Predictors Of Physical Readiness In Rotary Wing Naval Aviators

Naval aviators must be physically qualified and aeronautically adapted (i.e., able to successfully perform in an aviation environment). U.S. Navy helicopter pilot missions include, but are not limited to, search and rescue, personnel extraction from dangerous environments, and tracking/neutralizing enemy submarines. Such operational demands require optimal health and readiness, which are understudied in this population. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of physical readiness in MH-60S Seahawk helicopter pilots. METHODS: Male (n = 32) and female (n = 5) aviators from Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific participated in this cross-sectional study and completed a survey of self-reported measures (e.g., fatigue, sleep). A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to explore the influence of potential factors on physical readiness as measured by the 15-item Military Readiness Scale (MRS-15). Alpha was set to .05 for all statistical tests. RESULTS: Data are presented as means ± standard deviations. The average age of the study sample was 31.7 ± 5.4 years. Independent variables were pain = 2.7 ± 1.8, fatigue = 4.4 ± 1.9, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score = 6.3 ± 3.6, and vigorous exercise frequency per week = 2.8 ± 1.6 days. The dependent variable was the MRS-15 physical readiness score = 74.3 ± 19.5% (raw score = 8.9 ± 2.3 out of 12). Pain, fatigue, sleep quality, and vigorous exercise predicted physical readiness, F(4,30) = 7.178, p < .001, R2adj = .421. However, pain was the only independent predictor (p < .05). Candidate covariates (i.e., sex, age) were unrelated to both the independent and dependent variables (all ps > .05) and thus, were not included in the regression model. CONCLUSIONS: The average MRS-15 physical readiness score indicates an improvement opportunity for most individuals in this study. Although readiness is multidimensional, naval aviators who are seeking to specifically increase physical readiness should focus on mitigating fatigue, improving sleep quality, increasing physical activity, and prioritizing pain management. These findings will help to inform the development of human performance interventions and are part of the ultimate transition of our larger study into the Naval Aircrew Tactical Athlete Program. Supported by: This work was supported by the Defense Health Agency under work unit no. 62362.