Risk Assessment on the Battlefield the road to a new specific military model, to conserve fighting strength.

Abstract

To investigate the opportunities of creating a relevant addition to already existing risk assessment models, specific for military personnel, three subjects were examined. The first research focuses on useful components from the EmZoo report (2010) and the report of Krause (2008). The chapter written by Havelaar et al. (2010) “Emerging Zoonoses Information an Priority-setting system.” contains 7 prioritizing criteria of which 5 where usable (Transmission between animals; Transmission from animals to humans; Transmission between humans; Morbidity and Mortality). Preventability and treatability are two health gain opportunity criteria selected from the report of Krause (2008), supplemented by the EmZoo (2010) criteria there is a start for a new model. To conserve fighting strength, deployment is the most important during a mission, so the operational readiness should be further examined.

The second research attempted to quantify operational readiness, by questioning health and safety offices. In the questionnaire information on work related absence was collected, unfortunately there was little information collected about infectious diseases. In order to gather information on the first days of work related absence, sick military personnel should be questioned.

In the last research an example of a disease symptom questionnaire was created. Every soldier visiting a doctor should fill up this questionnaire in order to gather information on disease symptoms they suffer from. However, creating a valid questionnaire will take more effort than possible in this project.

In conclusion an addition to already existing models can be made by a combination of criteria from the EmZoo report (2010) and Krause (2008) completed by “operational readiness”. However, further research and elaboration is needed to create a valid model for military use.