The Influence of Psychosocial Health on Military Performance: Fit for Service?
Abstract When considering military fitness, the focus must be on psychological and physiological ability and thus suitability for service, determinants which are themselves influenced by health. Health, especially in the military context, is the product of several factors (including psychosocial ones), as will be highlighted in the current study. The influence of psychosocial health and… Read more »
Hookworm in the Military
Abstract Soil-transmitted helminths such as hookworm are rarely a problem for military units unless they directly contact faecally contaminated soil during tropical operations. Localised epidemics incapacitating small infantry units have been recorded in the Solomon Islands and Bougainville during World War II and in Vietnam, Grenada and Sierra Leone more recently. Scattered hookworm infection cases… Read more »
Editorial – The 1991 Gulf War
Thirty-five years ago, 1872 Australians, including Australian Defence Force (ADF) health personnel, served in the Persian Gulf between August 1990 and the ceasefire in February 1991. While primarily a Royal Australian Navy task group, involving HMAS Adelaide, HMAS Darwin, HMAS Sydney, HMAS Brisbane, HMAS Success and HMAS Westralia in maritime interdiction, sanctions enforcement and replenishment… Read more »
More on the Staff of Asclepius
In a 2010 issue of ADF Health I wrote an article More on the Staff and Serpent of Asclepius (1) describing Asclepian medicine and the Asclepian Temples with a short description of the wooden staff and entwining serpent of Asclepius. At the time I had not found any information on the origin, symbolism or nature… Read more »
Supporting Australian Veterans Presenting with Cognitive Concerns
Introduction Veterans frequently present to general practitioners and non-GP medical specialists with concerns regarding mood, thinking, memory, cognition concerns and in some cases even self-diagnosed dementia Often, the underlying cause is unclear The differential diagnosis might include an undiagnosed mental health condition, a sleep disorder, impacts from alcohol or drug use, dementia, a degenerative neurological… Read more »
Editorial – The Nature and Character of War
Editorial As we enter 2026, consideration needs to be given to various conflicts and touchpoints around the globe, from Ukraine to South Sudan, Middle East to the South China Sea While the Australian Defence Force has not been drawn directly into these conflicts, there remains the potential for escalation, for which we all need to… Read more »
Health Effects of Sport and Volunteering in a Military Context
Abstract When considering military fitness, the focus must be on psychological and physiological ability, which are themselves influenced by health. Health itself is a product of several factors, as will be highlighted in the current study. To assess health and its implications in a military context, a questionnaire was administered to 555 participants during and… Read more »
Building Strength at Home: Addressing Domestic and Family Violence to Prevent Suicide in Australian Defence Communities
Introduction The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has drawn national attention to the urgent need to address suicide among serving and ex serving members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).1,2 The Commission report includes a series of important recommendations to reduce the prevalence of suicide, many of which are underway Nevertheless, one significant recommendation… Read more »
Relations Between Physical and Emotional Health and Psychological Stress in Trauma-Exposed Veterans with Emotional Disorders
Abstract Background: Exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) is common, especially in veterans. There are psychological sequelae to PTE exposure, including stress and anxiety pathology, depressive symptoms, and PTSD. Identifying veterans at risk for elevated psychological distress following PTEs, as well as distress correlates, is critical to improving mental health screening efforts and minimising downstream… Read more »
Comparing Sense of Control between Veterans and Civilians using the Health and Retirement Study
ABSTRACT Background: Sense of control has been associated with age-related outcomes. Veterans may experience a reduced sense of control due to the sacrifices associated with military service—potentially contributing to increased health problems in this population. Purpose: This study seeks to understand how military service affects the sense of control in older veterans in the United… Read more »
Profiles of Transition: A Cross-sectional Survey of Factors Associated with Civilian Adjustment in Australian Veterans
Abstract Background: This study builds on prior research suggesting that demographics and attributes can better predict positive or negative experiences in the military-to-civilian transition. Purpose: We measured differences in self-reported experience of military-to-civilian transitions on a range of in-service and post-service variables suggested in the literature. Materials and methods: Drawing on a survey of Australian… Read more »
Military Healthcare Ethics —What is New?
Abstract This paper reviews the field of military healthcare ethics since the 2022 review paper published in this journal. NATO STANAG, AMedP-8.19 Military Healthcare Ethics, was published in June 2025. ‘Dual loyalty’ remains at the heart of ethical tensions for military health professionals (MHPs). Current wars in Ukraine and the Middle East challenge the value… Read more »
Periodontitis Cases Superimposed with Mental Health Problems among Military Personnel
Introduction Periodontal diseases affect up to 90% of the global population and have become the most common oral health condition worldwide.1 Periodontitis, one of the well-known periodontal diseases, was estimated at around 62% and severe periodontitis at 23.6% among dentate adults between 2011 and 2020.2 Research on the correlation between periodontal disease and mental health… Read more »
Canadian Armed Forces Suicide Risk and Protection over 16 years
Abstract Introduction: Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) soldiers and veterans face a higher suicide risk than the general population. However, differences between correlates of types of suicide expression, namely suicidal ideation (SI), suicide plans (SP) and suicide attempts (SA), have not been established. This study aimed to identify risk and protective factors for new-onset suicide behaviours… Read more »
Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Unit and European Air Transport Command—A Two-Year European Collaboration in the Field of Strategic Aeromedical Evacuation
Abstract Introduction: The Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) Unit (MMU) consists of nine A330 MRTT aircraft based in Eindhoven and Cologne. One is utilised as an aeromedical evacuation (AE) asset on a 24-hour notice-to-move standby. Six European partners participate in the unit. The European Air Transport Command (EATC) is an integrated command of seven… Read more »
Catalogue of Research Investigating the Health of Australian Defence Force Personnel, 2002–2023
Abstract Background The Australian Department of Defence commissioned a scoping review and catalogue of research investigating the health of Australian Defence Force (ADF) members, published between 2002 and 2023. Material and methods MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science databases were searched in April 2023 for peer-reviewed studies published… Read more »
Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Immunisation
Abstract: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a flavivirus infection transmitted by Ixodes ticks across Eurasia. Recently, rare indigenous cases of TBE have been reported in the United Kingdom, although most documented traveller infections come from Central Europe. Populations at risk are those undertaking forest activities in the summer, which include some Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel… Read more »
Alcohol and Malaria Recurrence
Abstract: Alcohol was widely believed to induce malaria recurrence in the early 20th century, but no physiological mechanism was recognised. Allied military units during World War II experienced vast numbers of malaria infections without any obvious reported overlap with alcohol ingestion. Historical and recent reports of malaria’s relationship to alcohol have been reviewed and found… Read more »
Social Support and the Military-to-Civilian Transition: A Scoping Review of Methodological Approaches and Measures
Introduction The military-to-civilian transition (MCT) is a significant life change for military personnel. Characterised as the process of leaving the military and returning to family, community and workplace roles,1 a successful transition is widely considered essential for supporting veterans’ wellbeing in civilian life.2 Globally, over 200 000 military personnel transition to civilian life each year.3 While… Read more »
Post-Rescue Deconfliction: Integrating the Tourniquet Traffic Light into Triage for Mass Casualty Surge Reduction
Abstract Evidence suggests that standard triage models are not adequate in threat-moderated settings like terrorist or intentional mass-violence events. Ten Second Triage offers an alternative triage model based on traumatic wounding patterns and immediate interventions for preventable causes of death, rather than physiological parameters. Over-triage may occur due to first responders’ low tolerance for tourniquet… Read more »
Plasmodium knowlesi infection in an Australian soldier following jungle warfare training in Malaysia
Abstract: An Australian Army soldier developed a fever after returning to Australia following a three-month deployment to Rifle Company Butterworth, Malaysia. Ten days prior to presentation he had participated in jungle warfare training at Burma Camp, Pulada in Johor, Malaysia. No known direct contact was made with monkeys, which were known to be in the… Read more »
Civilian university and military collaborative partnerships: bridging the divide between healthcare professionals and practices
Introduction Many Defence organisations have demonstrated the beneficial outcomes of effective collaboration with external agencies.1, 2 Research undertaken in 2017 by the Major Extremity Trauma Research Consortium (METRC) advocates for the recognition and adoption of more collaborative engagement between Defence and civilian health professionals.2 While Defence has a long-standing tradition of senior medical Reserve appointments,… Read more »
Systematic Review of The Impact of Deployment on Respiratory Function of Contemporary International and Australian Veterans’
H Ighani, E Lawrence-Wood, SJ Neuhaus, A McFarlane Abstract Current international literature suggests a higher prevalence of respiratory conditions in military personnel during and following deployment to the Middle East for reasons that are not well understood. Therefore, a systematic review of research into the impacts of deployment on respiratory function among international and Australian… Read more »
Concussion within the Military
Concussion within the Military Roy Beran CMDR rtd, MBBS, MD, FRACP, Dr Sonu Bhaskar MD, PhD Abstract Concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is associated with long-term impairments in military personnel. Diagnosis of the condition remains clinically challenging. Neurological examination and cognitive symptoms may not accurately map the nature and severity of underlying brain… Read more »
‘Military Superbug’ Acinetobacter Baumanii Induced Sepsis in Craniofacial Gunshot Injuries
‘Military Superbug’ Acinetobacter Baumanii Induced Sepsis in Craniofacial Gunshot Injuries I Danish Khan, Associate Professor, Army College of Medical Sciences and Base Hospital, New Delhi, India Craniofacial gunshot injuries encountered during CI/CT operations are involved in a situational complexity requiring astute battlefield care, streamlined evacuation logistics, and operative and critical life support capabilities at various… Read more »
Lessons Learned: The Australian Military and Tropical Medicine
P Leggat *Quail GG. Lessons Learned: The Australian Military and Tropical Medicine. Newport: Big Sky Publishing, 2017. ISBN 978-1-925520-22-4. Hardback. 254 pp AUD34.99 (also available as an eBook) Throughout the history of modern war, tropical diseases have played a significant role in determining the outcome of various military campaigns through the ages. For example, malaria… Read more »
MilTeenChat™ App to Promote Coping Resilience in Military Youth
K Puskar, R Sun, A Gleeson, T Lampl, D Nichols, N Khan Abstract Military adolescents face unique challenges in military families including frequent relocations and parental deployment. Around 30% of military adolescents report feeling sad or hopeless, and one in four has considered suicide. There are limited resources available for military adolescents coping with… Read more »
Operational Test and Evaluation, HMAS Canberra: Assessing the ADF’s New Maritime Role 2 Enhanced Capacity
Commander Neil Westphalen, RANR Introduction The first of two Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as HMAS Canberra (L02) on 28 November 2014., Among their other attributes, the LHDs bring a Maritime Role 2 Enhanced (MR2E) seagoing health capability to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for the first time,… Read more »
Factors associated with lower extremity training-related injuries among enlisted women in U.S. Army operational units
C Rappole, M C Chervak, T Grier, M K Anderson, B H Jones Abstract Background: The lower extremity is consistently the most injured body region among U.S. Army soldiers. However, there has been limited research on risk factors for lower extremity injuries, particularly among women. Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to assess factors… Read more »
Psychological Development of Emerging Adults in the Military and transition to the civilian workforce
C C Hicks, E Bell, D Gray This paper considers the unique role that serving in the Australian Army may have on shaping the psychological development of emerging adults. Emerging adulthood is defined as the development period from the late teens through the twenties, with a focus on ages 18-25. For most young people in… Read more »
Serving Two Masters: Professional Role Conflict in a Military Teaching and Learning Environment
K Zagenhagen, G van Rensburg Abstract Background: Students and nurse educators in a military teaching and learning environment experience role con ict as a result of being simultaneously a professional nurse and a soldier. Purpose: The purpose of this article is to highlight the professional ambiguities experienced by students and nurse educators as a result… Read more »
A Comparison of Poisoned Patients at Military and Veterans Administration Hospitals
S Carstairs, S Nordt, J Ziegler, F Cantrell Introduction The state of California is home to greater than 168,000 active-duty military personnel, more than any other state in the United States of America1. Additionally, there are more than 2 million military veterans in California2, many of whom utilise Veterans Administration hospitals for their healthcare3. Little,… Read more »
Australian malariology during World War II (Part 3 of ‘Pioneers of Australian military malariology’)
Ian Howie-Willis Abstract This is the third part in a five-part series on the development of Australian military malariology during the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Part 1, which appeared in JMVH 24(1) in January 2016, traced the course taken by Australian malariology between the South African (‘Boer’) War of 1898–1902 and the early 1920s… Read more »
Military Effectiveness of Five Dietary Supplements Purported to Aid Cognitive and Physical Performance
Bradley Baker, Chris Forbes-Ewan ABSTRACT Background: The effectiveness of dietary supplements in sustaining physical and/or cognitive performance is of interest to the military. Rhodiola rosea, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LC omega-3), beetroot juice, arginine and beta-alanine have recently been claimed to enhance cognitive and/or physical performance when taken as supplements. Purpose: To narratively review recent… Read more »
Inicidence rates for work health and safety incidents and injuries in Australian Army Reserve vs full time soldiers, and a comparison of reporting systems
Rodney Pope, Robin Orr ABSTRACT Objective: To determine incidence rates of reported work health and safety (WHS) incidents and injuries in Army Reserve (ARES) and Australian Regular Army (ARA) personnel and assess the relative performance of the WHS incident reporting system, compared to ‘point-of-care’ systems. Methods: WHS incident data for a 24-month period were extracted… Read more »
Reach, accessibility and effectiveness of an online selfguided wellbeing website for the military community
Delyth Lloyd1* MA MPH, Tracey Varker1 PhD, Thi Pham1 BSc, John O’Connor1 PhD, Andrea Phelps1PhD Abstract Online mental healthcare resources have proliferated at a greater pace than evidence for their effectiveness. They may nevertheless be an attractive alternative for contemporary veterans and serving personnel who are reluctant to engage in traditional face to face treatment…. Read more »
Comparing PTSD Among Returning War Veterans
Military personnel experiencing combat in Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering wounds that are much greater in number and variety than those endured by veterans of earlier wars. This circumstance is due, in part, to advances in medical science and technology. Soldiers, sailors and marines who suffered such severe wounds in earlier wars simply died because… Read more »
2025 AMMA Conference
