title: The Relationship Between Deployment Frequency and Cumulative Duration, and Discharge for Disability Retirement Among Enlisted Active Duty Soldiers and Marines.
abstract: The frequency and duration of deployments associated with increased morbidity is a significant concern for force health protection within the military population. Understanding the association between deployment and disability may provide a clearer understanding of factors adversely affecting U.S. military force readiness.
  
  
  
  A case-control analysis was conducted using records on enlisted active duty personnel in the Army and Marine Corps who were evaluated for a musculoskeletal disability and received a final disability disposition between FY 2003 and 2012. The study compared deployment, deployment frequency, and total time deployed in personnel who received musculoskeletal disability retirement to those with a musculoskeletal disability discharge other than retirement.
  
  
  
  For females and males in either service, any deployment was associated with an increased risk of disability retirement (adjusted odds ratios [aOR] [95% confidence intervals (CI)]: males 1.76 [1.65-1.87]; females 1.41 [1.21-1.64]). Furthermore, increasing number of deployments (3+ deployments males aOR [95% CI]: 2.21 [1.92-2.53]) and time spent deployed (24+ months Army Males aOR [95% CI]: 2.07 [1.79-2.40]) significantly increased the odds for disability retirement.
  
  
  
  Increasing frequency and duration of military deployments has an increased risk of disability retirement in service members with a musculoskeletal disability. Further research on this relationship is needed in a more representative sample of the U.S. military population.
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
authors.forename: Ricardford R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Boivin
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Packnett
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
authors.forename: Christine F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Toolin
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Cowan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012179:Retirement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014729:Veterans Disability Claims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014857:Warfare