IRRETRIEVABLE HUMAN LOSSES OF KUIBYSHEV (SAMARA) REGION DURING THE “COLD WAR” (1946-1991): SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS

The article studies the irretrievable human losses of Kuibyshev (now Samara) region in local conflicts of the second half of the twentieth century. Using interdisciplinary research methods, the author conducted a socio-demographic analysis of the “Book of Memory of Samara region residents who perished in local military conflicts”, which revealed the following characteristics of an international soldier: age, place of birth, cause of death, service life, education, profession, military rank, type of service, awards, and hobbies. The study is an attempt to understand the losses of military personnel suffered by the region during the “cold war” and to create a collective portrait of an internationalist warrior.

Human losses of the Samara Region during the World War I (1914-1918)

The paper considers the problem of human losses of the Samara province during the World War I for the first time. The author uses the documents posted on the electronic portal Memory of the Heroes of the Great War of 1914-1918, a unique information resource that is the first official bank of original documents of the state and departmental archives of Russia about the participants and events of the World War I. Special attention in this work is paid to irretrievable human losses, as the most severe and irreparable. It is established that the archival materials contain 258,686 records of various types of losses among conscripts from the Samara province, 49,015 of them speak of the dead, those who died of wounds and missing. They accounted for 13% of the total losses of the region. It is revealed that the data bank makes it possible to detail the human damage by cities, counties, volosts of the province, the cause, date and place of death, military rank and participation in strategic operations. The author has concluded that a number of the obtained parameters are related to the specifics of accounting for human losses during the studied period, but the knowledge obtained makes it possible to assess the scale of the demographic catastrophe that shook the country and the province during the World War I.

On the issues of judicial control over the discretion of the authority

Purpose: The purpose of the article is to define the concept of «discretionary powers», to formulate conclusions on the limits of discretionary powers of government authorities, to analyze the limits of judicial control over discretionary powers, the correlation between court procedural discretion and public administration discretion. Methods: The theoretical and methodological basis of the study are modern general scientific and special legal methods of scientific knowledge. The formal-logical method and the method of analysis and synthesis are used in the study of doctrinal provisions on the concept of «discretionary powers». The method of comparative legal analysis is used in the study of foreign models of judicial control over the exercise of discretionary powers. Results: The article defines the concept of «discretionary powers», considers the types of administrative discretion, approaches to the scope of judicial control over the implementation of discretionary powers in different European countries, givthe criteria for effective judicial control over the exercise of discretionary powers. Conclusions: The attribute of effective judicial protection against illegal activity in the exercise of discretionary powers is the issuance of a court decision that makes it impossible to re-apply to the administrative body or re-resolve the same issue. Based on this, it is concluded that in Ukraine it is appropriate to apply the model of full judicial control, and the recognition of the disputed decision as illegal with the obligation to re-adopt the administrative decision is contrary to the rule of law principle, except the situations when: - there was no real consideration of the issue as such (non-compliance with the decision-making procedure, decision-making by an inappropriate subject); - there is an exclusive competence of the relevant body to make a specific decision (assign a rank, military rank, etc.). Keywords: rule of law, administrative discretion, procedural discretion, judicial control, remedies.

Changes in perceived social support and PTSD symptomatology among Danish army military personnel

Purpose Previous research has identified social support to be associated with risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among military personnel. While the lack of social support influences PTSD symptomatology, it is unknown how changes in perceived social support affect the PTSD symptom level in the aftermath of deployment. Furthermore, the influence of specific sources of social support from pre- to post-deployment on level of PTSD symptoms is unknown. We aim to examine how changes in perceived social support (overall and from specific sources) from pre- to 2.5 year post-deployment are associated with the level of post-deployment PTSD symptoms. Methods Danish army military personnel deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 and 2013 completed questionnaires at pre-deployment and at 2.5 year post-deployment measuring perceived social support and PTSD symptomatology and sample characteristics of the two cohorts. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate nominal logistic regression. Results Negative changes in perceived social support from pre- to post-deployment were associated with both moderate (OR 1.99, CI 1.51–2.57) and high levels (OR 2.71, CI 1.94–3.78) of PTSD symptoms 2.5 year post-deployment (adjusted analysis). Broadly, the same direction was found for specific sources of social support and level of PTSD symptoms. In the adjusted analyses, pre-deployment perceived social support and military rank moderated the associations. Conclusions Deterioration in perceived social support (overall and specific sources) from pre- to 2.5 year post-deployment increases the risk of an elevated level of PTSD symptoms 2.5 year post-deployment.

Introduction

The OSS did not use race in their recruitment of Asian Americans. Instead, they used loyalty to determine which Asian American with the necessary linguistic and cultural skills could join the agency. But to understand why the OSS leaders took the risk in bringing in a potential Asian American Trojan Horse one must see race and loyalty as not fixed but fluid social constructions. Using a wide variety of sources scattered across the globe, this chapter shows that Asian Americans had broken through racial barriers as they were tasked with gathering, translating, and analyzing intelligence data, creating propaganda pamphlets and radio programs, conducting hit-and-run operations miles behind enemy lines, and hunting for enemy spies behind Allied lines. Their roles, salaries, and military rank all point to how rapidly loyalty and not race became the primary determinant of employment with and treatment in the Office of Strategic Services during World War II.

Sex Differences in the Incidence and Risk of Ankle-Foot Complex Stress Fractures Among U.S. Military Personnel

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate sex differences in the incidence and risk of ankle–foot complex (AFC) stress fractures among U.S. military personnel, which could assist in developing management strategies as females assume a greater role in U.S. military operations. Methods: The Defense Medical Epidemiological Database was used to identify all diagnosed AFC stress fractures in military personnel from 2006 to 2015. Cumulative incidence of AFC stress fractures was calculated and compared by year, service branch, and military rank. Sex differences in the risk of AFC stress fractures by occupation were examined, and integrated (i.e., male and female) occupations were compared with non-integrated (i.e., male–only) occupations. Results: A total of 43,990 AFC stress fractures were identified. The overall incidence rate was 2.76 per 1,000 person-years for males and 5.78 per 1,000 person-years for females. Females consistently had higher incidence of AFC stress fractures across all subgroups, particularly among enlisted personnel. Female enlisted service members had the highest risk of AFC stress fractures in aviation [relative risk (RR) = 5.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.80–6.87] and artillery/gunnery (RR = 5.15; 95% CI 4.62–5.75) occupations. Females in integrated occupations had significantly higher rates of AFC stress fractures than males in both integrated and non-integrated occupations (i.e., special forces, infantry, and mechanized/armor). Conclusions: Females in the U.S. military have a higher risk of AFC stress fractures than males. As integration of females into previously sex-restricted occupations continues, focused prevention efforts may be needed to reduce injury burden and maximize medical readiness.

15 Protection of Religious Personnel

This chapter examines the protection of religious personnel and legal issues of religious tolerance in armed conflicts. The presence of religious personnel in armed conflict is a reflection of the most basic sentiments of humanity and respect for the individual. Military ‘chaplains assigned to the armed forces’ are, in accordance with Article 24 GC I, protected in the same way as medical personnel. Article 8, lit. d, AP I uses the term ‘religious personnel’, which is more neutral than the Christian term ‘chaplain’. Religious personnel shall not be the object of discrimination by the adversary with regard to their particular religion. Moreover, religious personnel must not be hindered in pursuing their religious duties, even if the national regulations of the state in which they are working prohibit it. These protections are applicable to all religious personnel irrespective of their age or length of experience or military rank that they carry.

Skin Malignancy in the Military: A Number Needed to Biopsy Analysis

ABSTRACT Introduction Skin malignancy has increased in prevalence over the last 15 years and effective diagnosis is required for adequate treatment. Retrospective data analysis of skin biopsy data has shown correlation between various independent variables, but no studies have been shown to directly assess skin malignancy risks for military personnel. Assessing correlation could lead to more effective, targeted screening programs that could lead to decreased mortality from skin malignancies. We present a 1-year analysis of the number needed to biopsy (NNB) to detect skin cancer and analysis of military-specific risk factors in a military dermatology training program. The present study aims to (1) compare skin biopsy yields to civilian institutions and patient populations and (2) determine significance of exposure variables including age, gender, military beneficiary status, branch of service, and military rank. Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective observational study over 1 year by identifying all skin biopsies performed in the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center dermatology clinic from August 2015 to July 2016. Utilizing the pathology reports, we manually excluded biopsies performed for the purpose of ruling out inflammatory/immunologic conditions or cosmeses and focused only on encounters performed to rule out basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or melanoma. We decided to exclude malignant diagnoses that were exceedingly rare or could mimic inflammatory conditions, such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. For uncertain diagnoses with vague context per pathology report, previous office clinic notes and pre-biopsy differential were referenced and included only if melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) diagnosis was the intended indication. Results A total of 3,098 biopsies were included in the study, diagnostic for 1,084 total skin malignancy and 54 melanoma diagnoses. Melanoma comprised 4.98% of all skin malignancy diagnosed. The NNB for all skin malignancy was 2.86 (95% CI 2.76-2.96) and NNB for melanoma and NMSC was 20.93 (95% CI 19.70-22.15) and 1.91 (95% CI 1.83-2.00), respectively. Patient age, gender, and military rank significantly impacted NNB values (P < .001). Conclusions The proportion of melanoma skin cancers is notably increased in our population compared to published population statistics with comparable total biopsy yields. Skin biopsy for purpose of screening for malignancy should be performed in the military population and consideration should be made for gender, age, and rank. Our findings can further expand on military risk factors for skin cancer and aid in further multivariant modeling.

Persians-Khurramites in the Byzantine Military Service During 833–839/840: Military Rank and Functions of Persian Military Units

Introduction. The scope of this paper is 1) to consider the forms of military service of the Persians within the Byzantine army during the first half of the 9th c., 2) to arrange the chronological order of events related to the involvement of the Persians in Byzantine military service as precisely as possible. The author means the Persians called Khurramites who were representatives of the anti-Islamic and anti-Arabic national movement at the north-west of Iran (territories of modern provinces of East Azerbaijan and Khamadan in the Republic of Iran). Methods. The author considers the single events (Byzantine military campaigns, in which the Persians took part, and also the facts of Persians’ arriving in Byzantium) in a more or less strict chronological order. The researcher turns to an analysis of event history and makes a step-by step, consecutive representation of the process of Persians’ arriving to Byzantine military service. The sources were works of Arabic, Armenian, Georgian and Greek authors (chroniclers, geographers, hagiographers) and seals (evidence of sigillography). Analysis. In 833/834 Byzantine Emperor Theophilos received a group of Persian refugees, who escaped from the Arabs and came to Byzantium. These Persians were headed by two chiefs, Theophobos and Naser, obviously, Naser was Theophobos’ father. Part of the Persians with Naser as a chief located in the Byzantine theme (a military-administrative and territorial district) of Anatolikoi, while another part subordinated to Theophobos located in the theme of Armeniakoi. In 837 Theophilos hosted another group of the Persians, who were commanded by Babek. Conclusions. The analysis shows that both in 833/834 and 837 Theophilos established regular military units of the Persians called thourmai, while Persian leaders mentioned above became Byzantine military officials, that are tourmarchoi, i.e. that were those Persian leaders who commanded over Persian ethnic tourmai. These ethnic units continued their existence up to the mid-10th c.

Formation of the subject intelligence qualities of the future officer through the context of his future professional activities (on the example of military training)

During the period of receiving education at a military university, a cadet must be formed as a person, a subject of social activity, corresponding to the rank of an officer not according to the assigned military rank or military position. Such a quality (property) of a person is his intelligence, as the totality of his education, ability to communicate and understand another, development of value consciousness, readiness for self-sacrifice and possession of a special form of existential assessment - referring phenomena included in his field of activity to universal, meaningful for him problems