Environmental Stress in Military Settings

Abstract

During military training and operations, exposure to extremes of noise, temperature, humidity, pressure, or acceleration can induce levels of physiological strain that degrade cognitive and physical capabilities, threaten health and safety, and affect behavior and performance. The overarching purpose of this chapter is to discuss the impact of environmental stress on military personnel. Because each of the aforementioned stressors induces disparate effects, each section addresses a unique stressor in terms of (i) the nature of the threat, (ii) physiological and biomedical effects, (iii) the impact on performance, and (iv) management strategies. The evolution of next-generation wearable biosensors, smart performance algorithms, and scientifically based operational training methods including stress inoculation exposure that will contribute to improved training, adaptation, and tolerance to these operational stresses is discussed.

Twenty four-hour passive heat and cold exposures did not modify energy intake and appetite but strongly modify food reward

“…With climate change (6) , athletes are at risk to more and more frequently face these adverse conditions (7) . Warfighters struggle with the same problems as athletes: numerous military operations in climatically-severe regions were conducted over the last two decades (8,9) raising concerns on their possibility to protect them from extreme thermal exposures (10,11) potentially jeopardising operational success.…”

Sex-Based Differences in Mental Health Service Use Between Canadian Veterans and Non-Veterans Residing in Ontario

“…Individuals in defence and public safety occupations, including the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), may be exposed to unique physical, psychological and environmental stressors (Kelly and Vogt 2009;Sullivan-Kwantes et al 2022). Individuals in these occupations may have an increased risk of exposure to potentially psychologically distressing events and, subsequently, a higher prevalence of mental health (MH) conditions compared to members of the general population (Rhead et al 2022;Schult et al 2019;Thompson et al 2016).…”