U.S. Army Anthropometric Survey Database: Downsizing, Demographic Change, andValidity of the 1988 Data in 1996

摘要

Anthropometric distributions of consumer groups, such as the U.S. Army, are to alarge extent determined by their demographic composition. In fact, demographic change constitutes a primary driver of anthropometric changes over time and thus is a significant cause of anthropometric data base obsolescence. This study examines demographic change in the Active duty Army since 1988, when the U.S. Army Anthropometric Survey (ANSUR) was completed. The anthropometric consequences of these demographic shifts are modeled using weighted parameter estimates for common summary statistics, such as means and percentiles, and these 1995 parameter estimates are compared to their 1988 counterparts. Comparisons of 1988 and 1995 statistics suggest that although relatively large increases in the representation of females and racial minorities have occurred since 1988, these differences do not significantly impact Army-wide parameter estimates, perhaps because the groups changing most have low frequencies at the start. It is concluded that the ANSUR statistics reported in NATICK/TR-89/044 continue to be valid for anthropometric sizing and design in 1996.