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Background: The geopolitical events of recent years have led NATO to focus on regional defense plans to prepare for Article 5 scenarios. The soldiers of the 1 German Netherlands Corps (1GNC) perform their service in the function of a rapidly deployable headquarters and are subject to special requirements for this purpose. This paper aims to assess the impact of a NATO exercise on soldiers' conditions of service and mental health.
Methods: Observational cohort study on two locations with two rounds of data collection, which includes the adapted Culture of Care Barometer (aCoCB), the translated Military Mental Health Tracker (MMHT), and questions to measure conditions of service. Using the ROBINS-I tool, the risk of bias varied, with instances of low, moderate, and severe risks identified. Level of evidence: III (AHCPR).
Results: Out of 89 returned questionnaires (35.6 % response rate), 73 were analyzed statistically. The aCoCB and MMHT showed statistically significant positive correlations in average values pre- and post-exercise. The group analysis of “number of exercises” in the aCoCB showed a significant difference between the subgroups “2-3” and “≥4”, with higher mean values in subgroup “≥4”. The MMHT revealed a significant disparity between the mean values of subgroups “≤1” and “≥4” in the group “years spent in 1GNC. Higher mean values were measured in subgroup “≥4”. Factor analysis of both tools indicated positive correlations across all factors. The average values and differences in the individual questions were analyzed in detail.
Conclusion: Our study conclusively demonstrates that NATO soldiers experience has a positive impact while practicing in an isolated environment. The insights gained are essential for improving duty processes and advising commanders on mitigating adverse effects. Structured questionnaires are essential for surveying soldiers' service and mental health conditions, which are fundamental to mission success. It is important to note that military exercises in bunkers do not require any special preparation, unlike isolation practices in the Navy, space travel, or remote expeditions. Controlled exercises like Steadfast Jupiter 2023 (STJU23) provide invaluable observations that must not be overlooked.