title: Improving readiness and fitness of the active military force through occupational medicine tenets.
abstract: The United States Military deploys its forces with minimal lead time. These forces must be medically qualified and physically fit for any locale and mission scenario. Historically, up to half of the force identified for deployment at any given time were not medically qualified. Matching individuals to specific occupations using validated medical and physical performance standards is an occupational medicine tenet that increases the effectiveness and efficiency of the workforce. To establish a cost-effective, valid medical program ensuring a fit and ready force, the military must: (1) develop validated physical fitness/occupational standards; (2) consolidate one fitness standard for males/females on the basis of workload requirements; (3) eliminate differing age standards; (4) provide statistically relevant medical screening, testing for health maintenance, and fitness for duty; and (5) mandate one joint medical standard for all military services.
authors.affiliation: Antietam Occupational Medicine, Hagerstown, Md., USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Popper
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yourkavitch
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McDaniels
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Hankins
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Curtis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D008889:Military Personnel; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012016:Reference Values