Huck, Deanna
(2023)
Sex Comparison of Physical and Physiological Changes in Characteristics During Marines Ground Combat Military Occupational Specialty Training.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
The rescindment of the Direct Ground Combat Assignment Rule allowed women to serve in all Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) assignments. The Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force (GCE ITF) was established to train female Marines in ground combat MOS skills and assess how sex integration of ground combat units impacts tactical performance. Examining the changes in physical and physiological characteristics of women during integration is essential. PURPOSE: To observe and investigate how physical and physiological characteristics of both men and women change during ground combat MOS training. METHODS: 60 Marines (24 women, height=160.08 20.85 cm, weight=66.32 6.19 kg; and 36 men, height=178.51 6.38 cm, weight=78.48 10.57 kg) completed testing during pre-ITF and post-ITF time points. Body composition was collected via air displacement plethysmography; trunk, shoulder, and knee strength were collected with an isokinetic dynamometer; aerobic fitness and lactate threshold was assessed with a metabolic unit and lactate analyzer; and anaerobic fitness was collected with an electromagnetically braked cycle ergometer. Results were analyzed with a two-way measure analysis of variance. RESULTS: A main effect of time (p<0.05) was found for the following variables: body fat percentage, trunk flexion and extension strength, right and left shoulder internal rotation strength, left knee flexion strength, and right knee extension strength. A main effect of sex (p<0.05) was found for the following variables: body fat percentage, trunk flexion and extension strength, right and left shoulder internal rotation strength, right shoulder external rotation strength, right and left knee flexion and extension strength, VO2 max, lactate threshold, and anaerobic capacity. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that male Marines tended to be stronger than female Marines, had better aerobic and anaerobic fitness, and less body fat. Additionally, many of the variables tested showed a reduction from pre- to post-ITF training and assessment. The results of this study provided evidence that there are sex differences in body composition, strength, and physiological fitness after ITF training and assessment phases in Marines.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
11 July 2023 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
8 May 2023 |
| Approval Date: |
11 July 2023 |
| Submission Date: |
17 May 2023 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
69 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences > Sports Medicine and Nutrition |
| Degree: |
MS - Master of Science |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Tactical Performance |
| Date Deposited: |
11 Jul 2023 15:44 |
| Last Modified: |
11 Jul 2023 15:44 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/44881 |
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