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Sex, gender or occupational psychology: what matters most to preventing heat-related illnesses and improving outcomes for women in ground close combat?
This article considers the application of evidence of sex-associated thermoregulatory variation to the occupational and environmental setting of WGCC, and weighs the relative importance of physiological differences arising from biological sex, and behaviour associated with gender normatives. Quantifying the risk of heat illness to WGCC should draw on data from their real-world occupational context. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Gifford, R. M., Taylor, N., Stacey, M., Woods, D. R. Tags: Personal view Source Type: research

Using CT scans to determine the optimal sizes of hard armour plates to protect the torso for UK female Armed Forces personnel
Conclusions Based on a plate height providing threshold coverage of all women up to the 50th percentile, the height of the front and rear OSPREY plates could be reduced by 36mm and 31mm respectively. Based on a presumption that a side plate should cover up to the 95th percentile, the Mark 2 plate achieves the objective height and width for the female population studied. Strong evidence was found to support the UK Ministry of Defence requirement for procurement of new front and rear plates of multiple heights for both female and male users. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Breeze, J., Fryer, R., Bowley, D., Gibb, I., Lewis, E. Tags: Editor''s choice Original research Source Type: research

Effect of sex and combat employment on musculoskeletal injuries and medical downgrading in trained military personnel: an observational cohort study
Conclusions Although women are at greater risk of injury than men, we have no evidence that combat employment is more injurious than non-combat employment. The prevention of hip injuries should form a specific focus of mitigation efforts for women. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Wardle, S. L., O'Leary, T. J., Jackson, S., Greeves, J. P. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Understanding the musculoskeletal injury risk of women in combat: the effect of infantry training and sex on musculoskeletal injury incidence during British Army basic training
Conclusion Women in infantry training may be at similar risk for musculoskeletal injury, but at higher risk for stress fracture, compared with their non-infantry counterparts. Women in infantry training may be at higher risk for musculoskeletal injury and stress fracture compared with men in infantry training. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: O'Leary, T. J., Wardle, S. L., Rawcliffe, A. J., Chapman, S., Mole, J., Greeves, J. P. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Influence of smoking status on acute biomarker responses to successive days of arduous military training
Conclusions Military-specific tasks elicited inflammatory and endocrine responses, with systemic CRP and IGF-1 indicating that the physiological stress generated during the first training day was still evident on the second day. Despite the well-established impacts of smoking on resting levels of the markers examined, responses to two days of arduous military-specific training did not differ by smoking status. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Siddall, A. G., Stokes, K. A., Thompson, D., Izard, R., Greeves, J., Bilzon, J. L. J. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Female UK Army Service personnel are at greater risk of work-related morbidity on return to duty postpartum
Conclusions Postpartum female UK Army Service personnel are at greater risk of illness and a combination of illness and injury in the year after giving birth, compared with prepregnancy. The study suggests female Service personnel are unprepared for the demands of full active duty in the first year postpartum. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Cordell, R. F., Wickes, C. K., Casey, A., Greeves, J. P. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Cognitive performance of military men and women during prolonged load carriage
Conclusion These data provide further evidence that cognitive performance of military personnel can be affected during long duration loaded marching. Women reported discomfort from equipment more frequently than men, which may make them more susceptible to declines in cognitive performance. These findings highlight important considerations for equipment procurement. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Armstrong, N. C., Smith, S. J. R., Risius, D., Doyle, D., Wardle, S. L., Greeves, J. P., House, J. R., Tipton, M., Lomax, M. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Women in combat roles: themes characterising adjustment in the Israel Defense Force--a pilot study
Discussion and conclusions The study points to the significance of gender aspects in the mental adaptation process of women in combat positions. Issues pertaining perceptions of inequality should not be deemed to be purely sociological, but rather as a gateway facilitating adjustment. This should be taken into account in future research and in the formulation of support strategies. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Berezin Cohen, N., Netzer, I. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Compliance compromises an interventional study on iron supplementation in female combatants
Conclusions Ferritin levels decline during training. Compliance with iron supplementation is low. Iron supplementation has a significant effect on ferritin levels, even in the non-compliance group. Injuries were not related to iron status in this group. Further research is needed in order to clarify the most appropriate iron supplementation method. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Gofrit, S. G., Ohayon-Cohen, S., Tsur, A. M., Rabkin, V., Michael Shapira, M., Finestone, A. S. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Hormonal contraceptive prescriptions in the UK Armed Forces
Conclusion Prescription data suggest that the prevalence of hormonal contraceptive use in UK servicewomen is comparable with the general UK population. These findings suggest that military service does not influence prevalence or choice of hormonal contraceptives. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Double, R. L., Wardle, S. L., O'Leary, T. J., Weaden, N., Bailey, G., Greeves, J. P. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

A fit and function analysis of the UK OSPREY body armour system for female users
Conclusions Female users reported challenges relating to the fit and function of OSPREY body armour. The VIRTUS body armour system for UK Armed Forces Personnel has already addressed many of the reported issues with OSPREY. Further optimisation for VIRTUS with regard to female users is planned and includes sizing of ballistic hard plates. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Davis, J. I., Lewis, E., Ellett, J. R. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Hormonal contraceptive use, bone density and biochemical markers of bone metabolism in British Army recruits
Conclusions DMPA use was associated with increased bone turnover and decreased cortical bone integrity of the tibia. Lower cortical bone integrity in DMPA users was possibly mediated by increased intracortical remodelling, but trabecular bone was not affected by contraceptive use. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Coombs, C. V., O'Leary, T. J., Tang, J. C. Y., Fraser, W. D., Greeves, J. P. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Inclusion of women into ground close combat roles: an organisational change perspective
Conclusions These findings helped to inform the Army approach to the integration of women into combat roles. The opportunity to discuss the change in policy was seen as positive by attendees, providing a 'safe space' to air any concerns and was important for the organisation to understand and mitigate any potential barriers. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Harvey, J. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Integrating women into ground close combat roles: an opportunity to reflect on universal paradigms of arduous training
(Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Friedl, K. E., Gifford, R. M. Tags: Open access Editorial Source Type: research

Closing the gender gap in military health and performance: a special issue of BMJ Military Health
(Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Wardle, S., P Greeves, J., Breeze, J. Tags: Highlights from this issue Source Type: research