Page 111 - JSOM Winter 2017

An Ongoing Series

Energy Balance and Diet Quality During the US Marine Corps Forces
Special Operations Command Individual Training Course

John J. Sepowitz, MS, RD, CSSD ; Nicholes J. Armstrong, MS, RD ;
2
1
Stefan M. Pasiakos, PhD, FACSM *
3

ABSTRACT
Methods: This study characterized the total daily energy ex- are logistically demanding and constrained, often limiting
penditure (TDEE), energy intake (EI), body weight, and diet food availability and time to eat. The result is cyclic periods
quality (using the Healthy Eating Index-2010 [HEI]) of 20 of negative energy balance (energy intake less than energy
male US Marines participating in the 9-month US Marine expenditure) and energy surplus and changes in total body
Corps Forces Special Operations Command Individual Train- mass. Prolonged and repeated exposure to periods of nega-
1
ing Course (ITC). Results: TDEE was highest (p < .05) during tive energy balance and subsequent energy surplus, coupled
Raider Spirit (RS; 6,376 ± 712kcal/d) compared with Survival, with the stressors of academic SOF training, may alter dietary
Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE; 4,011 ± 475kcal/d) patterns and food choices. The US Marine Corps Forces
2–5
School, Close-Quarters Battle (CQB; 4,189 ± 476kcal/d), Special Operations Command (MARSOC) Individual Train-
and Derna Bridge (DB; 3,754 ± 314kcal/d). Body mass was ing Course (ITC) is a relatively new SOF qualification course,
lost (p < .05) during SERE, RS, and DB because EI was less and the magnitude of physical demand and whether students
than TDEE (SERE, −3,665kcal/d ± 475kcal/d; RS, −3,966 ± eat adequately during the course is not known. Therefore, the
776kcal/d; and DB, −1,027 ± 740kcal/d; p < .05). However, purpose of this observational study was to characterize energy
body mass was restored before the start of each subsequent balance, dietary macronutrient composition, and diet quality
phase and was not different between the start (86.4 ± 9.8kg) of US Marines participating in ITC.
and end of ITC (86.7 ± 9.0kg). HEI score declined during ITC
(before, 65.6 ± 11.2 versus after, 60.9 ± 9.7; p < .05) because Methods
less greens or beans and more empty calories were consumed
(p < .05). Dietary protein intake was lowest during RS (0.9 ± Experimental Design
0.4g/kg) compared with all other phases, and carbohydrate This longitudinal, observational study measured energy bal-
intake during RS (3.6 ± 1g/kg), CQB (3.6 ± 1.0g/kg), and DB ance (intake minus expenditure), dietary macronutrient com-
(3.7 ± 1.0g/kg) was lower than during the academic phase of position, and changes in diet quality in consenting male US
SERE (5.1 ± 1.0g/kg; p < .05). Conclusion: These data suggest Marines participating in ITC (Stone Bay, Camp Lejeune,
that ITC students, on average, adequately restore body mass North Carolina). Twenty-six Marines volunteered; however,
between intermittent periods of negative energy balance. Edu- six withdrew at various times during the study. Data were ana-
cation regarding the importance of maintaining healthy eating lyzed on the 20 Marines (mean ± standard deviation [SD]: age,
patterns while in garrison, consuming more carbohydrate and 25 ± 2 years; weight, 86 ± 10 kg) who completed all testing.
protein, and better matching EI with TDEE during strenuous Data were collected before, during, and after four predeter-
training exercises may be warranted. mined, sequential field training exercises selected by MAR-
SOC Training command staff (Table 1): (1) Survival, Evasion,
Keywords: Special Operations Forces; protein; carbohydrate; Resistance, Escape (SERE) School, (2) Raider Spirit (RS), (3)
fat; military dietary reference intakes; weight loss Close-Quarters Battle (CQB), and (4) Derna Bridge (DB). Diet
quality was assessed at the start and end of ITC.
Introduction
Training Phase Descriptions
US Special Operations Forces (SOF) qualification training ITC is a 9-month SOF qualification program in which Marines
elicits high daily energy expenditures due to sustained periods are trained in a variety of skills to become Critical Skills Op-
of physical work. The training environments and schedules erators (CSOs). SERE is a 19-day training exercise separated
1
*Correspondence to stefan.m.pasiakos.civ@mail.mil
1 CPT Sepowitz is a research dietitian with the Military Nutrition Division at the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick,
2
MA. Mr Armstrong is a research dietitian with the Military Nutrition Division at the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine,
Natick, MA. Dr Pasiakos is a nutritional physiologist with the Military Nutrition Division at the US Army Research Institute of Environmental
3
Medicine, Natick, MA.
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