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Objective: In 2020, Army National Guard members demonstrated greater risk of suicide than their military and civilian counterparts. Though literature on deployment-related experiences and suicidal ideation (SI) is mixed, investigations of specific deployment-related experiences (e.g., injuries) may further elucidate the relationship between deployment and suicide risk. Deployment-related injuries, including pain severity and functional impairment, have been linked to increased risk of SI, and correlates like perceived burdensomeness (PB) and hopelessness. The current study sought to examine the cross-sectional relationship between deployment-related injuries, including pain severity and functional impairment, and severity of SI through PB and hopelessness. Method: Immediately post-deployment, Army National Guard members (N = 2,261) completed validated self-report measures on past-week SI, PB, hopelessness, and single items regarding injury sustained during deployment and associated functional impairment and pain severity. Results: Indirect effect analyses revealed that experience of deployment-related injury was related to SI through PB and hopelessness (R2 =.1993), functional impairment was related to SI through PB, and pain severity was related to SI through PB. Contrary to hypotheses, hopelessness was not associated with SI when PB was simultaneously considered. Conclusions: Army National Guard members who develop a sense of PB related to their injury and functional impairment of that injury may be at increased risk for suicidal ideation. Military suicide-prevention efforts may be potentiated through targeting distorted cognitions such as PB and hopelessness, especially in service members who have been injured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to guarding national frontiers, some border patrol officers also escort illegal immigrants abroad. This article analyses this work from an interest in officers' (moral) experiences and how these relate to the circumstances in which they work, such as occupational culture, policy and procedures. Therefore, the notions of dirty work and moral injury are used as conceptual frameworks, and 14 Dutch escort officers were interviewed about their experiences. This article adds to dirty work analyses by developing an understanding of how workers' experiences relate to both formal and moral legitimacies and a possible tension between the two. In addition, it extends the literature on moral injury by describing context-dependent forms of impact that escape clinical diagnoses. Theoretically, this article shows that the occupational resources that are elsewhere seen as tools for navigating 'necessary evils' can in fact hide the impact of this kind of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn this study, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was examined among 161 Israeli military reservists who were recruited to gather and identify the bodies and body parts of civilians and soldiers killed in the October 7th, 2023 Hamas terror attack on Israel. The aims were to examine PTSD levels as well as the associations between demographic variables, task-related characteristics, coping strategies, well-being, and odds of being diagnosed with PTSD. Using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), 20% of the participants were found to have PTSD. Logistic regression indicated that a one-point increase in emotion-focused coping via distancing increased the odds of a PTSD diagnosis by 3.76 times; a one-point increase in perceived task difficulty increased the odds by 1.81; and a one-point decrease in well-being increased the odds by 1.06. A significant interaction showed that problem-focused coping was associated with a higher risk of PTSD among younger participants but a lower risk among older ones. Additionally, well-being served as a protective factor for those who perceived the task as mentally difficult. The study points to the high traumatic potential of handling bodies. It also indicates that the use of distancing oneself from one’s emotions is highly non-adaptive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arab Journal for Scientific Publishing is the property of Research & Development of Human Recourses Center (REMAH) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction The purpose of this paper is to examine a scalable secure firearm storage intervention in the U.S. National Guard (NG) in preventing firearm injury and suicide. A study among firearm-owning members of the Mississippi NG testing Project Safe Guard (PSG), a 10 to 15 min lethal means counseling intervention, found that PSG increased self-reported secure firearm storage practices. Here, we sought to examine a "real world" rollout of a modified PSG program in the NG in which NG members were trained to understand the importance of lethal means safety and to deliver PSG to Guardsmen peers within their units. Materials and Methods The PSG team collaborated with the NG to identify 4 states for the rollout; for each state, the NG was responsible for identifying key personnel ("facilitators") who would receive the training. Team members provided in-person training at 5 locations across 4 states (AZ, GA, IA, and NV) from January to April 2023. Attendees were provided with combination trigger locks or cable locks and evaluation instructions. Questionnaires were administered to training attendees via REDCap at pre-training and post-training. We conducted descriptive and comparison statistics of questionnaire data. Results A total of 186 facilitators were trained at 5 in-person training locations across 4 states (AZ, GA, IA, and NV) from January to April 2023; data collection concluded in August 2023. There were 137 pre-training responses (74% pre-survey response rate) and 88 post-training responses (64% response rate from those who took the pre-training survey). Findings demonstrate increases in self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding firearm injury and suicide and a reported desire to store personal firearms more securely. Conclusion The adapted version of PSG shows promise as a relevant and acceptable intervention among Guardsmen to enhance knowledge and attitudes regarding firearm suicide, increase secure firearm storage practices, and normalize conversations about firearm suicide prevention among peers. This intervention seeks to frame firearm suicide prevention within a culture of safety, complementary to the existing prevention methods and training within the NG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Problematic anger, characterized by excessive frequency, intensity, and duration of anger which causes substantial emotional distress and functional interference, poses a marked challenge in military populations. Despite its importance, research on this topic is limited. This study contributes to the literature by exploring problematic anger in a large sample of Norwegian military personnel who served in NATO missions in Afghanistan. Methods: All Norwegian military personnel who deployed to Afghanistan between 2001 and 2020 were sent a link to a cross-sectional web-based survey by the Joint Medical Services of the Norwegian Armed Forces in 2020. A total of 6205 individuals (response rate: 67.7%) participated. The cross-sectional survey assessed problematic anger, mental and physical health, war zone stressor exposure, and quality of life. Results: Overall, 8.4% of participants reported problematic anger. Mental health disorders, deployment-related shame and guilt, chronic pain, and challenges with the military-to-civilian transition were independently associated with problematic anger. Both staying in service and maintaining a part-time connection with the military as a reservist mitigated the risk of problematic anger after deployment, compared to complete separation from military service. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate a sizeable prevalence of problematic anger among veterans of combat deployments. Given the associations between problematic anger and mental health disorders, chronic pain, and transition challenges, interventions designed to mitigate problematic anger need to be multi-faceted, including the possibility of maintaining an ongoing connection to military service. By reducing the risk of problematic anger, occupational, interpersonal and health outcomes may be improved for service members. Future research should examine the impact of problematic anger on adjustment over time, prevention strategies, and problematic anger in other high-risk occupations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following events such as fatigue or stroke, individuals often move their trunks forward during reaching, leveraging a broader muscle group even when only arm movement would suffice. In previous work, we showed the existence of a "force reserve": a phenomenon where individuals, when challenged with a heavy weight, adjusted their motor coordination to preserve approximately 40% of their shoulder's force. Here, we investigated if such reserve can predict hip, shoulder, and elbow movements and torques resulting from an induced shoulder strength deficit. We engaged 20 healthy participants in a reaching task with incrementally heavier dumbbells, analyzing arm and trunk movements via motion capture and joint torques through inverse dynamics. We simulated these movements using an optimal control model of a 3-degree-of-freedom upper body, contrasting three cost functions: traditional sum of squared torques, a force reserve function incorporating a nonlinear penalty, and a normalized torque function. Our results demonstrate a clear increase in trunk movement correlated with heavier dumbbell weights, with participants employing compensatory movements to maintain a shoulder force reserve of approximately 40% of maximum torque. Simulations showed that while traditional and reserve functions accurately predicted trunk compensation, only the reserve function effectively predicted joint torques under heavier weights. These findings suggest that compensatory movements are strategically employed to minimize shoulder effort and distribute load across multiple joints in response to weakness. We discuss the implications of the force reserve cost function in the context of optimal control of human movements and its relevance for understanding compensatory movements poststroke. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: Our study reveals key findings on compensatory movements during upper limb reaching tasks under shoulder strength deficits, as observed poststroke. Using heavy dumbbells with healthy volunteers, we demonstrate how forward trunk displacement conserves around 40% of shoulder strength reserve during reaching. We show that an optimal controller employing a cost function combining squared motor torque and a nonlinear penalty for excessive muscle activation outperforms traditional controllers in predicting torques and compensatory movements in these scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Research and Development, The National Medical Products Co, Ltd., Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Correspondence: Bahauddeen M Alrfaei, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Ministry of National Guard – Health Affairs, P.O. Box 22490, Mail Code 1515, Riyadh, 11426, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected] ; [email protected] Introduction: Patients who need to be readmitted to the hospital because of complications from infections or require long-term care and rehabilitation face substantial financial hardships. To ensure the safety of patients undergoing surgery, it is crucial to implement measures that prevent wound infections before and after the procedure. Antibacterial wound dressings are essential to prevent infections during surgical procedures. There are various types of antibacterial wound dressings available on the market, such as silver-based dressings, hydrocolloid dressings, polyhexamethylene biguanide, alginate dressings, collagen-based dressings, and iodine-based dressings. Methods: We used each type (standard, knit, fibril, and non-woven) of a commercial brand of oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) called Regecel to test bacterial growth. The choice of antibacterial wound dressing depends on the type of wound being treated. Different bacterial strains require specific culture conditions to thrive and grow in laboratory settings. To obtain accurate and reliable results, it is vital to follow the precise culture conditions required for each bacterial strain. Results: The evaluation of ORC highlighted its potential to inhibit bacterial growth, showing promising results against various bacterial strains and Candida albicans. Different variants of ORC, such as Regecel, have demonstrated impressive capacity to hinder the growth of 32 distinct bacterial strains, with inhibition rates ranging from 40– 100%. These bacteria include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. Conclusion: This study supports the usage and development of ORC (Regecel) as an innovative approach to treating bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the ‘enchanted’ materiality of state militarism by offering an anthropological analysis of ‘gun culture’ within the reservist ranks of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Through primarily ethnographic observations of one reserve combat unit over the span of a decade, we will argue that the ways in which firearms are handled by individual soldiers symbolically mirrors much broader strategic and political tensions between two competing forms of organizational logic. On the one hand, there is what can be described as an enchanted allure with the tools of violence. This may include personal excitement around the expectation of combat, learned experience, and a curiosity regarding the weapons of war. On the other hand, there is a broader institutional and professionalizing tendency towards disciplining these individualistic modalities by distancing soldiers from both the tools and the results of battle itself. Ultimately, we argue that while the IDF may seek to harness individual enchanted engagements with firearms to further militaristic goals, on the ground, this process occurs amidst a stark clash of institutional logics and a good deal of ambivalence around the nature of warfare and uncertainty about the ethos of violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the pressing issue of suicide among the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in India, which encompass key forces such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Assam Rifles and National Security Guard (NSG). Together, these forces are integral to India's internal security, border protection and emergency response capabilities, employing approximately nine lakh personnel. Despite their crucial role, CAPF personnel face intense occupational stress, long deployments and high-risk duties, leading to severe mental health challenges. Recent data presented by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai to the Lok Sabha highlights an unsettling trend: in 2022, 136 personnel died by suicide, following 157 in 2021 and 143 in 2020. As of mid-2023, 71 suicides have already been reported. Historical data further illustrate the persistence of this issue, with suicide cases fluctuating, but generally increasing over the past decade. This paper aims to comprehensively analyze these suicide trends among CAPF personnel, examining the year-wise data from 2011 to 2023 to identify patterns and potential causes. Key contributing factors such as occupational stress, lack of adequate mental health support, and socio-economic pressures are explored in depth. The research also investigates the impact of policy changes and mental health initiatives within the CAPF framework. Concluding with actionable recommendations, the paper advocates for enhanced mental health services, regular counseling, stress management programs, and a supportive environment that encourages seeking help. These measures are crucial for addressing the mental health crisis within the CAPF and improving the overall well-being and operational efficiency of these essential forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the rapidly growing importance of the Arctic in economic, defense, and environmental sectors, the United States, though an Arctic nation, lacks meaningful defense capacity in the Arctic region. This article provides a brief history of the critical role that Alaska Natives played in the Arctic during World War II, first as the Alaska Territorial Guard and later as formally incorporated units of the Alaska Army National Guard, and how these units addressed in their time the same capability gaps facing the United States today. However, Army reorganization during the Global War on Terror has had the unintended effect of making National Guard service nearly impossible for this critical population. The article further proposes that the Canadian Ranger program could serve as a model for restoring military service as a possibility for Alaska Natives while providing a cost-effective means of addressing domain awareness and other shortfalls confronting the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) is tasked with deterring and preparing for a potential conflict with China, while also facing a clear threat from North Korea (DPRK) against the American Pacific homeland. To address mounting cooperation among adversaries, the US should establish a designated homeland defense operation, enabling USINDOPACOM to activate Joint Task Force-Homeland Defense, augment its forces with Reserve component units, and enhance regional defense capabilities. These measures would mitigate risk in a China scenario and reaffirm US sovereignty in the Pacific. With further DPRK missile and nuclear tests expected, launching this operation would be a proportionate response. The Secretary of Defense must now direct planning for Operation Noble Eagle-Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the concept of time among combat reservists in the Israel Defense Forces. Most ethnographic studies of temporality tend to focus on how time's passage is measured or 'reckoned' within varying cultural contexts. In contrast, this article looks to the more corporeal and embodied aspects of the human experience of time. It argues that within Israeli military contexts time is experienced as a near material-like substance that imposes itself – in a very physical way – upon the bodies of combat soldiers. In this sense, the 'military timescape' is experienced as a sort of malleable substance that the physical donning of a military uniform can transcend, alter, and refract. A detailed ethnographic exploration of time's corporeal dimensions offers anthropologists a temporal, as opposed to a spatial, paradigm for engaging with some of the unique sociocultural phenomena of militarism and of military reserve service more specifically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text is a political analysis of the events surrounding the demise of the Austro–Hungarian administration in Transylvania and its replacement by the Romanian one at the end of World War I. It focuses on the months of November and December 1918. In particular, the text looks at the Romanian paramilitary groups called the National Guards. I argue that in Transylvania in November and December 1918, the National Guards played a pacifying and state-building role through their repressive and anti-Communist function. Unlike the paramilitary phenomenon in the rest of Europe, in Transylvania it was the very counter-revolutionary function of the paramilitary troops that produced constructive and constitutive effects. At the same time, unlike Romanian historiography, which almost unanimously has seen the role of these troops as only a positive one, I underline the repressive function of the National Guards, which made them act violently against any alternative political projects of that period in the region. The revolutionary state of the province in those days had to be calmed down for Transylvania's autonomy to be ensured under the control of the local Romanian authorities. The Romanian elite's state-building project needed security to gain legitimacy. To this end, this elite took control of the various paramilitary forces of the region and monopolized them under the National Guards umbrella. These groups were crucial in the repression against the republican movement and the perceived Bolshevik threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Neurosciences is the property of Neurosciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

On 14 July 1943, soldiers of the Oklahoma Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment brutally murdered more than 70 German and Italian prisoners of war in two separate incidents in the vicinity of the Santo Pietro Airfield near the village of Santo Pietro di Caltagirone, Sicily. These killings, erroneously known as the 'Biscari Massacre,' stand as some of the most brutal atrocities committed by American forces in Europe during the Second World War. Despite this, the US Army generally failed to hold the massacres' perpetrators accountable for their crimes due to the US Military's desire to keep details of the atrocities secret. Of the roughly two dozen soldiers who directly participated in the killings, only two-faced indictment under the 92nd Article of War. Of these, only one suffered punishment. That said, the War Department released the convicted war criminal a mere 14 months into his life sentence due to a potential public relations crisis in relation to issues of command responsibility. In the end, the US Army refused to accept responsibility for the atrocities and actively protected those culpable at the highest levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction A small body of research conducted mostly among civilians has shown that adequate training and preparation can prevent or reduce the development of behavioral health problems in first responders. Several civilian studies have shown that social support is protective against behavioral health problems. However, very few studies have examined the impact of these factors on the behavioral health of military first responders. Military first responders, who serve in the aftermath of natural disasters and disease outbreaks such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, are often members of the National Guard (NG). The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of mortuary affairs training/handling human remains, role preparation, equipment preparation, and unit social support provided to families on the behavioral health of New York (NY) NG personnel deployed to assist the NY Office of Chief Medical Examiner with handling the remains of COVID-19 decedents. Materials and Methods We invited 410 NYNG personnel who deployed for the Office of Chief Medical Examiner mission to complete an anonymous online questionnaire 3 to 6 months post-mission. Of the 158 participants, we used the data of the 141 participants who provided consent. Standard behavioral health measures (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol misuse, and insomnia) as well as study-specific items designed to understand the unique dynamics of this deployment were included. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationships between mortuary training, role preparation, equipment preparation, and unit support with behavioral health. Results Close to two-thirds of the sample reported that they had not been trained in mortuary affairs/handling human remains before the mission. We also found that that lower levels of role preparation and unit support provided to the service members' families increased the odds of meeting criteria for one or more behavioral health problems, but that training in mortuary affairs and equipment preparation was unrelated to behavioral health. Conclusions Our research points to the importance of emotionally and cognitively preparing service members for the specific dynamics of a deployment and the roles that that they are expected to play. Furthermore, it suggests that supporting the families of NG personnel during domestic missions can benefit the behavioral health of the NG personnel. Additional research is needed to corroborate these findings, particularly the impact of unit support provided to family members on service members' behavioral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMRC)/King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences/Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2College of Nursing, King Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Science (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Pharmaceutical Care Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Science (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5College of Medicine, Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 6College of Pharmacy, King Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Science (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 7College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia Correspondence: Mostafa A Abolfotouh, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center/ King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh/ Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, POB 22490, Riyadh, 11426, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected] Background: This study aimed to determine the rate of telemedicine (TM) use and the levels of awareness, knowledge, attitude, and skills of TM among primary healthcare (PHC) providers. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 104 PHC providers were subjected to a validated AKAS scale via Survey Monkey. The tool consists of 4 parameters that users can respond to using a 4-point Likert scale to assess their awareness (12 statements), knowledge (11 statements), attitude (11 statements), and skills (13 statements) on TM. Total and percentage mean scores (PMS) were calculated for each parameter. Participants were categorized in each parameter into three categories: low (≤ 49% score), average (50– 70% score), and high (≥ 71% score) levels. The association of AKAS levels with personal characteristics and TM use was investigated. The significance was set at p< 0.05. Results: One-half of participants (51%) reported current use of TM, and two-thirds (63.5%) reported a high level of AKAS, with a PMS of 72.9± 14.7, 95% CI: 70.1– 75.7. There were significant associations between the following: years of experience and levels of knowledge (&KHgr;2LT = 6.77, p= 0.009) and skills (&KHgr;2LT = 4.85, p = 0.028), respectively; and total household income and levels of skills (&KHgr;2LT = 6.91, p= 0.009). The rate of TM use was significantly associated with awareness levels (&KHgr;2LT = 6.14, p = 0.013). Lack of training ranked as the first barrier (45.5%), followed by connection problems and tools' unavailability (35.1% each). The participants recommended providing TM training (41.1%) and stabilization of connection and networking signals (30.1%). Conclusion: Despite their high level of TM awareness, the rate of TM use by PHC providers is less than satisfactory. Establishing standardized TM training and supporting the network signals are recommended. A large-scale study on the impact of TM integration with PHC services is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Saudi Arabia (SA), there has been an alarming increase in the prevalence of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) over the last three decades. Despite being one of the largest countries in the Middle East, renal conditions remain understudied, and there is limited data on their epidemiology and outcomes in SA. Objectives: To document the experience of establishing a local renal registry assessing the epidemiology of CKD and identifying potential areas for improving the quality and delivery of care for CKD patients. Methods: This is a multi-center retrospective registry. Potential participants were identified through the ICD-10 codes from five hospitals serving the National Guard affiliates in SA. Patients aged ≥ 18 years treated in any National Guard hospital since 2010 for glomerulonephritis, CKD, or received hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or renal transplant were enrolled. Once enrolled in the registry, patients were followed to the last visit date. RedCap was used to create and host the online registry platform. Results: A total of 2,912 patients were included, and more than half were younger than 60 years old. Two-thirds of the patients were overweight (25%) or obese (37%). Glomerulonephritis was diagnosed in 10% of the patients, and dialysis-dependent and kidney transplant patients accounted for 31.4% and 24.4%, respectively. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were detected among 52% and 43% of the participants, respectively. Hemodialysis was the most prevalent dialysis method, with patients spending 3.6 ± 0.4 h per session to receive this treatment. One in every five participants had a kidney biopsy taken (21%). Several barriers and facilitators of the success of this registry were identified. Conclusions: The KIND registry provides much-needed information about CKD in Saudi Arabia and serves as a model for future projects investigating the natural history and progression of the spectrum of renal diseases. Logistic and financial challenges to the sustainability of registries are identified and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Air Force International Health Specialist program provides expert medical and public health support to enhance global health engagement efforts. National Guardsmen possess unique civilian health care expertise to support global health engagement. The DoD must increase support for Air National Guard International Health Specialist involvement, including training and development opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In special populations, such as Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets, body composition is used not only as a predictor of fitness but for additional purposes such as qualification for enlistment, load carriage, and duty fulfillment. Body mass index (BMI) is the initial measurement recorded and is considered a representation of health and physical performance capabilities. Personnel exceeding threshold values of body weight based upon their height measurement are typically further evaluated using a circumference-based method that predicts the cadets' percent body fat. Military personnel who fail to meet these body composition standards may be penalized by being denied specific positions or promotions or risk being relieved from all military duties. In order to differentiate and accurately assess the components that constitute body composition, other methods of measuring body composition that provide greater accuracy should be explored. The purpose of this study was to compare multiple body composition methods, including the military's method of circumference-based measurement, in order to identify a suitable method for Air Force ROTC programs. Materials and Methods: Participants were recruited from an Air Force ROTC Detachment at a large university in the Midwest United States. Anthropometric (height and weight) and body composition measurements (air displacement plethysmography [ADP], bioelectrical impedance analysis, skinfolds, and circumferences) were collected for each participant. A repeated-measure analysis of variance was used to compare body composition measurement methods. A Bonferroni adjustment was utilized for multiple comparisons. BMI and circumference results were displayed as a percentage of compliance according to Air Force Instruction guidelines. The university institutional review board approval was established to ensure that the design of this study protected the rights of the participants. Results: Twenty-four (21 males and 3 females) participants completed the study. A significant difference between skinfolds and bioelectrical impedance analysis occurred (P = .025). There were no other significant differences identified between other methods of body composition. Using the BMI and circumference compliant/non-compliant scale listed in the Air Force Instruction guidelines, a greater number of cadets fell into the non-compliant category according to BMI (n = 7) versus circumferences (n = 1). The circumference-based method underestimated body fat compared to the "gold standard" ADP. Conclusions: The findings from this investigation suggest that the circumference-based method can appropriately provide accurate body composition results among Air Force ROTC cadets. Results also determined that the military's circumference-based method underestimated body fat compared to the "gold standard" ADP. Although circumference-based measurements might be efficient for use in larger populations, Air Force ROTC programs should evaluate other methods of measuring body composition to best fit the needs of individual cadets. Further research should be conducted to identify body composition methods that are easy to implement and provide accurate results at the individual level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The National Guard (NG) served as a critical component of the USA's response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, while concurrently managing their personal responses to the pandemic. Determining whether the activation of NG service members in response to the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a greater psychological strain can identify NG's needs for mental health support. Materials and Methods: We surveyed 3993 NG unit (NGU) service members (75% Army NG, 79% enlisted, 52% 30-49 years old, and 81% males) during the COVID-19 pandemic, with surveys administered between August and November 2020. Almost half (46%) of NGU service members reported being activated in response to COVID-19 (mean activation length = 18.6 weeks). Activated service members completed the survey approximately 2 to 3 months post-activation. Surveys assessed demographics, service-related characteristics, unit cohesion and positive leadership skills (leadership), and COVID-19 activation, and outcomes including probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), clinically significant anxiety and depression, and anger. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. Results: In all, 9.7% met the criteria for probable PTSD, 7.6% reported clinically significant anxiety and depression, and 13.2% reported feeling angry/anger outbursts. Multivariate logistic regression analyses, adjusting for demographic and service-related characteristics, indicated that COVID-19 activation was not associated with a greater risk of PTSD, anxiety and depression, or anger. Regardless of activation status, NGU service members with low levels of unit cohesion and leadership were more likely to report PTSD and anger, and low levels of unit cohesion were associated with clinically significant anxiety and depression. Conclusions: COVID-19 activation did not increase the risk of mental health difficulties among NGU service members. However, low levels of unit cohesion were associated with the risk of PTSD, anxiety and depression, and anger, and low levels of leadership were associated with the risk of PTSD and anger. The results suggest a resilient psychological response to COVID-19 activation and the potential for strengthening all NG service members through enhancing unit cohesion and leadership support. Future research on specific activation exposures, including the type of work tasks in which service members are engaged, particularly those associated with high-stress work conditions, is needed to help better understand their activation experience and how it may influence post-activation responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that the Battle of the Frigidus was, from a military perspective, a far more important engagement than is usually assumed. The battle depleted the available military reserves of the empire to such an extent that, in the following years, the nascent Western empire found itself unable to conduct any large-scale military operations, or indeed to fend off attackers in its very core – Italy. On the other hand, the religious importance of the battle, traditionally highlighted in scholarly publications, should be downplayed. It can be argued that had the outcome of the battle been any different, no major religious changes to the empire would have occurred. While the political short-term outcome of the battle is obvious (Theodosius’ reassertion of claim to power and the establishment of his dynasty), the long-term political changes resulting from this battle primarily involved the beginning of the decline of the Western empire and its ultimate demise. The article analyses the known data on Roman military strength, its organization, and especially the available operational reserves in the 4th century and compares them with the state of the Roman army at the beginning of the 5th century. Although our sources deny us any data on the strength or losses of either army at the Frigidus, a thorough analysis of all available information and a comparison with other internal wars in the late Roman empire seems to lead to an inescapable conclusion: the battle was a massacre that deprived the empire in its western part of its last hope of holding its entire territory in the following period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I contest two theories of inherent presidential power, rooted in Article II, to use the military to respond to domestic unrest during peacetime. This question is more contested than one might imagine. Based on all available evidence, in June 2020 President Trump relied on a doctrine of inherent Article II authority to deploy thousands of National Guard personnel to the streets of Washington, D.C. in response to Black Lives Matter protests. On January 6, 2021, the Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard more explicitly contemplated using a second, different doctrine of inherent authority to deploy his soldiers to retake the Capitol Building. This article mines archival War Department legal opinions and previously unavailable Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel memoranda obtained under the Freedom of Information Act to reconstruct and critique the legal arguments underpinning these two doctrines of inherent authority. This critique brings together two bodies of scholarship: (1) whether and how executive powers may be imputed from federal sovereignty and (2) methodologies for using historical practice to define ambiguous constitutional text. I reconstruct how the executive has justified these two doctrines by relying on historical assertions of power implied from federal sovereignty and based in necessity. My reconstruction shows how the executive disregards and mischaracterizes congressional responses to these assertions. It also demonstrates how the executive incompletely addresses Supreme Court precedent concerning inherent executive authority. I then draw on these observations to argue that an essential and underemphasized precondition for using historical practice as a means of constitutional interpretation is establishing the notoriety of executive branch practice and associated legal rationales. Finally, I consider what might be done to rein in this type of overreach, which rarely (if ever) is subject to judicial scrutiny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childbirth is the most significant interaction between pregnant women and the health system. Women's satisfaction during the birthing process is an essential indicator of care quality because satisfaction reflects the gaps between expected and actual care and services. In‐depth studies of women's birthing experiences and maternity services provided in public and private sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are needed to improve the health system. Such studies are particularly critical because ongoing privatization policies continue to change Saudi Arabia's approach to childbirth. This qualitative study drew on 78 semistructured interviews to better understand the key themes that arose regarding women's satisfaction with their birthing experiences. The study compared women's birthing experiences in public and private sections of two selected National Guard hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The findings yielded three major themes as follows: Hospitals, Doctors, and Nurses. Overall, women in the public sections of hospitals were less satisfied with their quality care due to a lack of privacy, and the respondents reported receiving mediocre attention from nurses when compared with that received by women in private sections. The study's findings stand to inform policymakers about the current situation of the Saudi Arabian health‐care system and the services rendered. Thus, leaders implementing strategic plans should pay careful attention to the three revealed themes to create better care quality and increase women's satisfaction during privatization. Key points: Women's satisfaction with birthing experiences is an essential indicator of quality care because satisfaction reflects the gaps between expected and actual care services. This study compares women's birthing experiences in public and private sections of two main Saudi National Guard hospitals. This comparison is important because of the ongoing privatization policy in the country. The findings yielded three major themes as follows: Hospitals, Doctors, and Nurses. Overall, women in the public sections of hospitals were less satisfied with their quality care due to a lack of privacy and receiving mediocre attention from nurses when compared with that received by women in private sections. The study's findings stand to inform policymakers about the current situation of the Saudi Arabian health‐care system and the services rendered in the reform era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Zaluzhnyi Caught in Vortex of Political Battles" discusses the challenges faced by Ukraine in the ongoing war with Russia. It highlights the lack of support from the West and internal tensions within Ukraine, particularly between President Zelenskyy and Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhnyi. Zaluzhnyi's article in The Economist proposing a new strategy for the war has sparked political competition and disagreements within Ukraine. The article emphasizes the need for political solutions and unity, questioning President Zelenskyi's management and decision-making. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of a realistic understanding of the situation to preserve the country. [Extracted from the article]

Since 2006, white-nose syndrome has caused drastic declines in populations of several hibernating bat species throughout eastern North America. Thus, there is a growing need to establish long-term monitoring programs to assess changes in bat populations over time. Information on the seasonal timing of species occurrence and the sampling effort required to acoustically detect individual bat species and obtain complete inventories will enable researchers to design and implement more effective monitoring programs. From April to October 2018 to 2021, we passively sampled for bats using full-spectrum detectors at eight permanent sites at Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Center, Pennsylvania. We examined seasonal activity patterns and estimated bat species richness among sites and seasons using species accumulation curves. We also estimated probability of detection (p) and site occupancy (Ψ) using single-season occupancy models in PRESENCE software and then determined the minimum number of sampling nights needed to reliably infer the absence of each species. We identified 286,131 bat passes of eight species in 4,107 detector-nights. Seasonal patterns of activity varied among species. We needed approximately 20 sampling nights to detect 90% of the total bat species richness among sites, and we needed 4 to 10 nights to detect 90% of species richness among seasons. We needed relatively few nights (≤12 nights) to detect most species during summer; however, we needed many more nights to detect acoustically rare species. Our results indicate that the acoustic sampling effort currently required to determine the presence or probable absence of Indiana myotis Myotis sodalis, northern long-eared myotis M. septentrionalis, and tricolored bats Perimyotis subflavus during summer may not be adequate for these species in some areas and that a considerable level of effort (>40 nights) is needed to detect little brown myotis M. lucifugus. Monitoring programs that incorporate efficient sampling methodologies will be critical for future conservation efforts as populations of several bat species continue to decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The course of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms varies among veterans of war zones, but sources of variation in long‐term symptom course remain poorly understood. Modeling of symptom growth trajectories facilitates the understanding of predictors of individual outcomes over time. Although growth mixture modeling (GMM) has been applied to military populations, few studies have incorporated both predeployment and follow‐up measurements over an extended time. In this prospective study, 1,087 U.S. Army soldiers with varying military occupational specialties and geographic locations were assessed before and after deployment to the Iraq war zone, with long‐term follow‐up assessment occurring at least 5 years after return from deployment. The primary outcome variable was the PTSD Checklist–Civilian Version summary score. GMM yielded four latent profiles, characterized as primarily asymptomatic (n = 194, 17.8%); postdeployment worsening symptoms (n = 84, 7.7%); mild symptoms (n = 320, 29.4%); and preexisting, with a chronic postdeployment elevation of symptoms (n = 489, 45.0%). Regression models comparing the primarily asymptomatic class to the symptomatic classes revealed that chronic symptom classes were associated with higher degrees of stress exposure, less predeployment social support, military reservist or veteran status at the most recent assessment, and poorer predeployment visual memory, ORs = 0.98–2.90. PTSD symptom course varies considerably over time after military deployment and is associated with potentially modifiable biopsychosocial factors that occur early in its course in addition to exposures and military status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary examines the influence of the Afghanistan war on the content of Armed Forces & Society. My 20-year tenure as editor of Armed Forces & Society overlaps completely with the war. Using the lenses of the postmodern or post-Cold War military, I reflect on how the articles of this journal were influenced by the war. The postmodern military relies more heavily on volunteers, is more likely to engage in unconventional missions, and more likely to use multinational forces. I found an increase in articles devoted to reserve forces and contractors. In addition, many articles investigated the unique management challenges of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The multiple deployments and brutal nature of the war led to a large increase in health/mental health articles and also contributed to changes in the scope of the military family and veterans' literature. The limited civil–military relations literature was affected indirectly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a compilation of sources that discuss the issue of sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). It includes academic papers, news articles, and government reports that provide information on the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment within the military. The sources cover various topics, including the experiences of women in the military, the response of the military's legal system to sexual assault, and efforts to address and prevent sexual misconduct. This document offers diverse perspectives on the issue and can be a useful resource for library patrons conducting research on this topic. [Extracted from the article]

Lajos Tüköry (1830-1860) completed his regrettably short but successful military career as a hero of three nations. When the Hungarian War of Independence broke out in the summer of 1848, he first became a volunteer National Guard, then served in the 55th Honvéd Battalion on the Transylvanian battlefields, first against the Austrian Imperial and then the Russian Tsarist troops. In the summer of 1849, he emigrated to Turkey and entered the Ottoman army as a first lieutenant. After military service in Syria, he faced the Russian tsarist army again on the Caucasus front of the Crimean War (1853-56), and although he was wounded in the arm, he fought with such valor that he was appointed major and awarded by the Medjidije medal. When the war broke out in Northern Italy between the FrenchPiedmontese and Austrian forces in 1859, Tüköry returned to Europe and joined the Hungarian Legion established in Genova, but his unit was demobilized due to the Armistice of Villafranca. He then joined Garibaldi's thousand red shirts, took part in the legendary Sicilian battles as a lieu-tenant colonel and finally received a fatal wound on 27 May 1860, at the entrance of Palermo. He was appointed postumus colonel by the dictator of Sicily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]