Warfighter Sustainability: Maximizing Human Performance in Hostile Environments

摘要

The goal of this effort was to improve training and sustainment programs for the Air Force Special Operations Command. Interventions are sought to enhance physical strength, endurance, fatigue resistance, and mental resilience. Over the course of this funding cycle, the effects of nutrition on human performance have been studied under various environmental conditions in the laboratory and austere environments. Similarly, the practical usefulness of biomarker detection during field environments has been evaluated. The overall purpose of this series of investigations has been to better understand strategies associated with training and nutritional interventions that optimize performance and enhance recovery from stressful conditions. In addition, the use of physiological monitoring devices for field data collection has been rigidly evaluated. Additional information has also been collected during events that better capture the human ceiling for energy expenditure and hydration demands. The purpose of these series of investigations was to pool research results from controlled laboratory study and field data collection efforts to provide information to the Air Force Special Operations Command in the areas of Mission Preparedness and Recovery and Mission Performance. These data clearly demonstrate that mission performance can be altered by a variety of environmental factors that impede performance. However, the environmental concerns are of less concern compared to factors that can be altered and/or controlled by the warfighter. These include training status, approaches to training and also adequately meeting the nutritional and hydration demands of the required muscle work.