Association of Performance on the Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT), Injuries, and Attrition during Initial Entry Training - OPAT Phase 1
Abstract
The Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) was developed as a pre-enlistment test to match the right Soldier with the right job(s) (e.g., military occupational specialties (MOSs)) based on sex-neutral physical performance standards. The 4-event OPAT measures physical attributes required to perform the physically demanding tasks of the Combat Arms MOSs. This study was designed to prospectively evaluate potential relationships between physical performance on the 4-event OPAT and two important outcome measures (i.e., injury and attrition) during IET. Among sexes combined and men alone, achievement on the composite (4-event) OPAT was inversely associated with injury risk during the first 10 weeks of IET. Trainees in the Gray (combined sexes: p=0.02; men: p=0.02) and White categories (combined sexes: p<0.01; men: p<0.01) had significantly higher injury risk compared to trainees that met the OPAT standard for the Black PDC. Among sexes combined and men, achievement on the composite OPAT was inversely associated with final IET attrition. Trainees in the lowest performing White category had significantly higher final attrition compared to trainees that met the standard for the Black PDC (sexes combined: p<0.001; men: p<0.01).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1061860
Entities
People
- Bruce H. Jones
- Bruce S. Cohen
- Jan E. Redmond
- Joseph A. Alemany
- Joseph R. Pierce
- Keith H. Hauret
- Maria C. Canino
- Marilyn A. Sharp
- Michael S. Mcgurk
- Ryan A. Steelman
- Stephen A Foulis
- Whitfield B. East
Organizations
- Center for Initial Military Training
- United States Army Public Health Command
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine