More than Piety

Histories of Early Modern religion in Europe typically contrast the activities of ordained theologians with those of laity. The thought and writings of the former usually constitute “theology” and those of the latter “piety.” The result has long been a divided history. Confessional church historians have written histories that were essentially genealogies of (male) officer holders, while scholars of folklore, culture or literature analyzed the contributions of laity. Since the so-called cultural turn, the contributions of laity as organizers, transmitters and patrons of Early Modern religious movements are being recognized. What has been less studied are the intellectual achievements of laity, many of whom possessed deep knowledge of theology, history, and ancient languages and played important roles in Early Modern religious history. This article provides an overview of the main issues and the development of lay theology in the period and argues for increased study of the phenomenon.

Political conflict, policing and the challenges of masculinity

Policing is regarded as a masculine occupation. Traditionally women officers performed gendered duties, mostly working with women and children whilst men did ‘real’ police work. Policewomen’s roles have broadened considerably, despite being met with patterns of male officer resistance. This article explores the experiences of women officers who served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC during the Northern Ireland conflict. It examines three themes: first, women officers’ views on the suitability of females for police work; second, the idea that women officers possess attributes particularly well suited to certain policing roles; finally, officers’ experiences of working in a masculine environment.

Loaded and Unloaded Marching: Implications for Fluid Replacement

Marching with essential survival equipment is a fundamental military exercise. A consequence of this increased load is an increased risk of dehydration. Dehydration may have fatal consequences in a combat situation where performance must be optimal. This risk can be minimized with an understanding of the additional fluid needs of soldiers marching when loaded compared to unloaded. The aim of this study was to quantify fluid loss caused by marching with a loaded Bergen rucksack and webbing of 33.5 kg for 45 minutes when compared to unloaded carriage in eight healthy male officer cadets (age, 20.5 ± 0.9 years; body mass 80.2 ± 9.2 kg). The findings demonstrate an increased rate of sweat loss (0.6 ± 0.2 L·h-1 to 1.2 ± 0.4 L·h-1; p<0.001) and increased average heart rate (105.5 ± 17.7 beats·min-1 to 136.6 ± 28.3 beats·min-1; p<0.001) for unloaded and loaded trial respectively. Urine osmolality significantly increased pre- to postmarch (p<0.05), however there was no difference in this increase between the loaded and unloaded trial. The present study demonstrated that marching with a loaded rucksack and webbing increased sweat rate by 100% compared to the same march with no additional load. For soldiers to prevent dehydration and the potential detrimental effects on performance, fluid replacement should also be doubled when marching with loading in a temperate environment, however individual differences in sweat rate should be taken into account.

Trends in Dual Military Couples in the U.S. Army

Dramatic percentage increases in female soldiers, married enlisted soldiers, spouses in the labor force, female single-parent soldiers, and dual military couples have changed the demography of the Army substantially since the end of the Vietnam War and the institution of the All Volunteer Army. The presence of dual-career military families is one change that has shifted the traditional pattern of the unmarried male soldier led by a married male officer. This report documents the changes in dual military families since the early 1970s in the U.S. Army and discusses what effects, if any, there may be on family adaptation, retention, readiness, and use of services and what effects current downsizing initiatives might have on the prevalence of dual military couples in the Army.