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 »
The Battle of the River Plate: Excerpts from the Diary of Surgeon Commander Jack Cussen RN, PMO of HMS EXETER
Reprinted from the Journal of the Royal Naval Medical Service Commentary HMS EXETER, the second of two York Class heavy cruisers, was launched in 1929. She had a displacement of 8,400 tons, a complement of 628 and main armament of three twin 8-inch guns in addition to AA guns and torpedoes. At the outbreak of… Read more »
A History of Australian Navy Health Sailor Uniforms and Ranks (Part 3)
Commander Neil Westphalen, Royal Australian Navy Reserve Purpose More than a century after its establishment, many Royal Australian Navy (RAN) uniforms and ranks continue to reflect those used by the (British) Royal Navy (RN). The first of this three-part article described the history of Navy sailor uniforms since 1509,[i] while the second examined the development… Read more »
A History of Australian Navy Health Sailor Uniforms and Ranks (Part 2)
A History of Australian Navy Health Sailor Uniforms and Ranks (Part 2) Commander Neil Westphalen, Royal Australian Navy Reserve Purpose More than a century after its establishment, many Royal Australian Navy (RAN) uniforms and ranks still reflect those used by the (British) Royal Navy (RN).The first of this three-part article described the history of Navy… Read more »
A History of Australian Navy Health Sailor Uniforms and Ranks (Part 1)
Commander Neil Westphalen, Royal Australian Navy Reserve Purpose Mariners have been identifiable by their clothing for centuries. This reflects their ongoing need for attire that allows free movement for negotiating ladders, doorways and hatches, and performing physically demanding tasks such as hauling lines on cluttered decks and moving heavy weights. In the past, their garments… 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 »
Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure and Melanoma in Australian Naval Personnel
In the tropics of Australia, the Royal Australian Navy operates two permanent bases and conducts a large number of operations. Despite an overall incidence of melanoma not significantly different to that of the general Australian population (Standardised Incident Ratio, SIR = 149, p>0.05), older members of the RAN (SIR = 236, aged >29 years) and… Read more »
Abstracts from the Literature
compiled by James Ross Knapik JJ, Hamlet MP. Influence of boot-sock systems on frequency and severity of foot blisters. Mil Med 1996; 161(1):594-8 This study examined the influence of three types of boot-sock systems on incidence and severity of foot blisters. Participants were 357 men undergoing US Marine recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina…. Read more »
Would That White Coat Were Purple
Wing Commander Tony Austin RAAF A traditional Chinese curse goes something like this: ‘May you live in interesting times’. If it be so, then we are all most certainly cursed for those are indeed very interesting times. Economic reality has hit the military hard the buzz word for the 90’s is ‘downsizing’ and the military… Read more »
2025 AMMA Conference
