Experimental Exercises as an Element of Joint Combat Training of the Air Forces and Railway Troops in the Prewar Period and During the Great Patriotic War (1931-1945)

This article deals with the organization of experimental exercises of the Air Force and Railway Troops in the conditions of increasing military threat during the prewar period and the years of Great Patriotic War combat operations. The relevance of the study is due to the lack of scientific research on the history of interaction and joint combat training of aviation and special technical branches units. In the course of this research, the role and place of experimental exercises in the system of joint combat training of the Air Force and Railway Troops were defined, and the main areas of weapons and military equipment testing were analyzed. A conclusion was made about the fundamental role of the Gorokhovets Aviation and Railway Troops test field in the study of joint combat use and in the development of new models of air weapons and recovering equipment for Railway Troops. The effectiveness of using of the experience of such experimental exercises is positively assessed. Conclusions are formulated and scientific-theoretical recommendations are offered to improve joint combat training of Aviation and Railway Troops units at the present development level of the Russian Armed Forces.

USING OF THE MATHEMATICAL APPARATUS REGRESSION ANALYSIS TO UNIFY THE CALCULATING METHODOLOGY FOR THE T-64B TANK'S OVERHAUL LIFE

The subject matter of the article is the life cycle of a T-64B tank sample during the period from normal operation in a combat training group to resource consumption and carrying out average and capital repairs. The goal of the study is to develop a model of dependence of inter-repair service life of the T-64B tank sample on the machine operating conditions and, on its basis, a methodology for controlling the parameters of individual assemblies and systems of the tank sample during its life cycle. The tasks to be solved are: to analyze the results of statistical records of tank system failures and damages number and identify the predicates set affect the inter-repair service life of the machine depending on conditions of its tasks for the intended purposes; to create the regression equation for getting the unified analytical dependence of inter-repair service life of the T-64B tank sample in the period from normal operation in training and combat group to service life and overhaul; to investigate specific influence of reliability indices on the machine's service life. General scientific and special methods of scientific knowledge are used. The method of hierarchy analysis, mathematical apparatus of probability theory and multidimensional statistical analysis were used. The following results are obtained. A set of predicates influence the inter-repair service life of the machine depending on conditions of its tasks for the intended purposes fulfillment has been determined. A regression equation has been drawn up to obtain a unified analytical dependence of the overhaul life of a T-64B tank sample during the period from normal operation in a combat training group to the development of a resource and carrying out of intermediate and complete overhauls were drawn up. Engineering solutions have been proposed to implement a methodology for monitoring the parameters of individual units and systems of the tank sample during its life cycle, namely integrated real-time monitoring of oil condition and recording of engine operating hours under various load conditions. Conclusions. The space of features characterizes the conditions of the tank sample tasks for its intended purposes, includes service life, crew training, operation, seasonality of the unit’s performed tasks nature, machine operating time since the last service and range of the vehicle before the next overhaul. The analytical relationship between the individual factors determining the conditions under which the T-64B tank sample performs its tasks for the intended purposes and the machine's service life consumption as a dependent variable can be determined in the form of a regression equation. Differentiated control of the parameters of individual assembly units and systems of the tank sample plays a leading role in ensuring the combat readiness and efficiency of the use of aging samples of weapons, insures personnel against possible accidents and catastrophes, sudden failures.

Profiling Combat Sports Athletes: Competitive History and Outcomes According to Sports Type and Current Level of Competition

Background This study aimed to investigate the competitive history (the age when training and competing started), training habits and patterns of winning and losing of competitive combat sports athletes across different combat sports as well as the level of competition (e.g. amateurs, state-level and elite). Methods Competitors (N = 298) from mixed martial arts (MMA), Muay Thai/kickboxing, boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), wrestling, judo and traditional striking sports (TSS) completed an online questionnaire. Results Most athletes began competing in their mid-teenage years and competing soon after except for wrestlers who began earlier. Elite athletes began training earlier than amateurs (13.75 ± 7.75 years and 16.2 ± 7.45 years, p<0.01, respectively). Training habits were similar across sports (~4 combat and ~3 non-combat training sessions per week), except for MMA and wrestling which did more combat sports-specific training than Judo and TSS. Wrestlers did more non-combat sports-specific training than all other sports. Elite athletes completed more combat sessions per week than their lower-level contemporaries (4.64 ± 2.49 and 3.9 ± 1.44, p=0.01, respectively). Patterns of winning or losing were consistent across sports, except for amateur athletes who were more likely to report all their victories by points and none of their victories by submission or pin. Additionally, elite athletes are less likely to report none of their victories coming by knockout. Conclusions Results may indicate that finishing ability is a key distinguisher of competitive level. The present study provides normative data for training and competing habits for athletes, support staff and regulators to use.

US Army basic combat training alters the relationship between body mass index and per cent body fat

Introduction/backgroundAs a proxy for adiposity, body mass index (BMI) provides a practical public health metric to counter obesity-related disease trends. On an individual basis, BMI cannot distinguish fat and lean components of body composition. Further, the relationship between BMI and body composition may be altered in response to physical training. We investigated this dynamic relationship by examining the effect of US Army basic combat training (BCT) on the association between BMI and per cent body fat (%BF).MethodsBMI and %BF were measured at the beginning (week 1) and end (week 9) of BCT in female (n=504) and male (n=965) trainees. Height and weight were obtained for BMI, and body composition was obtained by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Sensitivity and specificity of BMI-based classification were determined at two BMI thresholds (25 kg/m2 and 27.5 kg/m2).ResultsA progressive age-related increase in fat-free mass index (FFMI) was observed, with an inflection point at age 21 years. In soldiers aged 21+, BMI of 25.0 kg/m2 predicted 33% and 29% BF in women and 23% and 20% BF in men and BMI of 27.5 kg/m2 predicted 35% and 31% BF in women and 26% and 22% BF in men, at the start and end of BCT, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of BMI-based classification of %BF were poor. Soldiers below BMI of 20 kg/m2 had normal instead of markedly reduced %BF, reflecting especially low FFMI.ConclusionsBCT alters the BMI–%BF relationship, with lower %BF at a given BMI by the end of BCT compared with the beginning, highlighting the unreliability of BMI to try to estimate body composition. The specific BMI threshold of 25.0 kg/m2, defined as ‘overweight’, is an out-of-date metric for health and performance outcomes. To the extent that %BF reflects physical readiness, these data provide evidence of a fit and capable military force at BMI greater than 25.0 kg/m2.

Peculiarities of the formation of educational units by gender mix

The training period is considered as a period of reach of the level of readiness to solve specialized combat training tasks. One of the criteria for success in training is the ability of educational units to productively overcome crisis phenomena caused by a mixed gender composition. This ability is associated with the essence of the three stages of training: adaptation, team building, training and combat coordination. In the first stage, crisis phenomena practically do not arise the second stage provides for the assimilation of the rules of formation in the divisions and their application according to the curriculum. The third stage, when implemented as an educational institution, should be considered as a step that allows the partial withdrawal of the combat training load of military units in combat coordination of graduates of military higher education institutions. The proposed approaches require the development of a methodology to evaluate its effectiveness through a system of relevant indicators and criteria.

Serological and RT-PCR surveillance for COVID-19 in an asymptomatic U.S. Army trainee population

Background Significant variability exists in the application of infection control policy throughout the United States (U.S.) Army initial entry training environment. To generate actionable information for the prevention of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)/coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission among new recruits, active enhanced surveillance was conducted for evidence of and exposure to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. Methods We serially tested recruits with a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) COVID-19 and/or total antibody to SARS-CoV-2 tests at day 0, 14, and week 10 upon arrival for basic combat training at a location in the southern U.S. Results Among 1,403 recruits who were enrolled over a 6 week period from August 25 through October 11, 2020, 84 recruits tested positive by RT-PCR with more than half (55%, 46/84) testing positive at arrival and almost two-thirds (63%, 53/84) also testing seropositive at arrival. Similarly, among an overall 146 recruits who tested seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 during the period of observation, a majority (86%) of tested seropositive at arrival; no hospitalizations were observed among seropositive recruits and antibody response increased at week 10. Conclusions These findings suggest serological testing may complement current test-based measures and provide another tool to incorporate in COVID-19 mitigation measures among trainees in the U.S. Army.