Evaluation of Two Simple Functional Tests to Predict Attrition from Combat Service in Female Light Infantry Soldiers.

BACKGROUND Worldwide, there is a high attrition rate, or dropout rate, from combat in trained soldiers, mainly due to musculoskeletal injuries. This study aimed to determine whether the use of an upper limb stability test, the Upper Quarter Y-Balance Test (UQYBT), and a modified version of the Ranger Test (MRT) that included a lower limb step-up endurance test, could predict attrition from combat service in female infantry soldiers. MATERIAL AND METHODS In 2015, a group of 167 newly recruited female light infantry soldiers were evaluated using the UQYBT and the MRT. Data regarding attrition from combat service were collected in 2017, 18 months after screening. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictive effect of body mass index (BMI), UQYBT, and MRT scores on attrition from combat service. RESULTS Fifty-three female soldiers (31.7%) dropped out of combat service during the 18 months following recruitment. The MRT score was a significant predictor of attrition, with each additional incremental increase in the MRT score reducing the attrition rate by 6.8% (OR=0.934; 95% CI, 0.895-0.975). A cutoff MRT score of 12 increments predicted attrition with 73.7% sensitivity and 50.9% specificity. The UQYBT scores and BMI were not significant predictors. CONCLUSIONS The use of the MRT during military training, was a predictive screening method to predict attrition from combat service in Israeli female infantry soldiers. Further studies are required to evaluate the use of the MRT in other groups of women in the military.

The Impact of Deployment on Parental, Family and Child Adjustment in Military Families.

Since 9/11, military service in the United States has been characterized by wartime deployments and reintegration challenges that contribute to a context of stress for military families. Research indicates the negative impact of wartime deployment on the well being of service members, military spouses, and children. Yet, few studies have considered how parental deployments may affect adjustment in young children and their families. Using deployment records and parent-reported measures from primary caregiving (N = 680) and military (n = 310) parents, we examined the influence of deployment on adjustment in military families with children ages 0-10 years. Greater deployment exposure was related to impaired family functioning and marital instability. Parental depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms were associated with impairments in social emotional adjustment in young children, increased anxiety in early childhood, and adjustment problems in school-age children. Conversely, parental sensitivity was associated with improved social and emotional outcomes across childhood. These findings provide guidance to developing preventive approaches for military families with young children.

[Role of rational training of personnel of dangerous military profession in increasing of their functional reliability].

Role of rational training of personnel of dangerous military professions in increasing of their functional reliability. For ensuring reliability of organisms of military servicemen was developed and approved the system of rational functional training on the basis of individual physiological, psychophysiological and special physical indexes of orgdnism up to the level of high indexes and holding these indexes during long time. The results of research of effectiveness of the system via selective evaluation of before-after corrections indexes of organism are given.

[Modern state and prospects of development of medical-and-psychological support of military servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation].

The authors analysed state and prospects of medical-and-psychological support of military servicemen, which is supposed to consider as a complex of measures aimed at monitoring of professional psychological health, professional-and-psychological expertise, psychophysiological and pharmacological, correction, and medical-and-psychological rehabilitation. Organisation and maintaince of the above mentioned measures should be carried out by specialists of medical--and-psychological support groups and medical-and-psychological correction.

[Psychophysiological methods to support pilots training in the flight simulator].

Psychophysiological methods to support pilots training in the flight simulator. Despite the fact that the pilot performance in commercial and state aviation has some differences the same methodology and training philosophy are used in the organization of flight simulator training. The article presents the results of adaptation of psychophysiological methods to support flight simulator training for pilots of civil aviation, developed for military pilots. It is shown that the existing system for assessing pilots training in flight simulator, which is one of the most important stages of flight training for aviation, is not a sufficient level of objectification. It has been suggested to use psychophysiological inflight monitoring for integrated assessment of skills development along with instructor's assessment. Psychophysiological monitoring included such indices as residual attention and stress index for assessing pilot physiological activity, which enables the instructor to choose the strategies for further training.

[Description of the life quality of contracted servicemen].

There are presented results of a comprehensive study of the life quality of representatives of three reference groups of servicemen on contract: cadets of military high schools (n = 400), contracted servicemen of the units of power ministries and departments (n = 453), common soldiers and junior commanders (n = 357). The study was executed with the aid of the public survey, the performing of both psychological and functional load tests. This work is notable for the complexation of indices which characterize socio-hygienic, psychological and medical aspects of the life quality, life values, life satisfaction, and specific features of the military profession. Results of the study, which differ from the prior investigation by inclusion of indices characterizing the specific features of military-professional activity, lifestyle and spirituality, for the first time made it possible to assess the life quality related to health, taking into account the axiological values in life and important needs of the studied population. Changes in the life quality indices of contract servicemen were shown to be more sensitive to changes in their health than the traditional clinical-laboratory and instrumental data, which allows to recommend a wide practical use of the monitoring the life quality for professional selection and medical support of the military service, including the implementation of measures on optimization of psychological climate in military units, and the personification of the complex of therapeutic-recreational measures. The results allow us to recommend to military medical commissions of military commissariats in the call of citizens for military service under contract to carry out studies of quality and lifestyle of recruits for the early detection of groups of risk for their health. The program of in-depth medical examinations of military-contract there is recommended to include research aimed at identifying adverse social and hygienic factors of service and living conditions, psychopathological personality traits, rehabilitation and psychological climate in a military collective, execution of a personalized set of therapeutic measures.

[Conditions of professional activity of the staff of units and formations of special support and its medical and psychological support].

In the field of special support of nuclear- and radiation-dangerous objects "human factor" is highlighted, which means that psychological status of crew is at the first place. The authors analysed conditions of professional activity, determined morbidity rates and psychologically important labour characteristics for military specialists working at nuclear- and radiation-dangerous objects. The staff working at these objects undergoes irradiation, hostility of inhabitation and high psychological pressure. The authors presented data on peculiarities of health status and morbidity rate among military servicemen of the given category: the frequency of digestive apparatus diseases, diseases of nervous and circulatory systems is higher than in auxiliary subunits of the same military units. The authors determined the main principles and structure of measures of medical and psychological support of professional activity of the staff of military units of special support.

[Modern technology in assessing predisposition to deviant behaviour among servicemen].

One of the major problems in the acquisition of units of the Armed Forces is timely detection of individuals with deviant behaviour, which are prone to delinquent and addictive behaviour. The article presents the results of an analysis of existing methodologies aiming to identify servicemen abusing and occasionally using narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The characteristics of the proposed new automated complex psychological diagnosis socially determined behavioural disorders and methods is given. The high efficiency of this characteristics in the allocation among "at risk" servicemen is given.

[Problematic medical and psychological issues concerning rehabilitation of crews during the after-sea-dutymen period].

The analysis of the causes of lack of effective functioning of the medical and psychological rehabilitation of crew of the Navy in the Pacific Fleet is performed. Possible ways of solving existing problematic issues are suggested. For determination of fatigue and overwork it was suggested to undertake mandatory initial medical and psychological screening examination of crews immediately before the return to the naval base, using a simple and affordable methods of testing. Medical and psychological rehabilitation of soldiers after the long sea voyages proposed to take immediate military sanatorium of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (on the territorial principle).

[Organisational peculiarities and principles of medical-psychological rehabilitation of military personnel of special units of the Ministry of Defence].

The authors presented information about current state of organization of medical and psychological rehabilitation at sanatorium stage of military servicemen of special units of the Russian Defense Ministry, information about rehabilitation treatment techniques, and physical and psychological rehabilitation, natural and premature medicinal factors.

[Prospects of computer-assisted assessment of functional health status of military personnel].

The article is devoted to the development of:an integrated system for remote assessment of the functional state of the military serivcemen. A review of domestic and foreign literature concerning this problem is presented and proposed a new look and approach to monitoring the combat capability of the military servicemen. The authors carried out analysis of the possibility of using accumulated experience and the use of high-tech means to solve an assigned task at the level <> and gave a concrete way to solve this task at the current stage to improve the quality of health care and the efficiency of professional activity of servicemen.

[Problems of early detection of HIV infection, medical and psychological support of HIV-infected soldiers].

The article contains the analysis of materials about HIV infection and the status of work on its early detection among soldiers. Currently, the figures have a tendency to stabilization, but there is an increase in the persantage of HIV-infected persons performing military service under the contract, as well as the actualization sexual way of infection. The insufficient effectiveness of the barrier screening during the laboratory examination of recruits may contribute the increase in the incidence of HIV infection. Have been reviewed the questions medical-diagnostic and medical-psychological support of HIV-infected soldiers. Been analyzed the social consequences of delays in seeking medical help of patients in this group, the opportunities and challenges of their dispensary observation. It was noted that early detection of HIV infection and proper medical and psychological support in the dynamics of pathological process helps to reduce the number of new cases and improve their outcomes and to reduce the period of efficiency recovery of military personnel.

[Psychology and psychopathology of information warfare].

Tension of information warfare as a form of modern war has a global character nowadays. Topicality of research of psychological reaction peculiarities and psychopathology phenomena developing during information warfare is determined by necessity of scientific development of the effective means of diagnosis and prophylaxis of these phenomena. The article is devoted to analytical review of modern articles about aim, goals and methods of information warfare, covering some signs of manipulative influence on people's mind. Authors set forward opinion about possible psychological peculiarities and psychopathological consequences of targeted aggressive information influence and also suggest some methods against this influence.

[Professional psychological selection system in the Air Force - 50 years].

Given the data about the establishment of the professional psychological selection system in the Air Force in 1958-1964 in the NIIIAM Air Force by the team psychological department under the leadership of K.K.Platonova. Given the names of the developers of this system and given the results of their research. The result of all made work the order of Air Force Commander about the introduction of the psychological selection in Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, starting from a set of 1964 became. Recommendations for professional psychological selection of a wide range of aviation professionals in various fields, and in the future - and other professionals of the Armed Forces, became the results of future work.

Third location decompression for individual augmentees after a military deployment.

BACKGROUND: Third location decompression (TLD) refers to the initial process, undertaken by military personnel at the end of an operational deployment, whereby adjustment from military operations commences. TLD has been shown to be useful for personnel in formed units (FU). AIMS: To examine the subjective utility of TLD for personnel deployed as individual augmentees (IAs) by comparing their experience with FU personnel. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-nine IAs and 121 FU personnel completed a short survey at the end of the decompression period asking about operational exposures, perceived usefulness, stigma, concerns about readjustment and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). RESULTS: The strongest predictor of perceived utility was the desire to participate prior to arrival at the facility. FU personnel were more likely to want to participate in TLD than IAs (60% versus 30%); however, on completion, IAs reported high usefulness ratings with 78% of IAs and 84% of FU personnel finding it useful or a little useful. More FU personnel reported substantial PTSS, reporting that high numbers of PTSS were associated with finding the briefings that dealt with traumatic stress useful. Personnel reporting substantial operational exposures also reported greater levels of PTSS. CONCLUSIONS: IAs found TLD to be as useful as FU personnel; therefore, exclusion from the TLD process is not warranted. Military commanders should consider restricting TLD to both IA and FU personnel deemed to be at increased risk of a difficult adjustment due to greater operational exposure. Our data suggest that smaller numbers of IA personnel would fall into this group.

[Peculiarities of adaptation of servicemen service].

Review of issues about the adaptation of servicemen in the process of military service is presented. Characteristics of military service, conditions and levels of official-military activity, peculiarities of adaptation, factors providing progression of psychosomatic diseases and dysaptation, concept "occupational health" are considered.

The subjective utility of early psychosocial interventions following combat deployment.

BACKGROUND: Third Location Decompression (TLD) is the process through which personnel, returning from combat operations, begin to psychologically 'unwind'. Decompression comprises welfare activities, such as contacting home, beach events, social events, psycho-educational briefings and controlled re-introduction to alcohol. AIMS: To assess the subjective utility of decompression by surveying all British troops transiting the TLD facility in Cyprus, during 2008. METHODS: Analysis of distributed surveys completed by personnel who had deployed either to Iraq or Afghanistan. The main outcome was the subjective utility of the decompression process, with operational exposures, stigma, early post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms and adjustment concerns also measured. RESULTS: Response rate was 87% (11,304 returned surveys). Eighty per cent of respondents reported being ambivalent or not wanting to go through TLD before decompression; however, on completion, 91% reported finding it useful. The desire to participate was the strongest predictor of perceived helpfulness. Troops who found the TLD less helpful included those who had been through the process before, combat troops and non-commissioned officers. Twelve per cent reported substantial concerns about re-establishing relationships or settling down to 'normal life'; those reporting more adjustment concerns were more likely to perceive TLD as helpful. Six per cent reported significant PTS symptoms and 27% of troops reported substantial levels of stigma related to mental health and barriers to care. CONCLUSIONS: TLD was well received by troops following combat deployment. However, TLD does not appear to be equally acceptable to all and alterations to the TLD programme for certain subgroups might be required.

[Determining of suitability of military personnel of carrier profile based on an assessment of the functional state of the visual analyzer].

The article analyzes the important qualities of a professional military profile of the carrier, methodological support, aimed at evaluation, accounting professionally important qualities in the practice of professional psychological selection. It is also identified a group of professionally important qualities with the most highly predictive efficiency for the appointment of personnel for the post of operator activity profile.

[Techniques of preservation and promotion of psychological health in personnel of training center].

The article is concerned with description of techniques of preservation and promotion of psychological health in cadets of the centre of operational use of antitank artillery in conditions of steady increase of intensity and tension of educational-and-professional activity. This technique provides the preservation of psychological health and personal adaptive potential in military personnel. It conduces to reduction of morbidity rate of psychological and personality disorders and to combat readiness of units packed with graduates of training centre.

[Psychophysiological aspects of naval aviation pilots of the Navy in the operation of highly carrier-based aircraft].

The authors have shown that the most difficult elements of the flight deck of the ship are springboard takeoff and aerofinishing landing. An important task is to study the aerodynamic characteristics of the behavior of the aircraft during takeoff different characteristics, forming crews ready to act in particular situations. Adverse factors are the operating conditions of habitability of aircraft (noise, vibration, fumes in the air at work, and aircraft engines, etc.) that have a significant impact on the life of air crew and engineering staff. It is concluded that the development and use of effective means of protecting the organism from the effect of these factors is a priority for specialists in aviation medicine.