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Refining Selection for Elite Troops by Predicting Military Training Outcome
- Source :
- Aerospace medicine and human performance. 88(9)
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Introduction Paratrooper training courses are very demanding, leading to a high number of drop-outs, despite existing selection criteria. This study investigated physiological, neuropsychological, and subjective data of completers and drop-outs during paratrooper training to identify potential predictive indices. Methods Tested were 24 paratrooper soldiers before (t0), after 8 wk (t1), and at the end of a 12-wk training camp (t2). There were 11 soldiers who completed the course and 13 dropped out. The Training OPtimalisation test (TOPtest) uses two maximum exercise events to assess changes in measured parameters. The TOPtest was administered at t0, t1, and t2; physiological [i.e., adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, heart rate (HR)], neuropsychological (Stroop, Flanker, Go NoGo, Task Switch), and subjective data [Profile of Mood States (POMS)] were collected. Physiological and subjective raw data was gathered pre- and post-test from each of the two maximum exercise tests. The pre/post-test change of each parameter's raw values was calculated as the parameter's reactivity (or delta score). Results At t0, drop-outs showed a significantly smaller HR reactivity (117.9 ± 14.0 vs.107.7 ± 10.6). Delta scores of tension and fatigue values differed significantly between completers and drop-outs at t0. Completers' physiological reactivity during the TOPtest at t2 (HR: 105.91 ± 13.68 vs. 95.55 ± 10.28) was significantly reduced and became comparable to the drop-outs' reactivity at t0. Delta scores of fatigue and tension values showed a similar pattern. Discussion Reactivity of HR, tension, and fatigue parameter values were found to have predictive value in identifying completers vs. drop-outs of an elite paratrooper training course.Vrijkotte S, Meeusen R, Roelands B, Kubesch S, Mairesse O, de Schutter G, Pattyn N. Refining selection for elite troops by predicting military training outcome. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(9):850-857.
- Subjects :
- Male
medicine.medical_specialty
0211 other engineering and technologies
Medicine (miscellaneous)
02 engineering and technology
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone
Profile of mood states
03 medical and health sciences
Young Adult
0302 clinical medicine
Predictive Value of Tests
Heart rate
Task Performance and Analysis
Medicine
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Reactivity (psychology)
Personnel Selection
military
021110 strategic, defence & security studies
Predictive measures
Physical Education and Training
business.industry
Neuropsychology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
General Medicine
reactivity
Military Personnel
Predictive value of tests
Training outcome
Physical therapy
Physical Endurance
business
Stroop effect
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 23756314
- Volume :
- 88
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Aerospace medicine and human performance
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....9fea09d0e02375947634e20f70b988c1