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 »
From Shell Shock to PTSD: the hidden cost of war for Australian soldiers by Dr Ian Howie-Willis
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 »
Hookworm infections 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 »
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Adherence and Response to Cognitive Processing Therapy for Veterans Living with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Introduction Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating disorder that affects up to 30% of United States veterans in their lifetime.1-4 Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a recommended first-line treatment for veterans with PTSD,5 utilising evidence-based psychotherapy techniques to reduce negative thoughts about oneself and the world, and challenge unhelpful beliefs.6 CPT is widely utilised… Read more »
Employment Patterns During Middle Adulthood Among Japanese-American World War II Veterans
Introduction An enduring question in military research is how military experiences influence post-service psychosocial outcomes, such as employment. Of interest is how military service and combat exposure affect employment patterns in middle adulthood (age 45–64). Middle adulthood represents an opportunity to study long-term consequences or delayed onset of issues related to military service. Employment is… Read more »
Psychosocial Risk Factors and their Impact on the Performance of Everyday Activities in Canadian Veterans
Abstract Background: Psychosocial risk factors have been identified as factors for prolonged occupational disability in individuals with debilitating musculoskeletal injuries, chronic pain and mental health conditions. Purpose: This study has the complementary aims of identifying the correlations of psychosocial risk factors with (1) symptom profile factors and (2) the perceived impact of health conditions on… Read more »
Investigating the Prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases in Veterans with Musculoskeletal Disorders
Abstract Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for over 53% of the disease burden worldwide. The present study was conducted to examine the prevalence of NCDs among disabled veterans to define treatment approaches for them. Methods: The study population included all individuals participating in cross-sectional studies from provinces across the country between 2014 and 2017…. Read more »
Self-reported Liver Disorders in Australian Vietnam War Veterans
H Wang, X Liang, K Bridle, D Crawford Abstract Background: Self-reported physical comorbidities are common among combat veterans. Until now, it has been unclear what underlying risk factors were associated with these self-reported health disorders. Purpose: This study aimed to compare self-reporting and objective clinical investigations of liver disorders in a large group of Australian… Read more »
Cause-Specific Mortality Risks Through 2016, Among U.S. Veterans of the Southwest Asia Theater
T Bullman, A Schneiderman Introduction Much of the research on the post-deployment mortality of veterans who deployed as part of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) has focused on the risk of suicide among returning veterans.1-2 To date, mortality studies of OEF/OIF/OND veterans have not included analysis of specific disease-related mortality. While… Read more »
Experiences of a Prisoner of War: World War 2 In Germany
Re-Print Stephenson Vol 9 No 1 E Stephenson2 On 16 December 1943, I was sitting at the Navigator’s seat in a very noisy Lancaster bomber over Berlin when something occurred that changed the pattern of my life. We had just dropped 13,000 pounds of bombs… a 4,000 pound “cookie” plus incendiaries and we were stooging… Read more »
Can Communication Skills Training for Veteran’s Spouses Increase Positive Communication Patterns?
Fatemeh Bagheri, Maryam Amidi Mazaheri, Akbar Hassanzadeh Abstract Background: War veterans are at risk for lower relationship satisfaction and higher rates of separation and divorce. Addressing communication patterns between veteran’s spouses is crucial in promoting family relationships and marriage stability. Purpose: This study determines communication training’s effect on communication patterns and positive feelings in veteran’s… Read more »
Benefits and Employment and Care for Peer Support Staff in the Veteran Community: A Rapid Narrative Literature Review
C Deans Abstract Background: Veteran services increasingly use peers to support other veterans. There are hypothesised benefits for the service users, service system and peers. Purpose: This rapid narrative literature review sought recommendations for the employment of veteran peers via related reviews: one on the use of mental health peers, and one on the use… Read more »
Psychotropic Polypharmacy in Australian Vietnam War Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Descriptive Cohort Study
R Theal, S McLeay, J Gibson, B Lawford, R Mellor Abstract Background: Pharmacological management of complex psychological conditions and physical comorbidities in Vietnam veterans can be challenging, particularly when there are multiple prescribing clinicians. Purpose: To investigate the incidence of psychotropic polypharmacy in a cohort of Australian Vietnam veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods:… Read more »
Disparities in Cigarette Use and Heavy Episodic Drinking Among Older Veterans and Nonveterans
J McDaniel, D Albright, M Torabi Abstract Background: Little assessment data on cigarette use (CU) and heavy episodic drinking (HED) among older military veterans is available for local health education program planning. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of CU and HED among older veterans and nonveterans at the local… Read more »
The Prevalence of Prostate Urinary Bladder and Kidney Cancer Among Homeland War Veterans
T Sorić, I Gusar, A Zekanović, I Vidić, B Dželalija Introduction Relevant literature mentions exposure to war events as a significant factor in the emergence of not only mental but also physical illnesses.1–3 Enormous effort is being put into finding new and better ways of treatment while, at the same time, efforts are expended on… Read more »
2025 AMMA Conference
