Suchergebnisse

Review.

The evidence from sociological and epidemiological studies indicates that people who migrate or move their residence tend to have higher rates of suicide than nonmovers. The periodic reassignment and relocation of soldiers places them, in theory, at higher risk for suicide. There are no prior reports of the relationship between Army moves and suicides. The findings of the current report are that the correlation of moves and suicide is not present for the majority of the soldiers but is present for the youngest third of the Army population. Some aspects of the individual and social dynamics that may influence the relation between relocation and suicide are provided, and some issues about the applicability of status-integration theory to relocation-related suicides are raised.

Since previous sociological & epidemiological research indicates that people who migrate or move their residence tend to have higher rates of suicide than nonmovers, the periodic reassignment & relocation of soldiers places them, in theory, at such a higher risk. Here, statistical data from the US Dept of Defense for Army personnel, Oct 1979-Sept 1983, does not reveal a correlation of moves & suicide for the majority of soldiers, but does reveal one for the youngest third of the Army population. Individual & social dynamics that may influence the relation between relocation & suicide are discussed, & some issues about the applicability of status-integration theory to relocation-related suicides are raised. Adapted from the source document.

The deployment of the U.S. Battalion to the Sinai as part of the first wave multinational force and observers was a physical and psychosocial stress on the involved soldiers from the 82d Airborne Division. This paper examines the medical care utilization associated with the six-month move to the Sinai and the base-camp and outpost duty rotations. The frequency and the reasons given for requesting medical service, as well as their timing in relation to the military mission, provide a detailed example of the use of health care as a stress coping mechanism. The potential for monitoring health care utilization as an indicator of the stressful aspects of policy decisions is also discussed.

A detailed epidemiological model of the health of US soldiers stationed in the Sinai in 1982 is presented. Data were obtained through analysis of 200 soldiers' hospitalization & sick call visits. Results revealed that: (1) overall rate of hospitalization was 11.7/100; (2) overall sick call rate was 663/100; (3) relatively few psychiatric problems were evidenced; & (4) a higher rate of sick call occurred in the 5-day period preceding rotation to an outpost. In general, the health of the soldiers studied was better than the UN's peacekeeping force deployed in the area during 1975/76, although worse than US soldiers stationed in Europe or the US during the observation period. Further study is necessary if the problem of maintaining the health of soldiers in the field & during transition periods is to be understood. 2 Tables, 1 Figure. R. McCarthy

American paratroopers seem to be doing an effective job as peacekeepers in the Sinai. A survey of paratroopers' attitudes in the 82d Airborne Division before and after their deployment as the first peacekeeping unit showed no lessening in their combat orientation. Their estimate of the likelihood of high-intensity combat during the next decade decreased slightly. Our analysis suggests a potential incompatibility between the action-oriented "parachutists' creed" and the constabulary ethic. The troops felt that the peacekeeping mission required special skills, that it could be performed with minimum force, and that it was inappropriate for their unit.

A 3-wave questionnaire survey of Eighty-Second Airborne Division paratroopers' attitudes before & after their deployment as the first peacekeeping unit in the Sinai (N = 240 soldiers before deployment, 251 during the mission, & 250 after the mission was completed) showed no lessening in their combat orientation. Rs' estimates of the likelihood of high-intensity combat during the next decade decreased slightly. Analysis suggests a potential incompatibility between the action-oriented "parachutists' creed" & the constabulary ethic. The troops felt that the peacekeeping mission required special skills, that it could be performed with minimum force, & that it was inappropriate for their unit. 1 Table, 2 Figures. Modified HA.

Cohesion, combat readiness and acceptance of women were examined among male and female junior enlisted soldiers and male noncommissioned officers (NCOs) in 19 combat service support companies. The proportion of junior enlisted females in each company was negatively correlated with mean cohesion and readiness scores for junior enlisted males. The proportion of NCO females was significantly correlated with the proportion of soldiers who said they did not expect to deploy with their units, which in turn was negatively correlated with cohesion for male NCOs. For junior enlisted males, results indicated that cohesion and combat readiness increased with increased acceptance of women, but decreased as the proportion of females in the unit increased. Furthermore, acceptance of women decreased as the proportion of females in the unit increased. The results are interpreted in the light of two competing hypotheses regarding minority proportional representation-the tokenism hypothesis and the minority-proportion discrimination hypothesis.