title: Identifying British Army infantry recruit population characteristics using biographical data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The infantry accounts for more than a quarter of the British Army but there is a lack of data about the social and educational background of its recruits.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide an insight into British Army infantry recruits' personal, social and educational background prior to enlistment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample consisted of infantry recruits who enlisted into the British Army School of Infantry. Each recruit completed a 95-item biographical questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample in terms of demographic, physical, personal, social and educational attributes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study sample consisted of 1000 male recruits. Over half of the recruits were consuming alcohol at a hazardous or harmful level prior to enlistment and 60% of recruits had used cannabis prior to joining the Army. Academic attainment was low, with the majority of recruits achieving GCSE grade C and below in most subjects, with 15% not taking any examinations. Over half the recruits had been in trouble with the police and either been suspended or expelled from school.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substance misuse and poor behaviour are highly prevalent among recruits prior to enlistment. Taken alongside existing evidence that some of these problems are commonplace among personnel in regular service, the assumption that the British Army infantry is, in itself, a cause of these behaviours should be questioned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Room G207 (Second Floor), Northumbria University Newcastle, Coach Lane Campus East, Benton, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7XA, UK, matt.kiernan@northumbria.ac.uk.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kiernan
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Edith Cavell Building, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.affiliation: Recovery Lead, Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust, Duncan Macmillan House, Porchester Road, Nottingham NG3 6AA, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Repper
authors.affiliation: Hull University Business School, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, North Humberside HU6 7RX, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukhuty
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Military Mental Health, King's Centre for Military Health Research, King's College, London WC2R 2LS, UK.
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Fear
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000379:methods; D010809:Physical Fitness; D015995:Prevalence; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012923:Social Class; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Army; forces; health status; healthy lifestyles; military.