Page 75 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Spring 2014

Operational Stressors on Physical Performance in
Special Operators and Countermeasures to Improve Performance:

A Review of the Literature

Reginald O’Hara, PhD; Amy Henry, BS; Jennifer Serres, PhD;
Dawn Russell, BS, MS; Robert Locke, MD

ABSTRACT
Objective: Military training in elite warfighters (e.g., Keywords: Special Forces, Operators, physical training,
U.S. Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, and U.S. Air Force military, injury prevention, human performance
Battlefield Airmen) is challenging and requires mental
and physical capabilities that are akin to that of profes-
sional athletes. However, unlike professional athletes,
the competitive arena is the battlefield, with winning Introduction
and losing replaced by either life or death. The rigors Special Operators are an elite group, physically and
of both physical training and prolonged deployments mentally trained to overcome the worst possible condi-
without adequate rest and food intake can compromise tions and battlefield scenarios and continuously rede-
physical performance. Therefore, the primary purpose fining the body’s limits. The physical prowess of Special
of this effort was to identify occupational stressors on Operations (SO) personnel has been compared with that
the physical performance of Special Operators during of elite athletes. However, while elite athletes generally
training and while on missions. The secondary purpose excel in one category of athletic ability, SO personnel
was to suggest specific countermeasures to reduce or must have an all-encompassing level of fitness that in-
prevent significant decrements in physical performance cludes high aerobic capacity, muscular strength and
and reduce musculoskeletal injuries. Methods: A search endurance, and power. For example, the mean maxi-
1
of the literature for 2000–2012 was performed using the mal aerobic capacity (Vo max) of a U.S. Navy SEAL
2
Air Force Institute of Technology search engines (i.e., in basic underwater demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S)
PubMed and ProQuest). There were 29 articles located is approximately 62mL/kg/min, compared with 42mL/
2
and selected that specifically addressed the primary and kg/min for the average man aged 20–29. Additionally,
3
secondary purposes of this literature review. The re- it is imperative that Special Operators achieve high lev-
maining 32 of 61 referenced articles were reviewed af- els of overall fitness. A weak link in any level of the
ter initial review of the primary literature. Conclusions: Operator’s chain of fitness or strength could mean the
This review indicates that operational stress (e.g., nega- difference between life and death and/or mission fail-
tive energy balance, high-energy expenditure, sleep de- ure. A high operational tempo in Iraq and Afghanistan,
privation, environmental extremes, heavy load carriage, characterized by longer and more frequent deploy-
etc.) associated with rigorous training and sustained op- ments, has led to an increase in the number and du-
4
erations negatively affects hormonal levels, lean muscle ration of SOF missions. Special Operators must train
5
mass, and physical performance of Special Operators. extensively and rigorously to prepare for missions and
The number of musculoskeletal injuries also increases rapid deployments, which may include special recon-
as a result of these stressors. Commanders may use naissance, counterterrorism operations, direct action,
simple field tests to assess physical decrements before and counterproliferation. 1
and during deployment to effectively plan for missions.
Specific countermeasures for these known decrements U.S. Army Rangers and Navy SEALs are examples of
are lacking in the scientific literature. Therefore, future Special Operators who undergo extensive and rigorous
researchers should focus on studying specific physical training before they qualify for a Ranger tab or Navy
training programs, equipment, and other methods to SEAL trident. The intention of SO high-stress training
minimize the effects of operational stress and reduce is to effectively prepare Special Operators for any com-
recovery time. These countermeasures could prevent bat situation. For example, the 21st Command Sergeant
mission mishaps and may save the lives of Special Op- Major of the U.S. Army Ranger Training Brigade stated,
erators during severe operational stress. “If a Soldier returns from his first major firefight and

67