Physical Activity and Mental Wellbeing Patterns among Active-duty Military Personnel in the Caribbean
ABSTRACT Purpose: This study investigated the work, leisure and sport physical activity levels among military personnel and the relationship with their mental wellbeing. Materials & methods: A sample of 490 officers from the Air Guard, Coast Guard, Regiment and Reserve formations of the Trinidad and Tobago military participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants ranged in… Read more »
Examining the Work–life Balance, Psychological Distress and Associated Factors among Military Personnel in Southern Sarawak
Abstract Background: Military personnel operate under high-stress conditions that challenge mental wellbeing. In Malaysia, particularly East Malaysia, research on psychological distress among military members remains limited. Purpose: This study examines the relationship between work–life balance (WLB), job demands and resources (JD–R), and sociodemographic factors with psychological distress among military personnel in Southern Sarawak. Material and… Read more »
Optimising Tourniquet De-escalation Protocols and Techniques for Non-Medical Defence Providers
ABSTRACT Compared with advanced healthcare providers (HCP), organisational protocols for tourniquet de-escalation by non-medical (NM) defence personnel require greater emphasis on simplicity, procedural efficiency, minimised decision-making and redundancy. This article describes how the 2026 TCCC tourniquet de-escalation guidelines may be further developed to incorporate design features specific to the requirements of NM defence providers. DISCUSSION… Read more »
Disease Mortality during Dutch and American Colonial Counter-Insurgency Operations in Southeast Asia
Abstract: Counterinsurgency operations over a century ago were marked by casualty lists dominated by infectious diseases, not combat injuries. For decades, Dutch soldiers fought in Aceh Province of the then Netherlands East Indies (NEI, now Indonesia) to incorporate the Muslim Sultanate into their colonial empire. Mortality rates of up to 160/1000 in 1874 were more… Read more »
Book Review: From Shell Shock to PTSD
Note: Content within this review and book regarding mental health challenges may be distressing for some people. Support is available through your Chain of Command, Chaplaincy, Health Centre, Lifeline 13 1144 or Open Arms 1800 011 046. An Australian soldier sits in an underground advanced dressing station near Ypres, Belgium, in September 1917. Oblivious to… Read more »
From Battle to Balance: Fletching, Meaning-Making and Veteran Recovery
Abstract This commentary reflects on the ancient craft of fletching as a personally meaningful practice that supports recovery and reintegration following military service. Drawing on lived experience, the essay situates fletching within broader conversations in veteran studies concerning identity loss, moral injury and the limits of exclusively verbal or clinical approaches to healing. Rather than… Read more »
Psychotherapy Versus Pharmacotherapy for PTSD in Military Personnel: A Systematic Review of the PROGrESS Research Program
ABSTRACT Background: For military personnel, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continues to be a major problem. Although medication and trauma-focused psychotherapy (TFP) are well-established treatments, research on their relative and combined effectiveness in combat veterans needs to be synthesised. This review synthesises findings from the PROlonGed ExpoSure and Sertraline (PROGrESS) research program to inform military health… Read more »
Recent US Veteran Cohorts Develop Chronic Health Conditions at Earlier Ages: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study
Introduction The US veteran population is shrinking in size while its age composition is also changing1,2 As earlier generations pass away, more recent cohorts account for a growing share of veterans entering older adulthood, when chronic disease and functional limitations become more common. Whether these cohorts are reaching older ages in better or worse health… Read more »
Combat Tourniquets and the Prevention of Iatrogenic Limb Ischaemia in Modern Warfare
Abstract Health support for anticipated Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations necessitates the capability to deliver prolonged austere field care in response to the constraints of contested mobility, extended evacuation distances, resource limitations and tactical requirements. Combat tourniquet application in the context of Prolonged Casualty Care (PCC) represents an emerging challenge at all levels of healthcare… Read more »
Treating and Managing SW&I
Abstract This paper proposes a SW&I Spiritual Health Protocol–Provisional (SW&ISH–P) that will expand on the spiritual aspects of the treatment and management of Spiritual Wounds and Injuries (SW&I) previously discussed in this journal.1 It is set against the fundamental principle that the SW&I is likely to occur within a broader injury context and, as such,… Read more »
Artificial Intelligence in Outpatient Diagnostic Workflow: A Systematic Review with Implications for Military Health Systems
Introduction Outpatient services frequently suffer from prolonged in-clinic waiting times, inefficient workflows and delays in obtaining diagnostic results before specialist consultations.1 These inefficiencies negatively affect patient satisfaction, strain hospital resources, and, in military healthcare, may contribute to delays in evaluation and treatment pathways relevant to operational readiness.2 Factors contributing to prolonged waiting times include structural… Read more »
Residential and Inpatient Interventions for Military Veterans within Forensic and Secure Mental Health Services: A Scoping Review
Introduction Armed Forces veterans are at increased risk of developing mental health difficulties, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and substance use disorders (SUDs).1 This heightened vulnerability is closely linked to exposure to combat-related trauma as well as the complex psychological, social and occupational challenges associated with transitioning back into civilian life.2,3 Suicide rates among… Read more »
Evaluation of Self-Perceptions of Physical Demand and Physical Fitness of Volunteers during the Adaptation Internship of Reserve Officers of the 2nd Class of the Brazilian Air Force
Abstract The recruitment and mobilisation of higher education professionals for temporary military service occurs annually in the Brazilian Air Force occur annually. After the selection process, volunteers complete a Technical Adaptation Internship to prepare future junior officers for the specific conditions of military service. These courses generally last approximately two months and have high physical,… Read more »
Editorial – JMVH
Thirty-four years ago, the initial issue of the Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health (JMVH) (then Australian Military Medicine (AMM)) was published in February 1992. SQNLDR James Ross was the inaugural President and the first article published, fittingly on “Should Defence Force Personnel receive Influenza Vaccine?”, also came from James Ross. By 1993, CMDR Russ… Read more »
The Gender Debate: Effects of 10-weeks Strength Training on Operational Readiness for Females in the Military
ABSTRACT Introduction: Military service is a physically demanding occupation, and fewer women than men meet the military fitness standards, especially in manual handling and load carriage. Therefore, integrating women into physically demanding military roles requires effective physical conditioning programs to ensure operational readiness. Methods: Twenty-eight female soldiers were randomly assigned to either a 10-week gender-specific… Read more »
Medical Corps Disease Mortality during the First World War: Australia vs. Turkey
Medical corps officers were often the ‘canary in the coal mine’ for infectious disease mortality in armies during the pre-antibiotic era. This means that medical officers could be among the first indicators of a serious medical problem (See https://wordhistories.net/2018/03/31/canary-coal-mine). Deployed forces, however, could experience exotic threats, such as malaria and cholera, that could kill both… Read more »
United States Service Members’ Resilience, Wellbeing and Social Support Resources Post-Deployment
Abstract Introduction: Military service members encounter numerous stressors post-deployment. Unit cohesion, community, social connections and leadership can serve as resilience support systems and may help improve service members’ wellbeing. This research examines the perceived value of these support systems for service members post-deployment. Methods: A cross-sectional convenience sample of 78 United States military officers (n=54)… Read more »
Burnout, Life Satisfaction, and Social Exclusion Levels of Retired Non-Commissioned Officers and the Relationships Between These Phenomena: The Case of Türkiye
Abstract Background: Research on the social and psychological conditions of retired non-commissioned officers (NCOs) remains limited. Therefore, examining burnout, life satisfaction and social exclusion among retired NCOs is critical. Objective: This study aimed to measure levels of burnout, life satisfaction and social exclusion among retired NCOs in Türkiye and to examine the relationships among these… Read more »
Prevalence of Long-Term Health Conditions in Current-serving, Previous-Serving and Never-Serving Australians: An Age-Adjusted Comparative Analysis using 2021 Census Data
ABSTRACT Background: Long-term health conditions (LTHC) are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in Australia and may be more prevalent in Australian Defence Force (ADF) veterans. Previous analyses are limited because they do not control for age and sex confounding or disaggregate by ADF service status. Purpose: We aimed to estimate and compare the age-standardised… Read more »
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 »
Behaviour Change Techniques, Barriers and Facilitators for Promoting Self-managed Physical Activity in Australian Defence Force Veterans: A Mixed-methods Study
Abstract Objectives: Australian Defence Force veterans find self-management of health challenging, and little is known about best-practice approaches for promoting self-managed physical activity in this population. This study assessed the strategies used by health professionals to support veteran patients to self-manage their physical activity regimes and their perceptions concerning the barriers and facilitators that impact… Read more »
Associations Between Military Service, Biobehavioral Risk Factors, and All-Cause Mortality in US Adults
Introduction The healthy soldier effect (HSE) explains the health benefits of military service, physical fitness and lower rates of chronic disease and mortality during and after military service.1-3 Yet recent studies have shown that veterans have poorer health outcomes and a higher risk for mortality than civilians.2,4 The altered health trajectory of US veterans has prompted… Read more »
Too Sick For Caring? An Analysis of The Health Impact of The Great War (1914-1918) on The First Cohort of New Zealand Nurses Who Served
Introduction New Zealand led the world as the first country to implement a standardised level of training leading to registration with the Nurses Act of 1901.1 This signalled the beginning of a proud tradition of nursing, attracting women from all walks of life. Following the Boer War, nurse leaders in New Zealand recognised the need… Read more »
Colonel Arthur Graham Butler’s ‘Allegiances’: Today’s ‘Military Health Service Missions’
N Westphalen Introduction This article follows previous papers by the author regarding occupational and environmental medicine in the ADF.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 These articles, as well as a 2019 Productivity Commission inquiry,11 explain why high workplace illness and injury rates confirm the need to improve the management of hazards associated with ADF workplaces, with better emphasis on prevention. To… Read more »
Evaluation of the Online, Peer Delivered ‘Post War: Survive to Thrive Program’ for Veterans with Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Abstract Background: Veterans frequently report barriers to accessing and adhering to first-line treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Online delivery of an evidence-based intervention by a peer-developed program may aid in overcoming these barriers. Purpose: This study evaluated the ‘Post War: Survive to Thrive Program’, an online, peer developed and delivered program, designed to assist… Read more »
Combat, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Health of Australian Vietnam Veteran Conscripts and Volunteers in the Three Decades After Return
B O’Toole, K Pierse, B Friedrich, S Outram, M Dadds, S Catts Introduction Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam conflict from 1962 until troop withdrawal in 1972,1 placed Australians into longer periods of risk of contact with an enemy than at any time in Australia’s history since Gallipoli.2 The Australian Force Vietnam increased in size in… Read more »
Gulf War Illness in the 1991 Gulf War and Gulf Era Veteran Population: An Application of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kansas Case Definitions to Historical Data
E Dursa, S Barth, B Porter, A Schneiderman Introduction In the initial years following the 1990–1991 Gulf War, reports of a complex array of medically unexplained symptoms began to emerge among US Gulf War veterans.1,2 This cluster of symptoms, which included fatigue, pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory symptoms, dermatological symptoms, neurological symptoms and cognitive symptoms,3-9 collectively… Read more »
The Dark Night of the Veteran’s Soul – Understanding the Impact of Spiritual Wounds for Australian Veterans
M Davies Abstract Background: Figures from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs indicate there may be over 30,000 Australian veterans that have or may yet develop some form of service-related mental illness. There is a growing body of evidence that there is a spiritual dimension to soldiers’ wounds. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to… Read more »
Veterans’ attitudes towards discussing sexual practices and sexual orientation with therapists
M Vendlinski, G Simons, J Yen, S Larsen Abstract Background: It is widely recommended that sexuality be discussed during health-care assessments and treatment. Health-care providers often do not raise the topic of sexuality, even though patients typically welcome these conversations. Purpose: The current study examines whether veterans report having discussions about sexuality with their psychotherapists…. Read more »
Comorbidity Risks of a Cohort of Vietnam Veterans Diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
T Bullman, A I Schniederman Abstract Background: Research has demonstrated that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with increased risk of other mental diseases. Studies have also reported increased risk for cardiovascular diseases associated with PTSD. Purpose: This study examined cause-specific comorbidity risks among a cohort of Vietnam veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Material and… Read more »
Examining Moral Injury Awareness in a Clinical Setting
M Kopacz, G L Charpeid, L A Hollenbeck, J Lockman Abstract Moral injury is a relatively novel clinical construct recognized as a focus of concern in some military veteran populations. This short communication presents findings from a descriptive survey examining awareness of moral injury in a clinical setting specialized in veteran health services and treatment…. Read more »
Serum Level of Nutritional Antioxidants are Decreased in Veteran Smokers with COPD
Corrine Hanson, Elizabeth Lyden, Lisa Weissenburger-Moser, Jeremy Furtado, Debra J. Romberger and Tricia D. LeVan Introduction Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide,1-4 resulting in an economic and social burden that is both substantial and increasing. Veterans are a group of people who are disproportionately… Read more »
2026 AMMA Conference
