The effect of training of military skills on performance in cold environment

Mil Med. 2006 Aug;171(8):757-61. doi: 10.7205/milmed.171.8.757.

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate how training for disassembling and assembling a weapon and patrol data message terminal and loading a magazine in different temperatures affected the ability to perform those skills in a cold environment. One group trained six times on separate days in a warm environment (19 degrees C), the second group trained three times in a warm environment and then three times in a cold environment (-15 degrees C), and the third group trained six times in the cold environment. Training first in warm and then in cold shortened performance time by 6% to 28%, in comparison to training only in a warm environment. Also, training in cold made the subjects faster than training in warm. In conclusion, before performing military operations in a cold environment, it is most beneficial to train first in warm and then in cold. Training only in warm produces the lowest level of performance in a cold environment.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological*
  • Anthropometry
  • Cold Temperature*
  • Conditioning, Psychological / physiology*
  • Female
  • Finland
  • Firearms
  • Hot Temperature*
  • Humans
  • Military Medicine*
  • Military Personnel / education*
  • Motor Skills / physiology*
  • Physical Education and Training
  • Skin Temperature / physiology
  • Task Performance and Analysis*