Survey of Opinions and Judgements on Load-Carrying Among Soldiers Engaged in Combat

摘要

Users who do not have a basic understanding of principles underlying the design of a load system may incur greater strain by not using the features available. The purpose of this survey was to investigate soldiers' understanding of load-carrying. Questionnaires were administered to one hundred fifty-three soldiers engaged in load-carrying in combat. Results show significant differences in load-carrying knowledge among soldiers based on military experience. Those with more experience demonstrate greater understanding of load biomechanics. They better understand trade-offs between good biomechanics and tactical requirements of combat. In contrast, soldiers with less experience are more uncertain about ways to carry loads. The less experienced show a limited understanding of efficient load-carrying techniques. The survey also shows most soldiers do not enter the service with any prior backpacking experience. Results suggest a need to institute realistic load training and instruction on load- carrying early in the soldier's training in order to avoid the costs of having to learn during their first exposure to combat.