title: Current trends in the usage of the Adaptability Rating for Military Aviation (ARMA) among USAF flight surgeons.
abstract: The Adaptability Rating for Military Aviation (ARMA) is that portion of the initial flight physical that assesses an aviator candidate's motivation for and potential adaptability toward an aviation career. A survey was mailed to all USAF operational flight surgeons in the continental U.S. to describe the frequency and distribution of ARMA usage and attitudes. Descriptive statistics suggest that the ARMA is used suboptimally in accordance with current USAF regulation. ARMA training, flight surgeon satisfaction and lack of regulation clarity are described and discussed. More flight surgeons are dissatisfied with the ARMA than are satisfied, and the regulation is perceived as unclear in the area of final disposition for candidates with equivocal ARMA's. A post-hoc analysis to rule out the influences of rank, gender, experience and residency training was performed. Residency training in Aerospace Medicine is beneficial in terms of doing an ARMA, when required, and covering recommended areas. Females and those with less than 1 year experience perform an ARMA more frequently than males and experienced flight surgeons. Despite the limitations of the current ARMA, it should not be abandoned. Recommendations to improve it are provided. Doing better ARMA's can lead to decreased illness, injury, accidents, and attrition.
authors.affiliation: USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, TX.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Verdone
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sipes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miles
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D001077:Aptitude Tests; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D009042:Motivation; D014481:United States