Influence of Protection, Mobility and Risk Perception on the Behaviour and Physical Performance of a Combat Soldier (De Invloed van Bescherming, Mobiliteit en Risicoperceptie op het Gedrag en de Fysieke Prestatie van een Gevechtssoldaat)

摘要

In this study, a realistic fire & maneuver action was performed to assess the overall effect of ballistic protection, mobility (weight, protection, surface) and risk perception on behaviour and physical performance of the individual combat soldier. Twenty-eight combat soldiers, divided in 14 buddy pairs, participated in this study. The combat soldiers were unfamiliar with Simunition and performed a Fire & maneuver action. The significantly higher threat score before the action wearing the unprotected conditions indicated that the combat soldiers were aware of the situation and the amount of protection they weared. During the action an equal fight was observed between subjects and enemies, with both options to fire and to hide. Despite the awareness of the situation and the amount of protection, the subjects did not behave differently wearing the unprotected conditions compared with protected condition. It is expected that more alternatives during the Fire & Maneuver action (more Options to hide over a longer Fire & Maneuver distance) may yield a difference in behaviour and physical performance for the different protection conditions.