Factors associated with fear of pandemic information received by Peruvian police and military personnel

Introduction: For police and military, access to suitable and truthful information has always been important, during the pandemic the need was even greater due to the tasks assigned to them as part of the front line against the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: To determine the factors associated with fear of pandemic information received by Peruvian police and military personnel. Methods: Cross-sectional study with analytical procedures, 1 017 Peruvian police and military were surveyed, through surveys conducted during the pandemic, a validated test was used to measure the perception of fear or concern transmitted by the media, the frequencies and analytical results were reported. Results: The respondents perceived a lot of fear of social networks (22% strongly agree and 36% agree) and television (20% strongly agree and 32% agree). In the multivariate model, the military perceived less fear compared to the police (aPR: 0.65;CI95%: 0.49-0.88;value p= 0.004), in addition, the Internet was the medium that generated a greater frequency of perception of fear among the respondents (aPR: 1.65;CI95%: 1.04-2.61;value p= 0.032), adjusted for 3 variables. Conclusion: Television and social networks are the main media that generate fear among police and military;in addition, being scared was more associated with being informed through the Internet. © 2023, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.

Descriptive analysis of the incidence rate of postacute COVID-19 syndrome in the Republic of Korea Army.

Background: This study aimed to identify the incidence rate of post-coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) conditions in the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army and to investigate the trend of the incidence rate according to changes in dominant variants. Method(s): We used the results of a 19-item, self-completed survey of those who had recovered from COVID-19 in the ROK Army between March 24, 2020, and April 30, 2022. We used both descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with the incidence rate of post-COVID-19 conditions. Result(s): Among the total of 48,623 COVID-19 episodes in the ROK Army, the overall incidence rate of post-COVID-19 conditions was 32.9%. Based on the survey, the incidence of cough was the highest at 15.4%, followed by fatigue (15.1%) and sputum (13.8%). The delta variant had the highest incidence rate of post-COVID-19 conditions at 50.7%, whereas the omicron variant had the lowest at 19.7%. Concerning the type of post-COVID-19 condition, the neuropsychiatric symptoms had the highest incidence at 27.4% when the delta variant was dominant, and the respiratory symptoms were highest at 37.3% when the omicron variant was dominant. In the case of smell and taste symptoms, the incidence rate was high at 21.1% only when the delta variant was predominant. Conclusion(s): The overall incidence rate of post-COVID-19 conditions in the ROK Army was 32.9%. When the delta variant was dominant, the overall incidence as well as the proportion of neuropsychiatric symptoms were high. However, as the omicron variant became dominant, the overall incidence decreased, but the proportion of respiratory symptoms increased.Copyright © Korean Medical Association.

ANALYSIS OF THE INCIDENCE OF COVID-19 IN ORGANIZED MILITARY COLLECTIVES OF VARIOUS TYPES

Against the background of the global spread of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the prevention of infections with airborne mechanisms of transmission has become a priority in the Armed Forces. The development of effective COVID-19 prevention measures requires consideration of the peculiarities of military service and everyday life due to the inability of organized military collectives to comply with the requirements of the lockdown regime introduced at the peak of morbidity by the civilian health system. The patterns of incidence of COVID-19 in military personnel of the Western Military District in organized military collectives were studied in relation to the conditions of training and combat activities and the characteristics of military service. It was found that the dynamics of the incidence of COVID-19 among military personnel of the Western Military District in 2020–2021 exhibited a wave-like character and included four epidemic rises that coincided with epidemic waves among the civilian population. At the same time, from April to December 2020, the morbidity rate in military personnel was significantly higher than that in the general population, and from January to December 2021 against the background of mass vaccination of military personnel against COVID-19, the incidence rate in military personnel decreased by 50% relative to that in the general population. The effectiveness of anti-epidemic measures has increased significantly in recent months. The average number of patients in the epidemic outbreak decreased by 46.3%, the average duration of the outbreak decreased by 12.4%, and the proportion of group morbidity in the structure of the overall incidence of COVID-19 decreased by 19.8%. It is shown that the incidence of COVID-19 in various types of military collectives depends on the conditions of military service and the specifics of daily activities. The highest epidemiological significance of COVID-19 was detected in military units of constant readiness, as well as in medical and military educational organizations. © 2023 Nutritec. All rights reserved.

Investigation on health and professional consciousness and mental health of military medical students during coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic.

Objective To understand the health and professional consciousness and mental health of military medical students during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. Methods From Feb. 17 to Feb. 20, 2020, an electronic questionnaire was used to investigate the attitudes and coping styles of military medical students towards quarantine and delay of school opening, their attitudes towards online teaching, and health and professional consciousness during COVID-19 epidemic;and their mental health status was scored by symptom checklist 90 (SCL-90). Results A total of 2 736 valid questionnaires were collected. The students basically understood and agreed with the quarantine and delay of school opening during the epidemic, and 70.83% (1 938/2 736) supported online teaching. During the quarantine period, 85.31% (2 334/2 736) of the students chose to listen to music or watch TV series for relaxation, and 64.69% (1 770/2 736) insisted on learning, reading literatures or writing papers. Students could basically form the habits of washing hands frequently and wearing masks, and their consciousness of health protection was higher than that before the epidemic. For military medical students, their professional beliefs and determination have been strengthened during the epidemic, and many students wanted to join in the fight against the epidemic. The survey found that 12.94% (354/2 736) of the students had mental health symptoms, and the top 3 SCL-90 factors were obsessive-compulsive disorder (78.53%, 278/354), interpersonal sensitivity (64.12%, 227/354), and depression (44.07%, 156/354). Conclusion During the epidemic, military medical students can generally adapt to the difficult environment and improve themselves. The mental health problems of military medical students have their own characteristics, special attention must to be paid, and the humanistic education of medical students should be strengthened.Copyright © 2022, Second Military Medical University Press. All rights reserved.

Mental health status of military healthcare workers in shelter hospitals in Shanghai during the epidemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 omicron variant and its influencing factors.

Objective To investigate the mental health status of military healthcare workers in shelter hospitals in Shanghai during the epidemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 omicron variant and its influencing factors. Methods A total of 540 military healthcare workers in shelter hospitals in Shanghai were investigated with patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Athens insomnia scale (AIS) to explore their mental health status, and logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors. Results A total of 536 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective rate of 99.3% (536/540). The incidence of depression, anxiety and insomnia among military healthcare workers in shelter hospitals in Shanghai was 45.5% (244/536), 26.1% (140/536) and 59.5% (319/536), respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that whether people resided in Shanghai, the proportion of negative information in daily browsing information and diet status in shelter hospitals were the influencing factors of depression, anxiety and insomnia (all P<0.05);age and confidence in the future of Shanghai were the influencing factors of depression and insomnia (all P<0.05);and the time spent daily on epidemic-related information was an influencing factor of insomnia (P=0.021). Conclusion The incidence of depressive, anxiety and insomnia among military healthcare workers in shelter hospitals in Shanghai is high during the epidemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 omicron variant. Psychological consequences of the epidemic should be monitored regularly and continuously to promote the mental health of military healthcare workers.Copyright © 2022, Second Military Medical University Press. All rights reserved.

ASSESSMENT OF POST-VACCINATION COLLECTIVE IMMUNITY AGAINST NEW CORONAVIRUS INFECTION (COVID-19) AMONG SERVICEMEN OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The recent vaccination campaign targeting the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) carried out in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, on the background of the current unstable global pandemic situation, makes it necessary to study post-vaccination population immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and thus identify key features of immunity in organized military collectives. In the future, this will make it possible to objectively assess the risks of a worsening pandemic situation, effectively adjust the ongoing sanitary and anti-epidemic measures aimed at preserving and strengthening the health of military personnel, as one of the main conditions for maintaining the combat readiness of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. During a study conducted on epidemic indications, it was found that vaccination with Gam-Covid-Vac contributes to the formation of collective immunity with 95% effectiveness. A gender-based analysis of the immune response showed that the proportion of persons who lack class G immunoglobulins to SARS-CoV-2 among females is twice than that among men (9.3% and 4.7%, respectively). Seroprevalence indicators, classified by blood group, range from 94.4% (AB (IV) Rh–) to 97.4% (A (II) Rh–). There were no significant differences in seroprevalence between groups of people with different blood groups;however, the highest value of seroprevalence was seen among military personnel with blood group A (II) Rh–. In this context, it is advisable to continue monitoring the formation of immunity in individuals with various blood groups. The results obtained made it possible to form a primary medical and social "portrait” of a serviceman with the most adequate immune response to the introduction of the Gam-Covid-Vac vaccine (a man under the age of 20 with blood type A (II) Rh–) and to draw a conclusion about the high effectiveness of vaccination in military units (formations) staffed by conscripts and military educational organizations. The article can be used under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license © Authors, 2022.

Differentiated approach to the implementation of preventive and anti-epidemic measures among military personnel based on the COVID-19 disease risk assessment scale

Aim of the study - to develop a scale for assessing the risk of COVID-19 disease for a differentiated approach in conducting preventive and anti-epidemic measures among military personnel. Material and methods. An array of published data was analyzed to select the risk factors for a possible COVID-19 disease. The disease risk assessment scale proposed on the basis of this analysis is implemented in the form of a table in MS Excel and a program in MS Visual Studio in C# with the inclusion of recommendations for making a management decision. Results. The risk factors for COVID-19 disease were selected and included in the questionnaire. A scale for assessing the risk of COVID-19 disease was developed: when a risk factor was identified, one point was assigned;otherwise, zero points were assigned. Then all the points are added together, and this amount is considered proportional to the risk of contracting COVID-19. The resulting total score is correlated with the recommendations for the scope of preventive and anti-epidemic measures. With the program implementation of the scale, it is possible to quickly make an adequate management decision. Conclusion. The use of such approaches can be a significant contribution to the fight against the new coronavirus infection.Copyright © 2021 Infectious Diseases: News, Opinions, Training. All rights reserved.

Descriptive analysis of the incidence rate of postacute COVID-19 syndrome in the Republic of Korea Army

Background: This study aimed to identify the incidence rate of post-coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) conditions in the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army and to investigate the trend of the incidence rate according to changes in dominant variants. Method(s): We used the results of a 19-item, self-completed survey of those who had recovered from COVID-19 in the ROK Army between March 24, 2020, and April 30, 2022. We used both descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with the incidence rate of post-COVID-19 conditions. Result(s): Among the total of 48,623 COVID-19 episodes in the ROK Army, the overall incidence rate of post-COVID-19 conditions was 32.9%. Based on the survey, the incidence of cough was the highest at 15.4%, followed by fatigue (15.1%) and sputum (13.8%). The delta variant had the highest incidence rate of post-COVID-19 conditions at 50.7%, whereas the omicron variant had the lowest at 19.7%. Concerning the type of post-COVID-19 condition, the neuropsychiatric symptoms had the highest incidence at 27.4% when the delta variant was dominant, and the respiratory symptoms were highest at 37.3% when the omicron variant was dominant. In the case of smell and taste symptoms, the incidence rate was high at 21.1% only when the delta variant was predominant. Conclusion(s): The overall incidence rate of post-COVID-19 conditions in the ROK Army was 32.9%. When the delta variant was dominant, the overall incidence as well as the proportion of neuropsychiatric symptoms were high. However, as the omicron variant became dominant, the overall incidence decreased, but the proportion of respiratory symptoms increased.Copyright © Korean Medical Association.

Teacher-efficacy as a complex web: Lessons from a qualitative case study on the transition of military faculty to emergency remote teaching during COVID-19

Although scholars have well-established the benefits of higher teacher-efficacy, the lack of literature regarding the sources and influences of these self-beliefs has led to an overly-reductionistic view of the construct. A teacher's sense of efficacy is a multifaceted entity which involves the interplay of various factors individuals leverage to formulate their judgement of their abilities. These influencers include a combination of internal elements such as an individual's previous experiences or social interactions, and external elements such as the environmental context or surroundings. The aim of this study was to explore the intricacies of the teacher-efficacy development process as situated during a crisis event. Crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, are ominous in that they tend to be volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA). With the crisis in mind, this study involved an ecological examination of the teacher efficacy construct concerning a group of professional military education personnel during the transition to emergency remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this study was to illuminate patterns and themes from within the data by comparing (1) the design context, principles, and design team choices to promote efficacy development during the pandemic with (2) how the course graduates perceived their efficacy.The exploratory nature of this single case qualitative study involved a constant comparative analysis of semi-structured interview protocols with seven participants, archived documents of curriculum artifacts and course materials, and analytic memos. The participants consisted of three course design team members, who planned and implemented the professional development (PD) course, and four military faculty course graduates, who completed the PD and taught their first virtual teaching session. The result of using an inductive analytical approach revealed three interconnected themes that facilitated the efficacy-building process. The consistency in the data exposed that the degree to which the participants perceived authenticity in the curriculum, their ability to harness collaborative engagement among colleagues and faculty, and their opportunity to source prior exposures to handling disruptions and change intertwined to influence the developmental effort. The implications of this study counter the dominant narrative in the literature that teacher-efficacy is a linear, simplistic process. Instead, scholars and practitioners might approach efficacy-building using a collection of biological, psychological, and social influencers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Investigation on health and professional consciousness and mental health of military medical students during coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic

Objective To understand the health and professional consciousness and mental health of military medical students during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. Methods From Feb. 17 to Feb. 20, 2020, an electronic questionnaire was used to investigate the attitudes and coping styles of military medical students towards quarantine and delay of school opening, their attitudes towards online teaching, and health and professional consciousness during COVID-19 epidemic;and their mental health status was scored by symptom checklist 90 (SCL-90). Results A total of 2 736 valid questionnaires were collected. The students basically understood and agreed with the quarantine and delay of school opening during the epidemic, and 70.83% (1 938/2 736) supported online teaching. During the quarantine period, 85.31% (2 334/2 736) of the students chose to listen to music or watch TV series for relaxation, and 64.69% (1 770/2 736) insisted on learning, reading literatures or writing papers. Students could basically form the habits of washing hands frequently and wearing masks, and their consciousness of health protection was higher than that before the epidemic. For military medical students, their professional beliefs and determination have been strengthened during the epidemic, and many students wanted to join in the fight against the epidemic. The survey found that 12.94% (354/2 736) of the students had mental health symptoms, and the top 3 SCL-90 factors were obsessive-compulsive disorder (78.53%, 278/354), interpersonal sensitivity (64.12%, 227/354), and depression (44.07%, 156/354). Conclusion During the epidemic, military medical students can generally adapt to the difficult environment and improve themselves. The mental health problems of military medical students have their own characteristics, special attention must to be paid, and the humanistic education of medical students should be strengthened.Copyright © 2022, Second Military Medical University Press. All rights reserved.

Mental health status of military healthcare workers in shelter hospitals in Shanghai during the epidemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 omicron variant and its influencing factors

Objective To investigate the mental health status of military healthcare workers in shelter hospitals in Shanghai during the epidemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 omicron variant and its influencing factors. Methods A total of 540 military healthcare workers in shelter hospitals in Shanghai were investigated with patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Athens insomnia scale (AIS) to explore their mental health status, and logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors. Results A total of 536 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective rate of 99.3% (536/540). The incidence of depression, anxiety and insomnia among military healthcare workers in shelter hospitals in Shanghai was 45.5% (244/536), 26.1% (140/536) and 59.5% (319/536), respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that whether people resided in Shanghai, the proportion of negative information in daily browsing information and diet status in shelter hospitals were the influencing factors of depression, anxiety and insomnia (all P<0.05);age and confidence in the future of Shanghai were the influencing factors of depression and insomnia (all P<0.05);and the time spent daily on epidemic-related information was an influencing factor of insomnia (P=0.021). Conclusion The incidence of depressive, anxiety and insomnia among military healthcare workers in shelter hospitals in Shanghai is high during the epidemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 omicron variant. Psychological consequences of the epidemic should be monitored regularly and continuously to promote the mental health of military healthcare workers.Copyright © 2022, Second Military Medical University Press. All rights reserved.

Dietary supplements' knowledge, attitude and consumption pattern among United Arab Emirates population

PurposeTo study the consumption pattern, attitude and knowledge of the general population about dietary supplements (DS) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Design/methodology/approachA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data on knowledge, attitude and consumption pattern related to the use of DS. Participants aged = 18 years were asked to complete a self-administered online questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, health and lifestyle information, consumption patterns, attitudes and knowledge levels regarding the use of DS.FindingsA total of 207 individuals participated in the study, and 117 (56.5%) participants reported using DS products as influenced by the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), of which 63 (53.8%) participants had been using DS for more than one month but less than one year. The majority of the participants was females (64.7%), non-UAE nationals (60.9%) and employed (51.7%). Multivitamins (77.8%) were the most commonly used DS. Use of DS was more prevalent among older participants (n = 78 (61.9%), p = 0.006), non-UAE nationals (n = 79 (62.7%), p = 0.025) and employed (n = 69 (64.5%), p = 0.023). Improving general health (76.1%) and immune booster (47%) were the most frequently identified reasons for using DS, which is relatable to the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of study participants (72.12%) reported knowing relatively little about the use of DS. About 154 participants (74.4%) did not know that DS products do not treat diseases.Research limitations/implicationsFurther studies with a larger sample size need to be conducted to examine the association between gender or chronic disease and the consumption and type of DS products used to fill the gap in the literature and overcome the limitations identified in this study.Originality/valueThis study highlights the need for community education programs and strategies that can raise awareness of the health benefits and risks of using DS. Further studies with a larger sample size need to be conducted to examine the association between gender or chronic disease and the consumption and type of DS products used to fill the gap in the literature and overcome the limitations identified in this study.

SARS-CoV-2 VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS IN A COHORT OF ACTIVE-DUTY US MILITARY PERSONNEL

Background: The US Defense Dept launched its COVID-19 vaccination program in Dec 20. The VIRAMP study was designed to address knowledge gaps in US military personnel including vaccine effectiveness against asymptomatic infection, viral carriage and transmission, and durability of protection. Method(s): Military members who had received >=1 dose of an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine were enrolled at 3 sites in Texas May 21-Mar 22 and followed for up to 24 months after first dose. Study activities comprised of three in-person study visits and remote data collection: weekly and monthly questionnaires, self-collection of blood (monthly) and saliva twice weekly (more frequently if symptomatic). Participants shipped self-collected specimens for Ab analyses and SARS-CoV-2 PCR and sequencing. We report an interim analysis on data collected through May 22. Result(s): Participants included 957 military members (60% male, 40% female), with 69% identifying as White, 15% Black/African American, 23% LatinX. Participants were Officers (38%) and Enlisted (62%);54% were healthcare workers. The majority (92.5%) received the Pfizer/BioNTech monovalent A/ Wuhan COVID-19 vaccine;30% of participants received one booster dose. One or more breakthrough infections (bti), defined as positive saliva SARS-CoV-2 PCR, were detected in 228 (24%) participants (36 Delta, 192 Omicron). No differences were detected in rates of symptomatic vs asymptomatic bti by variant or time since last vaccine. Mean age was greater for participants with bti vs those without (35.4 (+/- 7.7) years vs 32 (+/- 8.2) years;p< 0.0001), but no differences were noted by sex, race, or ethnicity. Symptomatic infections (defined as >=2 symptoms) were detected in 43% of participants, whereas 35% of bti were asymptomatic;there were no hospitalizations or deaths. A trend towards reduced duration of saliva positivity was noted in Omicron infections in the 4 months following booster dose compared to infections in the 4 months following primary series (5.3 days vs 12.4 days;p=0.0645). Conclusion(s): Approximately 1/4 of participants had bti in the first year, spanning the evolving epi and vaccination landscape of the pandemic, with about 1/3 demonstrating asymptomatic infection. A trend towards shorter duration of viral carriage following booster dose was noted in Omicron infections. The VIRAMP study demonstrated that prospective surveillance in a large, diverse cohort of US military members utilizing remote specimen and questionnaire collection is operationally feasible.

Ssessment of post-vaccination collective immunity against new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) among servicemen of the armed forces of the Russian Federation

The recent vaccination campaign targeting the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) carried out in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, on the background of the current unstable global pandemic situation, makes it necessary to study post-vaccination population immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and thus identify key features of immunity in organized military collectives. In the future, this will make it possible to objectively assess the risks of a worsening pandemic situation, effectively adjust the ongoing sanitary and anti-epidemic measures aimed at preserving and strengthening the health of military personnel, as one of the main conditions for maintaining the combat readiness of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. During a study conducted on epidemic indications, it was found that vaccination with Gam-Covid-Vac contributes to the formation of collective immunity with 95% effectiveness. A gender-based analysis of the immune response showed that the proportion of persons who lack class G immunoglobulins to SARS-CoV-2 among females is twice than that among men (9.3% and 4.7%, respectively). Seroprevalence indicators, classified by blood group, range from 94.4% (AB (IV) Rh-) to 97.4% (A (II) Rh-). There were no significant differences in seroprevalence between groups of people with different blood groups;however, the highest value of seroprevalence was seen among military personnel with blood group A (II) Rh-. In this context, it is advisable to continue monitoring the formation of immunity in individuals with various blood groups. The results obtained made it possible to form a primary medical and social "portrait" of a serviceman with the most adequate immune response to the introduction of the Gam-Covid-Vac vaccine (a man under the age of 20 with blood type A (II) Rh-) and to draw a conclusion about the high effectiveness of vaccination in military units (formations) staffed by conscripts and military educational organizations.

Analysis of the incidence of COVID-19 in organized military collectives of various types

Against the background of the global spread of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the prevention of infections with airborne mechanisms of transmission has become a priority in the Armed Forces. The development of effective COVID-19 prevention measures requires consideration of the peculiarities of military service and everyday life due to the inability of organized military collectives to comply with the requirements of the lockdown regime introduced at the peak of morbidity by the civilian health system. The patterns of incidence of COVID-19 in military personnel of the Western Military District in organized military collectives were studied in relation to the conditions of training and combat activities and the characteristics of military service. It was found that the dynamics of the incidence of COVID-19 among military personnel of the Western Military District in 2020-2021 exhibited a wave-like character and included four epidemic rises that coincided with epidemic waves among the civilian population. At the same time, from April to December 2020, the morbidity rate in military personnel was significantly higher than that in the general population, and from January to December 2021 against the background of mass vaccination of military personnel against COVID-19, the incidence rate in military personnel decreased by 50% relative to that in the general population. The effectiveness of anti-epidemic measures has increased significantly in recent months. The average number of patients in the epidemic outbreak decreased by 46.3%, the average duration of the outbreak decreased by 12.4%, and the proportion of group morbidity in the structure of the overall incidence of COVID-19 decreased by 19.8%. It is shown that the incidence of COVID-19 in various types of military collectives depends on the conditions of military service and the specifics of daily activities. The highest epidemiological significance of COVID-19 was detected in military units of constant readiness, as well as in medical and military educational organizations.

The Organisational Psychology of Ethical Military Leadership during Times of Crisis: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic

This article sheds light on the positive impact of ethical leaders on their subordinates' behaviours during times of crisis. The article focuses on the turbulent and abrupt changes taking place in military external operating environments which could negatively affect military personnel's mental health and psychological wellbeing. Pandemics and humanitarian crises are an example of such external environmental turbulences. These environmental turbulences are explored from an organisational perspective, under which they are viewed as a form of organisational change associated with a psychological uncertainty that has a negative impact on individuals. This uncertainty must be treated wisely by military leaders in all sectors of the armed forces in order to manage resistance to change and to prevent the negative psychological consequences that could be generated by such uncertainty. This article thus analyses ethical military leadership as a means to addressing the negative psychological consequences caused by change uncertainty in difficult times. It explores the terms change, change uncertainty, and ethical leadership. Various recommendations are made in the discussion section to facilitate the organisational process of implementing ethical leadership across all organisational levels of the armed forces.

POLISH TERRITORIAL DEFENCE FORCES AND INNOVATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC THE ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL OF A MIXED TYPE FORCE IN NON-MILITARY CRISIS RESPONSE

Innovation can be understood in multiple ways. It can be seen as big breakthroughs and the introduction of entirely new inventions or as small, incremental changes introduced to existing products, processes, or solutions. Innovation can also be considered as a capability or a characteristic of individuals and organisations. It is viewed as one of the desired (if not crucial) aspects of functioning in a complex environment. This also refers to the armed forces and their activities during war and in response to crises. One of the biggest changes in the Polish Armed Forces in the second decade of the 21st century was the establishment of the Territorial Defence Forces (TDF), a mixed service comprising volunteer and full-time soldiers. This article aims to assess the innovative potential as well as the potential for innovation of such a mixed type of force in non-military crisis response by reviewing the key characteristics and actions carried out by the TDF.

High Unemployment and the Armed Forces: The Costs and Benefits of Recruiting Military Personnel in Norway

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the subsequent non-pharmaceutical interventions by governments to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus, and adjusted consumer behaviors have resulted in high unemployment rates worldwide. In this paper, we explore whether the Norwegian Armed Forces can exploit this period of high unemployment to strengthen security and defense in Norway while increasing the job opportunities for young individuals in a difficult labor market. Before the pandemic, the Norwegian government had planned to gradually increase the number of personnel in the armed forces. Hence, an expedited recruitment strategy may improve welfare. We calculate the costs and benefits to Norwegian society of a strategy that exploits the hike in unemployment rates to recruit new personnel to the armed forces at a faster rate. We find that the expedited recruitment strategy will likely provide net benefits to society if the unemployed have a fair chance of being employed. However, we stress that there must be a real need for higher defense spending, it is difficult to estimate the economic value of defense production, and there may be a trade-off between the goals of labor market policies and those of defense policies. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Defence & Peace Economics is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Seroepidemiologic Investigation of a COVID-19 Outbreak Aboard a U.S. Navy Ship

The crew of USS Kidd experienced a COVID-19 outbreak identified in April 2020. This is the earliest documented COVID-19 study with RT-PCR, serology, and pre-exposure test data on the entirety of the exposed population (n=333). Case definitions included 121 confirmed (36.3% of crewmembers) and 18 probable (5.4% of crewmembers) based on laboratory diagnostic test results. At the time of testing positive, 62 (44.6%) cases reported no symptoms. Hispanic ethnicity (AOR: 2.71, CI: 1.40-5.25) and non-smoker status (AOR: 2.28, CI: 1.26-4.12) were identified as statistically significant risk factors. This study highlights the value of rapid, onboard diagnostic testing to quickly identify an outbreak and enumerate cases, as well as the serological testing to flag potential cases missed with standard viral case identification methodologies.

The role of career development in ensuring effective quality management of training

Orientation: It is widely acknowledged that career development needs to be viewed as a critical element by organisations to capacitate employees and contribute to organisational success. The role of career development in capacitating leaders to ensure effective quality management (QM) of training is not well known. Research purpose: This research aimed to investigate officers in corps training units' perceptions regarding the role of career development in managing the quality of training in the South African (SA) Army. Motivation for the study: Limited research exists concerning the career development of leaders responsible for the QM of training internationally and nationally. This study intended to fill the gap. Research design and method: Qualitative focus group interviews were conducted using a sample comprising 49 officers at six SA Army corps training units. Main findings: The appointment of unqualified and incompetent leaders in critical positions, lack of continuity in the staffing of personnel, the appointment of incompetent personnel in training positions and the lack of mentors and opportunities for mentoring of officers adversely affected the QM of training in the SA Army. Practical/managerial implications: There is a need for leaders in the SA Army to ensure that career development strategies are adequately planned and managed in the training context. This will ensure that leaders with adequate potential are appointed and developed to guarantee high-quality training. Contribution/value-add: This research provided an empirical description of the role that career development plays in the organisational system to ensure adequate QM of training.