Theater Of Operations Research Articles

Data evaluation for identifying meaningful engineering characteristics of the flexible panels used for aerial module for pedological drought

The existing worldwide information related to the aerial modules used for transporting mulching substances is particularly pernicious. Thus, at this moment, on an international level, cargo transport solutions for mulching lands affected by soil drought are limited to identifying the maximum value of the load (1250–4500 kgf), the type of raw material from which it is made (polyamide), the shape (quadratic, octagonal, rectangular) and its dimensions (2.13 m × 3 m for a maximum transport capacity of 1250 kgf – 5.5 m × 5.5 m for a maximum transport capacity of 4500 kgf). Also, among the solutions for protecting lands affected by wildfires, the sowing technique with the help of drones was identified. Thus, the seeded compost balls are allowed to fall by gravity from the drones, being released randomly in the demineralised areas, difficult to reach by land transport. The paper presents the latest research of INCDTP specialists – carried out in the national premiere – regarding the iterative-incremental development of a multi-role collapsible aerial module that has as its theatre of operations the desertified areas (due to the pedological drought) of Romania. The central point of the research is focused on: i) the experimentation in the accredited laboratories of INCDTP, of flexible panels joined by mechanical-textile technology; ii) statistical analysis of values; iii) predicting the minimum values of the physical-mechanical characteristics of the composite material.

Retrospective Observational Analysis of Computed Tomography Scans of Trauma Patients in Overseas Operations (SCANOPEX Study).

High-intensity conflicts are on Europe's doorstep. The French expertise in the medical management of frontline casualties in overseas operations is well established. However, in the management of severe trauma, we lack data on the injuries identified by body scanners in the field. Understanding the associations between injury mechanisms and radiological lesions would enable us to anticipate medical and surgical management. To study this possible link, we collected and interpreted scanogaphic data and analyzed them according to lesion mechanisms, following the algorithm MARCH used to implement the concept of Damage Control Resuscitation, which includes life-saving measures to ensure that the wounded reach medical-surgical facilities alive. This retrospective monocentric study collected data from body scanners performed in overseas operations between June 2011 and September 2023. Inclusion criteria were to be French military personnel and to have undergone a whole-body scanner in a theater of overseas operations. Exclusion criteria were to have died before the scan, to be foreign, non-military and a minor. Of 164 available files, 96 were eligible, 1 patient declared aged 70 years was excluded, and 95 files were retained. In our population, 18% of injured patients had a spinal fracture. Compared with road traffic accident casualties, improvised explosive device casualties were the most severely injured patients arriving alive at computed tomography, with a relative risk of Injury Severity Score > 8 of 2.29 [1.09-4.80] (P = .019). Improvised explosive device casualties had a relative risk of airway injuries of 2.57 [1.03-6.39] (P = .030), injuries leading to functional impairment of 3.21 [1.17-8.82] (P =.013), injuries leading to infection of 2.14 [1.21-3.76] (P = .0045), and injuries leading to shock of 3.21 [0.96-10.70] (P = .039). Deep metal splinters were only found in the improvised explosive device group. Preparing the medical corps to deal with war casualties is fundamental. Our study shows that it is essential to consider the mechanism of injury to understand the casualty better and predict potential injuries. In addition, the study of postmortem scans could greatly help analyze potentially avoidable deaths.

Warfare and wind tunnel: engineers, physicists, and the evolution of combat aircraft 1914-1918

Abstract The British aircraft industry was transformed across the course of the First World War. Annual output grew exponentially, while by 1917-1918 the intensity of wartime research and development saw technologically advanced machines seeking air supremacy in all theatres of operation, most notably the Western Front. Capability had been inhibited by the absence of reliable, high performance power units, but ultimately production and procurement problems were resolved. This heroic narrative warrants qualification given the high ratio of poor to outstanding aircraft and the reality that in August 1914 Britain was by no means wholly unequipped to wage war in the air: the development programmes of the National Physical Laboratory and Royal Aircraft Factory, and the Royal Naval Air Service’s collaboration with science-based companies such as Short Brothers run counter to a popular belief that machines were still crudely built and militarily ineffective. There existed a working partnership between pioneer engineers and designers, schooled in applied science at metropolitan technical colleges, and graduate physicists and mathematicians encouraged by far-sighted dons to join a fledgling but fast-growing industry. That fusion of theory and practice, academic and industrial, was consolidated once British science’s human assets were mobilised to wage ‘industrial war’. Yes, aviation saw huge changes across the War, but the continuity is striking: before 1914 designers and air frame manufacturers were drawn from both the shop floor and the varsity, a wartime infusion of research scientists generated remarkable advances in aeronautics and in consequence a vital extension of Allied air power; and after 1918 companies survived retrenchment thanks to a durable combination of the entrepreneurial engineer and the experimental analyst.

THE MUTLISTAKEHOLDER INITIATIVE APPROACH TO EUROPEAN CRISIS MANAGEMENT. CIVILIAN CSDP AND ENGAGEMENT WITH LOCAL NONSTATE ACTORS

: The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions are deployed in complex operational environments, where a plethora of national, regional and international actors are present. These present circumstances enable the existence of an - either direct or indirect - but inexorable engagement between all stakeholders involved in similar activities. While the vast majority of current debates and research focus solely on the cooperative dimension of the CSDP in the framework of multilateralism and regionalism, the topic of the EU's engagement with local stakeholders is scarcely explored. Therefore, drawing on the multistakeholder initiative approach (MSI) in economic theory, this paper assesses the engagement of CSDP missions with civil societies and private sector entities in theatres of operations. Employing a single case study approach of inquiry, consisting of the EUCAP Somalia mission this paper aims at answering the research questions: how does EUCAP Somalia engage with local non-state actors, what are the opportunities associated with this engagement and to what extent can a MSI approach be implemented by EUCAP Somalia?By deploying a qualitative research design, this paper uses document analysis within a single case study approach of inquiry. The results of this approach show two distinct tendencies. While EUCAP Somalia informally engages with local non-state actors, this engagement is rather insufficient. Results of this research further show that CSDP missions represent an important tool of EU diplomacy and their engagement with local non-state actors positively impacts the implementation of two of their core principles: local ownership and human security.

Cyber weapons: concept, its manifestations and countermeasures

The article is devoted to the analysis of the concept of “cyber weapons”. Modern approaches to its definition are highlighted, its signs and types are defined. The range of criminal purposes for the use of cyber weapons has been established. It is noted that cyber weapons have become a serious means of informational influence in cyberspace as a new theater of military operations. Foreign and domestic approaches to defining cyberspace are analyzed. Proposals were made to counter the use of cyber weapons in national cyberspace. Attention is drawn to the need to implement legislative initiatives in the field of combating cyberattacks.

Infantry Weapon Systems Used by Special Operations Forces to Carry Out Assigned Missions

Abstract Special Operations Forces (SOF) operate in dynamic, challenging environments, requiring accurate and versatile infantry weapon systems to effectively perform their assigned missions. This article provides a comprehensive review of the diverse range of infantry weapon systems used by SOF units in different theatres of operations. Through a synthesis of empirical data, operational perspectives and expert analysis, the study aims to elucidate the critical role of specialised weaponry in increasing the success rate of SOF missions. The analysis covers a broad spectrum of weapon platforms, each tailored to meet distinct mission requirements. In addition, the article explores the integration of advanced technologies into weapon construction, such as high-performance optical systems, silencers and other modular accessories, which enhance the lethality, accuracy and stealth capabilities of special forces units.

An Investigation of Mucosal Leishmaniasis in the Military Health System.

Leishmaniasis is a protozoal infection with an increased risk of transmission to those serving in the U.S. Military due to theaters of operation in endemic regions. There has, in recent decades, been robust experience with old-world leishmaniasis in the Military Health System (MHS); however, new-world leishmaniasis, which may result in mucosal leishmaniasis, has been less studied. A total of 88 patients from 2012 to 2022 with diagnosis codes for "mucocutaneous leishmaniasis" or "leishmaniasis, unspecified" were identified in the Military Data Repository and reviewed. Within this cohort, upon medical records review, there were 2 cases of leishmaniasis that met inclusion criteria. Case 1 was a 28-year-old active duty male with recent travel to Belize who presented with a mucosal lip lesion that was biopsied and had inconclusive species confirmation but was thought to be either L. braziliensis or L. mexicana. The second case involved a 30-year-old active duty male with a history of travel to French Guiana who had a cutaneous lesion on his left hand that was identified as L. guyanensis, a causative species for mucosal leishmaniasis. Neither had evidence of any further mucosal involvement on otolaryngologic evaluation, and both subsequently received systemic therapy with a good clinical response. Although only 2 cases were identified over an 11-year period, this disease remains an important medical consideration when conducting military operations within Central and South America, as both cases had recent military-specific travel to areas endemic for leishmaniasis.

The Role of the Army Medical Corps (MC) in the Caribbean Campaign of the Spanish American War.

The 5th Army Medical Corps Caribbean campaigns provided valuable lessons on the noncombat hazards to troops and the challenges to the provision of care in a tropical theater of operations. The Army quickly adapted the lessons learnt for the invasion in Puerto Rico and future overseas expeditions.

Verification and Validation for a Digital Twin for Augmenting Current SORA Practices with Air-to-Air Collision Hazards Prediction from Small Uncooperative Flying Objects

Future autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) missions will take place in highly cluttered urban environments. As a result, the UAV must be able to autonomously evaluate risks and react to unforeseen hazards. The current regulatory framework for missions implements SORA guidelines for hazard detection, but its application to air-to-air collision is limited. This research defined a rigorous verification and validation framework (V&V) for digital twins for use in future autonomous UAV missions. The researchers designed a sentry mission for a UAV to evaluate its capacity to detect small uncooperative flying objects. A digital twin of the DJI M300 vision system was built using a game engine and a V&V framework was developed to assure the quality of results in both virtual and real-world scenarios. The results showed the capability of the digital twin to identify vulnerabilities and worst-case scenarios in UAV mission operations, and how it can assist remote pilots in identifying air-to-air collision hazards. Furthermore, the probability of air-to-air collision was calculated for three sentry patterns, and the results were validated in the field. This research demonstrated the capability to identify vulnerabilities and worst-case scenarios in UAV mission operations. We present how the digital twin of an operational theatre can be exploited to assist remote pilots with the identification of air-to-air collision hazards of small uncooperative objects. Furthermore, we discuss how these results can be used to enhance current SORA-based risk assessment practices.

Concordance Study of Diagnoses and Therapeutic Management for Military Personnel Evacuated for Medico-psychological Reasons: From the Theater of Operations to the Military Training Hospital.

The evolving global landscape has led to increased involvement of the French armed forces, exposing military personnel to operational challenges that can affect their mental well-being. As a result, psychiatry has become the second most common reason for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC). In war zones where specialized medico-psychological consultations may not be readily available, medical officers play a vital role in providing initial care. Therefore, there is a growing emphasis on the precise evaluation of these practices. In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed MEDEVAC request files from the Operational Health Headquarters (Patient Medical Request sheets), Aeromedical Evacuation Mission Order sheets, and hospital records from the entire military hospital complex in the Île-de-France region for French military personnel who underwent low-priority MEDEVAC (P3) for medico-psychological reasons from a non-metropolitan area to metropolitan France. The study spanned from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2016. The primary objective is to evaluate the concordance of diagnoses between general practitioners and psychiatrists. The secondary objective is a detailed description of the introduction of psychotropic drugs, especially benzodiazepines, by the medical officer in the field. In total, our study included 610 patients. Significant differences were observed between diagnoses made by military general practitioners and military psychiatrists, except for "psychotic disorders" and "other diagnoses" categories. During hospitalization, benzodiazepines were prescribed to 26.5% of repatriated patients, antidepressants to 12.7%, hypnotics to 17.6%, neuroleptics to 24.23%, and hydroxyzine to 18.8%. Upon discharge, benzodiazepines were prescribed to 23.5% of patients, antidepressants to 17.8%, hypnotics to 9.9%, neuroleptics to 28.9%, and hydroxyzine to 19.7%. The chi-squared test revealed significant differences in prescription between military operations and hospitalization for all molecules except hydroxyzine. Among patients diagnosed with Psychological Disorder Related to a Traumatic Event (TPRET) (<1 and >1 month) by psychiatrists during hospitalization, 66.2% were prescribed benzodiazepines during operational theaters, 24.3% continued during hospitalization, and 16.8% received a prescription upon discharge.The duration of missions often hinders precise psychiatric diagnoses, leading medical officers to transmit clinical data for optimized specialized care at military training hospitals. Furthermore, significant differences in therapeutic administration between medical officers and psychiatrists, particularly in benzodiazepine prescriptions for patients with TPRET, highlight the importance of prioritizing psychotropic prescription modalities in the training of medical officers on mental disorders. Strengthening operational preparations in recent years could enable more practitioners to benefit from these measures. We suggest several measures to enhance the transmission of medical information between medical officers and military psychiatrists. First, optimizing the drafting of Patient Movement Requests could involve implementing pre-filled drop-down menus or providing an adapted bilingual lexicon, facilitating the optimal transmission of clinical information for repatriated patients. Second, strengthening the training of medical officers before deployment and sharing the "Emergency Psy Kit," a comprehensive support tool developed by French military psychiatrists, would further enhance the tool kit available to field practitioners for judiciously prescribing psychiatric drugs.

Utility of Scenarios in Understanding Public Procurements Conducted in Theatres of Operations

Currently, operational logistics is a significant challenge: to resupply Romanian forces located in various theatres around the world. Involvement in an international mission is contingent not solely on the mission’s nature or the structures of the assumed forces but also on the requisites and logistical capabilities for supplying goods and services within the designated area. The international security environment is challenging. Political tension, military conflicts and economic problems have intensified security concerns. In this context, organizing the procurement processes efficiently is a major preoccupation for specialists. Moreover, the legal framework for public procurement opens up room for different issues. Given the multinational context and specific procurement regulations, the execution of procurements within operational theatres is exposed to distinct challenges compared to those encountered in the national territory. In this complex and ambiguous environment, understanding the legal means of addressing challenges in the procurement field is desirable. Moreover, considering the importance of procuring goods and services to achieve the mission goal, a proficient procurement specialist is a crucial asset. In this regard, the main objective of this study is to demonstrate that Scenario-Based Learning could be transformed into a useful tool for preparing future specialists in procurement.

Controlul civil democratic asupra Forțelor Armate ale Republicii Moldova în contextul aspirațiilor de aderare la Uniunea Europeană

Based on the experience of other countries, in the current context of regional security, the enhanced relations with NATO, and the status of candidate country for EU membership, the Republic of Moldova has to pay increased attention to its security and defence. It includes not only increasing budget allocations for the defence sector, professionalizing the armed forces or participating with troops alongside other European countries in various theatres of operations, but also ensuring institutional transparency and rigorous implementation of EU standards of civilian democratic control over the armed forces. The effectiveness of democratic civilian control will contribute to enhancing national security and will bring the Republic of Moldova closer to the European community. This article briefly discusses the evolution of democratic civilian control over the armed forces of the Republic of Moldova from a theoretical and practical point of view and sets up some recommendations.

Democratic Civilian Control over the Armed Forces in the Context of the Aspirations of the Republic of Moldova to Join the European Union

Based on the experience of other countries, in the current context of regional security, the enhanced relations with NATO, and the status of candidate country for EU membership, the Republic of Moldova has to pay increased attention to its security and defence. It includes not only increasing budget allocations for the defence sector, professionalizing the armed forces or participating with troops alongside other European countries in various theatres of operations, but also ensuring institutional transparency and rigorous implementation of EU standards of civilian democratic control over the armed forces. The effectiveness of democratic civilian control will contribute to enhancing national security and will bring the Republic of Moldova closer to the European community. This article briefly discusses the evolution of democratic civilian control over the armed forces of the Republic of Moldova from a theoretical and practical point of view and sets up some recommendations.

Utilitatea metodei scenariului în înțelegerea achizițiilor publice derulate în teatrele de operații

Currently, operational logistics is a significant challenge: to resupply Romanian forces located in various theatres around the world. Involvement in an international mission is contingent not solely on the mission’s nature or the structures of the assumed forces but also on the requisites and logistical capabilities for supplying goods and services within the designated area. The international security environment is challenging. Political tension, military conflicts and economic problems have intensified security concerns. In this context, organizing the procurement processes efficiently is a major preoccupation for specialists. Moreover, the legal framework for public procurement opens up room for different issues. Given the multinational context and specific procurement regulations, the execution of procurements within operational theatres is exposed to distinct challenges compared to those encountered in the national territory. In this complex and ambiguous environment, understanding the legal means of addressing challenges in the procurement field is desirable. Moreover, considering the importance of procuring goods and services to achieve the mission goal, a proficient procurement specialist is a crucial asset. In this regard, the main objective of this study is to demonstrate that Scenario-Based Learning could be transformed into a useful tool for preparing future specialists in procurement.

Doxycycline-Mediated Inhibition of Snake Venom Phospholipase and Metalloproteinase.

Warfighters are exposed to life-threatening injuries daily and according to the Joint Trauma System Military Clinical Practice Guideline-Global Snake Envenomation Management snakebites are a concerning threat in all theaters of operation. Snake venom is a complex mixture of toxins including phospholipases A2 (PLA2) and snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMP) that produce myotoxic, hemotoxic, and cytotoxic injuries. Antibody-based antivenom is the standard of care but new approaches including small-molecule inhibitors have gained attention in recent years. Doxycycline is an effective inhibitor of human metalloproteinases and PLA2. The enzymatic activities of 3 phylogenetically distinct snakes: Agkistrodon piscivorus, Naja kaouthia, and Daboia russelii were tested under inhibitory conditions using doxycycline. Enzymatic activity of PLA2 and SVMP was measured in N. kaouthia, D. russelii, and A. piscivorus venom alone and with doxycycline using EnzChek Phospholipase A2 and Gelatinase Assay Kits. A 1-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test was used to conduct comparative analysis. The median lethal dose of the venoms, the effective dose of doxycycline, and creatine kinase (CK) inhibition levels were measured in a murine model with adult Bagg Albino (BALB/c) mice using intramuscular injections. Median lethal and effective doses were determined using Spearman-Karber's method and a 1-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test was used to compare CK inhibition levels. Phospholipases A2 activity was reduced to 1.5% to 44.0% in all 3 venoms in a dose-dependent manner using 0.32, 0.16, and 0.08 mg/mL doxycycline when compared to venom-only controls (P < .0001) (Fig.1A). Snake venom metalloproteinases activity was reduced to 4% to 62% in all 3 venoms in a dose-dependent manner using 0.32, 0.16, and 0.08 mg/mL doxycycline (P < .0001) (Fig.1B). The lethal dose (LD50) values of the venoms in the murine model were calculated as follows: A. piscivorus = 20.29 mg/kg (Fig.2A), N. kaouthia = 0.38 mg/kg (Fig.2B), and D. russelii = 7.92 mg/kg (Fig.2C). The effective dose (ED50) of doxycycline in A. piscivorus was calculated to be 20.82 mg/kg and 72.07 mg/kg when treating D. russelii venom. No ED50 could be calculated when treating N. kaouthia venom (Fig.3). Creatine kinase activity was significantly decreased in all 3 venoms treated with doxycycline (P < .0001) (Fig.4). Doxycycline reduced PLA2- and SVMP-related lethality, particularly in A. piscivorus envenomings and in a limited capacity with D. russelii revealing its promise as a treatment for snakebites. In addition, CK activity, a common indicator of muscle damage was inhibited in mice that received doxycycline-treated venom. The doxycycline concentrations identified in the ED50 studies correspond to 1,456 to 5,061 mg dosages for a 70 kg human. Factors including venom yield and snake species would affect the actual dosage needed. Studies into high-dose doxycycline safety and its effectiveness against several snake species is needed to fully translate its use into humans. Based on this work, doxycycline could be used as a treatment en route to higher echelons of care, providing protection from muscle damage and reducing lethality in different snake species.

Refocusing the Military Health System to support Role 4 definitive care in future large-scale combat operations.

The last 20 years of sustained combat operations during the Global War on Terror generated significant advancements in combat casualty care. Improvements in point-of-injury care, en route care, and forward surgical care appropriately aligned with the survival, evacuation, and return to duty needs of the small-scale unconventional conflict. However, casualty numbers in large-scale combat operations have brought into focus the critical need for modernized casualty receiving and convalescence: Role 4 definitive care. Historically, World War II was the most recent conflict in which the United States fought in multiple operational theaters, with hundreds of thousands of combat casualties returned to the continental United States. These numbers necessitated the establishment of a "Zone of the Interior," which integrated military and civilian health care networks for definitive treatment and rehabilitation of casualties. Current security threats demand refocusing and bolstering the Military Health System's definitive care capabilities to maximize its force regeneration capacity in a similar fashion. Medical force generation, medical force sustainment and readiness, and integrated casualty care capabilities are three pillars that must be developed for Military Health System readiness of Role 4 definitive care in future large-scale contingencies against near-peer/peer adversaries.

Alexander Sergeevich Puchkov’s activities as a member of the Russian Red Cross Society during the First World War

The article is devoted to the activities of Alexander Sergeevich Puchkov as part of the Russian Red Cross Society, which during the First World War was one of the largest public organizations that provided assistance to wounded soldiers and officers in the theater of military operations and in the rear. The Red Cross appointed those responsible for all military sanitary, medical evacuation and organizational measures in this area of military operations: a special officer, a chief officer. The events of the period 1914–1918, which formed the professional qualities of the organizing physician A.S., are described. Puchkova, approaches and principles to providing medical care to the wounded in case of mass injuries and injuries in the performance of official duties of the special representative of the Russian Red Cross Society under the 2nd Army of the Western Front.

Formation of flight zones of UAV according to the degree of stability in order to increase the reliability of the command radio control line in the conditions of the use of air defense and electronic suppression

The combat use of small and medium-class unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in recent local military conflicts, as well as the experience of using UAVs in the operation of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria and Ukraine, has shown that they are mainly assigned the tasks of aerial reconnaissance in those areas of the theater of operations (Theater of Operations) where The use of manned aircraft is unjustified or impractical due to the high probability of damage to manned aircraft. The main threats to UAVs in modern theater are the possibility of hitting them with anti-aircraft missile systems (SAMs) of air defense (air defense), as well as the suppression of the command radio control line (CRU) of the UAV by means of electronic suppression (RAP) of the enemy. The purpose of the work is to develop theoretical solutions aimed at the formalized formation of air defense and RAP zones in the theater based on clustering theory methods for subsequent consideration of these zones in the automated formation of UAV flight routes. The paper proposes a methodology for the formalized formation of air defense and RAP zones based on the methods of clustering theory. In the future, the air defense and RAP zones are taken into account in the automated route control of the UAV by forming the flight route of the UAV bypassing these zones. The novelty of this solution, which distinguishes it from well–known works in the field of formation of UAV flight routes, is the consideration of two types of destabilizing factors as obstacles to UAV flight - the impact of air defense and REP means. These factors are formalized in the form of an integral metric of nodes in the graph of the geotopological model of the theater flight zone. At the same time, the Lance-Williams mathematical algorithm of hierarchical clustering is used to form «closed for flights» zones in which the probability of UAV damage is high, and areas of control violation due to the impact of RAP means. The connectivity check of the route network is based on the method of determining the strongly connected areas of the graph. The resulting solution makes it possible to increase the stability of UAV control during their combat use in theater equipped with air defense and RAP systems.

Improving a methodology for estimating the cross-country ability of all-wheel-drive vehicles

The object of this study is the cross-country ability of four-wheel drive vehicles under off-road conditions. Based on the results of analysis of known studies, it was determined that the procedures of experimental assessment of the load-bearing capacity of bearing surfaces (BS), based on the use of the cone index, are used in NATO member countries. They take into account the characteristics of the surface of the theater of operations and make it possible to determine the approximate speeds of all-wheel drive vehicles with the help of standardized computer software. In the procedures for assessing the load-bearing capacity of BSs, which use the soil deformation module E, there is no possibility for calculating the speed of the car with known axle loads. In addition, they provide for the determination of a number of parameters of the bearing surface, such as the coefficient of adhesion, the angle of internal friction in the soil, and the shear modulus during the formation of a track. This makes them much more difficult compared to the procedures used by NATO. Therefore, the problem that is solved in this work is to improve the methodology for assessing the reference cross-country ability of four-wheel drive vehicles. Based on the results of scientific research, motion modeling was carried out in the MATLAB Simulink environment to determine parameters of reference cross-country ability of four-wheel drive vehicles. In order to determine the cross-country ability of samples of wheeled military vehicles (WMV) based on the indicator of the maximum pressure value (mean measure pressure – MMP), the conducted experimental studies were analyzed. They showed a difference in the speed modes of vehicles of the same gross weight but different layout schemes, within 11–12 %. Therefore, the methodology for assessing the cross-country ability based on MMP has been improved to take into account the features of the layout of WMV samples. Specifically, taking into account the different values of loads on the front axle of vehicles with hoodless and hood layouts at the same gross weight. In general, the improved procedure makes it possible to give a quantitative assessment of the movement mobility of WMV samples with various layout schemes and an assessment of their potential cross-country ability on the basis of the proposed refinement of MMP calculation

Comparison of Dental Emergencies Among U.S. Military and Civilian Personnel During Combat Operations in 2007-2009.

Information from published studies describing dental treatment of nonmilitary personnel in a military theater of operations is sparse. The primary objective of this study is to determine the number of dental emergencies (DEs) and the types of dental treatment rendered on non-U.S. military (civilian) personnel treated by Navy dentists in 2007-2008 in Iraq and 2009 in Afghanistan. The second objective is to compare the type of DE treatment procedures provided to civilian personnel to the type of DE treatment procedures performed on U.S. military personnel. Navy Dental Officers documented the diagnoses of unscheduled DEs. All treatment provided was described at the time of treatment using the Current Dental Terminology codes of the American Dental Association. Current Dental Terminology Code A0145 (2007 and earlier) and A0199 (2008 onward) in the patient encounter indicated a DE. This study is limited to DE occurring in (1) patient categories: U.S. civilian employees, other beneficiaries of the U.S. Government, foreign national civilian/dependents, and civilian, no government connection and (2) U.S. military service members. Chi-square analysis was performed to compare the proportion of dental treatment category procedures on civilian patients compared to those on U.S. military patients. During the reporting period, 308 patients were treated for DE in Afghanistan. Civilians treated accounted for 18.5% (n = 57) of all DEs. Nearly 93.0% of civilians who were treated were U.S. (DoD) civilian employees. Of the 57 civilian patients treated for DE, 61.4% of patients (n = 35) received oral surgery. There were 251 U.S. military patient encounters (81.5% of all DEs). Restorative dentistry was the most common dental procedure for military personnel DE. When comparing civilian and military patients, civilian patients are statistically more likely than military patients to receive oral surgery treatment for DE (P < .00001). In Iraq, 3,198 patients were treated for DE during the reporting period. Civilians treated accounted for 18.8% (n = 601) of all DEs. About 56.9% (n = 342) of civilians who were treated were U.S. contract employees. Of the 601 civilian patients treated for DE, 37.1% (n = 223) received oral surgery. There were 2,597 U.S. military patient DE encounters, and restorative dentistry was the most common dental procedure. When comparing civilian and U.S. military patients in Iraq, civilians are statistically less likely to have their DE treated by restorative dentistry (P < .00001) and are more likely have it treated by oral surgery/extractions (P < .00001). It is significantly more likely for civilians to have multiple categories of DE that must be treated (P< .00001). The primary group of civilians treated for DE in Afghanistan was U.S. civilian employees. The primary group of civilians treated for DE in Iraq were contract employees of the U.S. Government. The primary dental treatment of civilian beneficiaries in both the theaters of operation was oral surgery. This brings into question what dental fitness standards are there for primarily U.S. civilian and contract employees.