Are You A… ‘Crap Hat’?

This article will provide the reader with a description of the term ‘crap hat’, and its association with berets and peak caps. The article will then move on to the history of berets from a military perspective, with an outline of the pertinent facts/dates rather than being a definitive account. Next, the article will discuss… Read More

PARA Platoon on Forces TV Channel

The latest iteration of the Combat Infantryman’s Course (Parachute), (CIC) (Para)), can be viewed in the documentary PARA Platoon currently being shown on Forces TV @ http://www.forces.tv/topic/para-platoon. The seven part documentary was first aired in October 2014. The CIC (Para) builds up soldier recruits’ skills and fitness bit by bit. In rough order, this involves learning… Read More

Cognitive Flexibility in Elite Forces

Research Paper Title Altered Insula Activation in Anticipation of Changing Emotional States: Neural Mechanisms Underlying Cognitive Flexibility in Special Operations Forces Personnel. Background Individuals who perform optimally in extreme conditions, such as elite military warriors, can provide valuable insight into the neurobehavioral mechanisms underlying extraordinary performance. Methods In this current study, the researchers examined the… Read More

Dietary Intake & Stress Fractures in Elite Forces: Any Link?

Research Paper Title Dietary Intake and Stress Fractures among Elite Male Combat Recruits. Background Appropriate and sufficient dietary intake is one of the main requirements for maintaining fitness and health. Inadequate energy intake may have a negative impact on physical performance which may result in injuries among physically active populations. The purpose of this research… Read More

Prediction Value of Bone Turnover Markers in Elite Forces

Research Paper Title Bone Turnover Markers do not Predict Stress Fracture in Elite Combat Recruits. Background With bone resorption rates greater than formation, stress fracture pathogenesis plausibly involves bone remodeling imbalance. If this is the case, one would anticipate serum levels of bone turnover markers would be higher in patients with stress fractures than in… Read More

Forces Mental Health: Is There A Difference Between Occupational Groups?

Research Paper Title Mental Health among Commando, Airborne and other UK Infantry Personnel. Background Despite having high levels of combat exposure, commando and airborne forces may be at less risk of mental ill-health than other troops. Aim To examine differences in mental health outcomes and occupational risk factors between Royal Marines Commandos (RMCs), paratroopers (PARAs)… Read More

What is the Correlation between Stress Fractures during Training & Pre-induction Sports Participation?

Research Paper Title Pre-induction Sport Activity in Prevention of Stress Fractures in Elite Infantry Recruits. Background Pre-induction sports participation of 392 elite infantry recruits was evaluated for correlation with incidence of stress fractures (SF) during 14 weeks of basic training. Methods Bar-Or Induction Fitness Test. Results 23.7% developed lower extremity stress fractures. 72% of the… Read More