Thermal-Work Strain during Marine Rifle Squad Operations in Afghanistan (March 2010)
Abstract
The United States Marine Corps (USMC) Program Manager Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad (PM MERS) has conducted a series of in-theater equipment surveys and analyses with Regimental Combat Teams (RCT) stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Anecdotal evidence from 2007 suggested that Marines in Iraq experienced high heat strain while performing missions in full combat gear (assault loads), especially during the summer months. In conjunction with the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), PM MERS successfully used ambulatory physiological monitors to evaluate thermal-work strain (heat strain) during Marine RCT missions in Iraq during the summer of 2008 [3]. The data collected during this time period confirmed that Marines experienced high levels of thermal-work strain even during low intensity missions. In 2009 the Marine Corps mission focus switched to Afghanistan. This technical report details the physiological status of Marines engaged in regular dismounted missions under spring time conditions in Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines RCT 7 (March 2010).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA545301
Entities
People
- Alexander P. Welles
- Anthony J. Karis
- Carl Desantis
- Demetri Economos
- Jeffrey Stower
- Lee M Margolis
- Mark J. Buller
- Mark W. Richter
- Reed W. Hoyt
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine