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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 The Commission report includes a series of important recommendations to reduce the prevalence of suicide, many of which are under way. Nevertheless, one significant… 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 »
Editorial – The Nature and Character of War
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 continue… Read more »
Canadian Armed Forces Members’ Perspectives on Health Service Transition Prior to Military Release
Abstract In Canada, military-to-civilian transition (MCT) involves transitioning from military to civilian primary care. This is an important but underexplored aspect of MCT. We investigated releasing military members’ perspectives on the transition from military to civilian primary care by analysing previously collected interview data from 69 Canadian military members. We found that participants were apprehensive… Read more »
Assessing the Role and Employability of Military Advanced Practitioners in Deployed Pre-hospital Setting: A Qualitative Interview Study
Key messages APs support healthcare delivery and workforce flexibility in deployed PHEC environments. Military APs are autonomous and have the potential to operate independently in the Defence Medical Service and remote pre-hospital care. Multi-professional trust is key to AP autonomy in military pre-hospital care, but standardised roles and careers are needed to overcome hierarchical barriers… Read more »
Utilising the Adapted Culture of Care Barometer to Monitor Soldiers’ Conditions of Service during a Series of NATO Exercises
Abstract Background: Working conditions have a significant impact on job-related performance, and in the military context, this can affect the outcome of exercises and missions. Therefore, the scientific recording and consequentialist improvement of soldiers’ conditions of service is important. Purpose: This study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding and potentially improve the wellbeing and… Read more »
Black Measles during the Civil War
Abstract Black measles (Rubeola nigra) was understood to be an infrequent, severe subtype of measles defined by a very dark, nearly confluent rash in the 19th century. During the US Civil War (1861–65), measles epidemics killed many military recruits on both sides, with a case-fatality rate of 2%. Medical officers described black measles as appearing… Read more »
Military Mortality on Pacific Islands: Implications for Future Armed Conflicts
Abstract: Future armed conflict in the Indo-Pacific region may see small detachments of soldiers deployed on isolated Pacific Islands for extended periods. Historical experiences with such deployments, particularly during World War II, are reviewed to give insight into possible medical problems and their countermeasures. The 8th Division of the Second Australian Imperial Force (2 AIF)… Read more »
We Dare Not Fail: Preparing Junior Military Medical Officers for 21st-Century Conflict
‘The mothers and fathers of America will give you their sons and daughters…with the confidence in you that you will not needlessly waste their lives. And you dare not. That’s the burden the mantle of leadership places upon you… It is an awesome responsibility. You cannot fail. You dare not fail…’ – General H Norman… 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 »
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 »
Pertussis in the Military
Abstract: Pertussis (whooping cough) is not typically considered an infectious disease of military significance, as its most severe manifestations are primarily restricted to unimmunised children. Pertussis is increasing, particularly in Australia and the Pacific Islands, due to falling immunisation rates and the post-COVID pandemic surge in all respiratory infections. Obscure outbreaks of chronic cough in… Read more »
Editorial – The Last Total War
In 2025, we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Second World War – the last ‘total war.’ As a country, we are fortunate that we have not seen any further ‘total wars’ since 1945, but this does not preclude them occurring in the future. ‘Total war’, as a concept, arose at the end of the… Read more »
Assessing spiritual wounds and injuries—Some Initial Thinking
Abstract This paper aims to provide some initial thinking on determining the basis for assessment of the existence, severity, and nature of a Spiritual Wound and Injury (SW&I) within an individual. The conditions, behaviours, and Red-Actions (serious, life-threatening, harmful) actions of an SW&I discussed in an earlier paper in this journal1 require a thorough and… Read more »
Changing military medical standards—Are we doing harm?
‘I am trying to arrange transport for two or three thousand “B” class men; they are absolutely unfit for service. Many of them do not disclose any organic disease upon a carefully conducted clinical examination, but are in and out of hospital, and are quite useless for front line, and practically useless for Home Service….Far… Read more »
2025 AMMA Conference
