Citation

Binsch O, Banko KM, Veenstra BJ, Valk PJ. J. Strength Cond. Res. 2015; 29(Suppl 11): S187-S191.

Affiliation

1Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, TNO Soesterberg, the Netherlands; 2Defence Research and Development Canada, Centre for Operational Research and Analysis (DRDC CORA) Kingston, Ontario, Canada; and 3Institute of Training Medicine & Training Physiology, MOD/TGTF, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, National Strength and Conditioning Association)

DOI

10.1519/JSC.0000000000001117

PMID

26506186

Abstract

For infantry units of the Dutch Ministry of Defence, high attrition rates (varying from 42 to 68%) during initial training are a persisting problem. The reasons for this attrition are diverse. Having better insight into the causes of attrition is a prerequisite for implementing preventive measures. To achieve this, a monitoring assessment system was developed that integrated the effects of physical, mental, and organizational determinants on operational readiness. The aim of this study was to implement the monitoring tools and to establish the set of determinants that best predicted attrition during infantry training of new recruits. Eighty-five recruits were monitored over a 24-week infantry training course. Before the training, recruits were screened for medical, psychological, and physical wellness. During the monitoring phase, mental, physiological, and organizational indicants were obtained using an array of tools such as questionnaires, chest belt monitors (for heart rate, acceleration, and skin temperature measurements), and computerized tests (e.g., vigilance, long-term memory). Survival analyses were used to tease out the determinants of individual and grouped predictors of attrition. Nearly half the recruits (47%) failed the training. Attrition was predicted by both physiological and mental determinants. However, the organizational determinant "trainers' judgment" on the "recruits' military quality" dominated the physiological and mental determinants. It was concluded that the monitoring system was successfully implemented during infantry training, and that the survival analysis method emphasized on single effects and interactions between the different determinants. Based on the current findings, we recommend several steps to successfully implement a monitoring method in settings with high demands.

Language: en