Retrospective case series of five nontraumatic deaths among U.S. Air Force basic military trainees (1997-2007).

Introduction: Basic military training is both physically and mentally demanding. New recruits represent a young and relatively healthy subpopulation of individuals, and premature mortality is rare. The purpose of this retrospective case series is to discuss the causes of nontraumatic deaths among U.

Pneumonia in military trainees: a comparison study based on adenovirus serotype 14 infection.

Background: Adenovirus serotype 14 (Ad-14) recently emerged as a respiratory pathogen in the United States, with studies suggesting higher morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to determine whether Ad-14 is associated with clinical outcomes in otherwise healthy patients with pneumonia.

Methods: Medical records of military trainees hospitalized with pneumonia during an outbreak of Ad-14 infection were reviewed.

Effect on injuries of assigning shoes based on foot shape in air force basic training.

Background: This study examined whether assigning running shoes based on the shape of the bottom of the foot (plantar surface) influenced injury risk in Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT) and examined risk factors for injury in BMT.

Methods: Data were collected from BMT recruits during 2007; analysis took place during 2008. After foot examinations, recruits were randomly consigned to either an experimental group (E, n=1042 men, 375 women) or a control group (C, n=913 men, 346 women).

Hydration status of Air Force military basic trainees after implementation of the back-mounted hydration system.

The Air Force makes an extraordinary effort to prevent heat-related illnesses associated with basic military training (BMT) in south Texas. However, inadequate hydration can still contribute to lost training time and qualified trainees leaving military service without completing BMT. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether equipping BMTs with back-mounted hydration systems (BM) is better than the standard-issue (SI) canteens with respect to hydration status.