Prioritizing interventions for preventing COVID-19 outbreaks in military basic training

Like other congregate living settings, military basic training has been subject to outbreaks of COVID-19. We sought to identify improved strategies for preventing outbreaks in this setting using an agent-based model of a hypothetical cohort of trainees on a U.S. Army post. Our analysis revealed unique aspects of basic training that require customized approaches to outbreak prevention, which draws attention to the possibility that customized approaches may be necessary in other settings, too. In particular, we showed that introductions by trainers and support staff may be a major vulnerability, given that those individuals remain at risk of community exposure throughout the training period. We also found that increased testing of trainees upon arrival could actually increase the risk of outbreaks, given the potential for false-positive test results to lead to susceptible individuals becoming infected in group isolation and seeding outbreaks in training units upon release. Until an effective transmission-blocking vaccine is adopted at high coverage by individuals involved with basic training, need will persist for non-pharmaceutical interventions to prevent outbreaks in military basic training. Ongoing uncertainties about virus variants and breakthrough infections necessitate continued vigilance in this setting, even as vaccination coverage increases.

Effects of military basic training on VO2max, body composition, muscle strength and neural responses in conscripts of different aerobic condition

SummaryStudy aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate neuromuscular adaptations in conscripts with different fitness levels (VO2max) during 8 weeks of military basic training (BT).Material and methods: Twenty-four male conscripts (18–21 years) were divided into two groups (Good Fitness [GF] and Low fitness [LF]) based on their VO2max at the beginning of BT. Body mass (BM), fat free mass (FFM) and Fat% were measured after 2, 4, and 7 weeks of training. VO2max, maximal isometric leg press force (MVC), H-reflex (Hmax/Mmax) at rest and V-wave (V/Mmax) during maximal isometric plantarflexion were measured from the soleus muscle at the beginning, after 5, and after 8 weeks of training.Results: FFM decreased significantly in LF after 7 weeks of training (–3.0 ± 1.7%, p < 0.001), which was not observed in GF. Both GF (6.9 ± 4.6%, p < 0.01) and LF (5.7 ± 4.6%, p < 0.01) showed improved VO2max after 5 weeks, with no changes during the last 3 weeks. A main effect of training was observed in decreased leg press MVC (–7.3 ± 9.3%, F = 4.899, p < 0.05), with no between-group differences. V-wave was significantly lower in LF during 5 (–37.9%, p < 0.05) and 8 (–44.9%, p < 0.05) weeks.Conclusion: Poor development of the neuromuscular system during BT suggests that explosive and/or maximal strength training should be added to the BT protocol for all conscripts regardless of fitness level. In addition, individualized training periodization should be considered to optimize the training load.

Total Institutions

In his 1961 book, Asylums, Goffman introduces the concept of the “total institution,” a formal institution in which the staff has near-total control of the lives of the “inmates,” including where and when they sleep, eat, and socialize. Typical total institutions in American culture include hospitals (mental and otherwise), prisons, military basic training camps, other isolated military settings (e.g., onboard ships), boarding schools, summer camps, nursing homes, and cloistered religious institutions. The fact that the control is “near-total” rather than total opens the possibility that the “inmates” or “residents” will create their own folk traditions, including oral, material, and customary folklore. The folk cultures of residents serve their psychological and social needs, and the folklore often centers on resistance against the regime of control and surveillance by the staff.

Formation Pattern State Defense Reserve Components In Five Countries Of Asean

This research is a qualitative research, which aims to describe the ideal pattern for Indonesia in building the reserve component base on the result of benchmarking and review of the formation pattern of the Asean countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Phlilipines, and Thailand. The place of research were Directorate of Reserve Component and the Directorate of State Defense of Defense Potential, Directorate General of Defense Potentioal, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia, Commission I of the House of Representatives, and the Defence Attache of the five Asean countries. The data was collected by using Focus Group Discussion method, questionnaries, interviews, direct observation, and document verification. Data analysis was perfomed using a model of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Thomas L. Saaty, such as, to determine actor, pattern, and actor with the highest priority and become the most important criteria in the formation of national defense reserve component in five Asian countries. Result of research on the highest priority and the most important criteria: (1) for Factor: Deterrent Power; (2) for Pattern: Budgeting; and (3) for Actor: the Thailand Kingdom. In this study we analyzed the implementation of eight key competences of Michael Zwell, ie, beliefs and values, skills, experience, personality traits, motivation, control emotional issues, intellectual ability, and the culture of the organization in six patterns for the formation of national defense reserve component in the Kingdom of Thailand, namely recruitment, training (development), use (utilities), closure, reward and punishment, and budgeting. The result of the analysis shows that the model and the development time in military basic training phase has the highest priority in improving the competence of members of the reserve component. In order to increase the deterrent power of the nation and country, Indonesia needs the competence of members of the reserve components that are national resources defense. Therefore, to improve the competence of defense reserve component member of the country, Indonesia needs to implement eight key competences of Michael Zwell into the military basic training curriculum, which is the part of a national programme to defend the country, and put the Ministry of Defence as a leading sector. Keywords: factor, pattern, actor, training, detterent, competence.