guanmujae were effective ways to increase King Sukjong’s dignity by reaffirming his command while building trust between the king and his military officers.

Serum Hormone Concentrations and Body Composition in Brazilian Air Force Cadets During Rainforest Survival Training.

Physiological adaptations in military jungle survival training have not yet been studied. Knowledge about the relationship between the insulin-like growth factor type I (IGF-I)/insulin-like growth factor binding protein type 3 (IGFBP-3) system and survival activities in a jungle environment can improve readiness and prepare Brazilian Air Force cadets for this kind of battlefield. Our goal was to assess changes in body composition and serum concentrations of the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 system in Brazilian Air Force cadets during five-day Amazon rainforest survival training and whether differences in sex influence these variations. In the five-day survival training, variations in body composition and serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were observed. The sample consisted of 14 male cadets (21.71 ± 1.64 years) and 6 female cadets (22.00 ± 1.41 years). Changes were assessed before and immediately after the survival training. The male cadets' body mass (pre: 73.89 ± 8.79 kg; post: 69.57 ± 8.44 kg), body fat (pre: 11.43 ± 4.15%; post: 10.16 ± 4.19%), IGF-I serum concentrations (pre: 252 ± 72 ng/mL; post: 140 ± 42 ng/mL), and IGFBP-3 serum concentrations (pre: 4.90 ± 0.67 ng/mL; post: 4.22 ± 0.73 ng/mL) were significantly reduced (P < .01). In the female cadets, the mean body mass values (pre: 60.98 ± 8.82 kg; post: 57.91 ± 9.01 kg), body fat (pre: 19.20 ± 5.03%; post: 17.19 ± 4.77%), and IGF-I serum concentrations (pre: 202 ± 50 ng/mL; post: 108 ± 29 ng/mL) also decreased significantly (P < .01) after survival training. Finally, the cadet's sex does not affect the variations of IGF-I (P = .46) and IGFBP-3 (P = .205) serum concentrations. These findings all suggest that changes in body mass and body fat, as well as variations in the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 system, corroborate the need for military readiness preparation. Equivalent changes in both sexes indicate probable equal recovery intervals after survival training.