Physiological Performance of Soldiers Conducting

A study was conducted to investigate the physiological performance of soldiers undertaking long range reconnissance and surveillance activities in the Rlbara region, WA. The results indicated that soldiers experienced very low levels of heat strain during the transport and the setting up of the observation post phases. The heat strain increased to moderate levels while the subjects were conducting a route march in the afternoon. None of the thermal strain indicators (mean core temperature, average heart rate and average area weighted mean skin temperature) exceeded the level considered to indicate moderate heat strain by most civilian OH&S practitioners. The work load on the route march was approximately 50 % of the peak metabolic rate, suggesting that this activity was sustainable provided that the environmental heat stress remained moderate. The sweating rate of the soldiers was generally low, with over 90 % of the fluid loss attributable to evaporative cooling. There was also evidence that some soldiers experienced hypohydration while one subject appeared hyperhydrated. Based on the outcomes of the Soldier Combat Systems Enhancement Studies and the guidance from DOHSMAN, it is recommended that soldier