Psychological and Sociological Profile of Women Who Have Completed Elite Military Combat Training

Tharion, William J.; Friedl, Karl E.; Lavoie, Elizabeth M.; Walker, Leila A.; McGraw, Susan M.; McClung, Holly L.

doi:10.1177/0095327x221076555

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…It has been previously suggested that these first female elite warfighters (FEW) will be protected against the commonly observed musculoskeletal injuries, such as bone stress reactions (8) by greater lean and bone mass compared with other female Soldiers and some athletes. Without question, this group has a distinctly defined mental outlook, including a very high degree of self-motivation and grit, as already reported (9). However, the physiological features of the FEW have not been well defined in a systematic way.…”

supporting

confidence: 68%

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Physical and Physiological Characterization of Female Elite Warfighters

McClung¹,

Spiering

Bartlett³

et al. 2022

Medicine &Amp; Science in Sports &Amp; Exercise

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IntroductionThis study characterized a sample of the first women to complete elite United States (US) military training.MethodsTwelve female graduates of the US Army Ranger Course and one of the first Marine Corps Infantry Officers Course graduates participated in 3 d of laboratory testing including serum endocrine profiles, aerobic capacity, standing broad jump, common soldiering tasks, Army Combat Fitness Test, and body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, three-dimensional body surface scans, and anthropometry).ResultsThe women were 6 months to 4 yr postcourse graduation, 30 ± 6 yr (mean ± SD); height, 1.67 ± 0.07 m; body mass, 69.4 ± 8.2 kg; body mass index, 25.0 ± 2.3 kg·m−2. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry relative fat was 20.0% ± 2.0%; fat-free mass, 53.0 ± 5.9 kg; fat-free mass index, 20.0 ± 1.7 kg·m−2; bone mineral content, 2.75 ± 0.28 kg; bone mineral density, 1.24 ± 0.07 g·cm−2; aerobic capacity, 48.2 ± 4.8 mL·kg−1·min−1; total Army Combat Fitness Test score 505 ± 27; standing broad jump 2.0 ± 0.2 m; 123 kg casualty drag 0.70 ± 0.20 m·s−1, and 4 mile 47 kg ruck march 64 ± 6 min. All women were within normal healthy female range for circulating androgens. Physique from three-dimensional scan demonstrated greater circumferences at eight of the 11 sites compared with the standard military female.ConclusionsThese pioneering women possessed high strength and aerobic capacity, low %BF; high fat-free mass, fat-free mass index, and bone mass and density; and they were not virilized based on endocrine measures as compared with other reference groups. This group is larger in body size and leaner than the average Army woman. These elite physical performers seem most comparable to female competitive strength athletes.

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supporting

confidence: 68%

“…Background information on demographics including family up-bringing, education and military service were collected using guided interviews and a study-specific questionnaire. Much of this psychosocial data have been reported elsewhere (9).…”

Section: Demographic Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Physical and Physiological Characterization of Female Elite Warfighters

McClung¹,

Spiering

Bartlett³

et al. 2022

Medicine &Amp; Science in Sports &Amp; Exercise

Self Cite

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“…The earlier cohorts of Marine women did not serve in combat roles, nor did they train for such roles, and they were even fewer in number. Additional assessments of the psychological and psychosocial profiles of this changing group could also provide unique insights into ideal selection, stressors and readiness of military women 23 24…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical performance and body composition reference values for modern US Marine Corps women

Potter,

Looney,

Tharion

et al. 2023

BMJNPH

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Women’s roles in the US military have progressively changed over the past several decades. Previously women were barred from combat roles. Recent change in policy allow women into combat roles in the Marine Corps, and this has led to women being trained for combat specialties.ObjectivesThis observational cross-sectional study describes body composition and performance values for modern Marine Corps women.MethodsVolunteers were 736 Marine women who were assessed for body composition and physical performance; (age 29.5±7.3 (18–56) years; height 163.6±6.8 (131.0–186.1) cm; body mass 68.3±9.2 (42.0–105.3) kg; years in the military 8.9±6.8 (0.5–37) years-in-service). Body composition measures were obtained using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and single-frequency bioelectrical impedance analyses. Performance measures were obtained from official physical and combat fitness test scores (PFT; CFT) as well as from data on measured countermovement jumps (CMJ) on a calibrated force platform.ResultsMean body composition metrics for Marine women were: 47.5±5.7 fat free mass (FFM) (kg), 30.1%±6.4% body fat (%BF), 2.6±0.3 bone mineral content (kg), and 25.5±2.8 body mass index (kg/m2); performance metrics included 43.4±3.2 maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max; mL.kg.min), 22.4±7.1 CMJ height (cm) and 2575±565.2 CMJ peak power (W). Data showed strong correlations (r) (≥0.70) between PFT and VO2max scores (0.75), and moderate correlations (≥0.50) between CFT and VO2max scores (0.57), CFT and PFT scores (0.60), FFM and CMJ peak power (W) (0.68), and %BF to VO2max (−0.52), PFT (−0.54), CMJ-Ht (−0.52) and CMJ relative power (W/kg) (−0.54).ConclusionModern Marine women are both lean and physically high performing. Body composition is a poor predictor of general physical performance.

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“…To study the PSWB profile of the participants, instruments proposed by Tharion et al [ 16 ] were used, i.e., (i) Grit-S (Short Grit Scale) and (ii) DRS-II M (Dispositional Resilience Scale II Military Version).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Fitness and Psychosocial Profiles of Policewomen from Professional Training Courses and Bodyguard Special Police Sub-Unit

Carrilho,

Santos,

Rasteiro

et al. 2023

EJIHPE

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Police work demands a high level of physical fitness (PF) and psychosocial well-being (PSWB) to cope with the challenges and demands of the profession. The profession has historically been male-dominated, and female police officers (POs) face unique challenges and stereotypes. This study aims (i) to identify the PF and PSWB attributes that significantly distinguish the women from three different professional training courses (agents, chiefs, and officers) and (ii) to assess the significance of PF and PSWB attributes on the likelihood that women in professional training courses belonging to a special bodyguard police sub-unit. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted, involving 102 female POs (professional PO training courses, n = 94; special bodyguard police sub-unit, n = 8). PF (morphology; fitness, including endurance, strength, and flexibility tests) and PSWB (measured through scales for grit and dispositional resilience) attributes were assessed. Significant differences were observed in age, morphological (height and waist-to-hip ratio), fitness (horizontal jump and endurance tests), and PSWB (perseverance in effort and alienation) attributes among the three professional training courses. Stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, relative fat mass, relative muscle mass, horizontal jump, and endurance on exertion significantly distinguished between the three groups. Complementarily, it was observed that the waist-to-hip ratio and sit-up attributes influence the probability of women from the professional training courses joining the special bodyguard police sub-unit. The study highlights that (i) female POs in different professional training courses showed distinct PF and PSWB profiles, and (ii) only two PF attributes (waist-to-hip ratio and sit-up) were predictors for the special bodyguard police sub-unit. In accordance, these findings provide valuable insights for designing training programs to support female POs in improving their PF, psychological well-being, and overall performance in the police profession.

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Psychological and Sociological Profile of Women Who Have Completed Elite Military Combat Training

Cited by 7 publications

References 25 publications

Physical and Physiological Characterization of Female Elite Warfighters

Physical and Physiological Characterization of Female Elite Warfighters

Physical performance and body composition reference values for modern US Marine Corps women

Physical Fitness and Psychosocial Profiles of Policewomen from Professional Training Courses and Bodyguard Special Police Sub-Unit

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