Vådabekämpningar är inget nytt fenomen när det kommer till militära operationer. För att kunna lösa detta problem så måste man ta reda på vilka de största orsakerna till vådabekämpning är samt vilka lösningar det finns för att minska risken. I denna uppsats har det genomförts kvalitativa litteraturstudier om fenomenet vådabekämpning, från Operation Desert Storm och framåt.  Syftet med uppsatsen är att studera hur arbetet med att förhindra vådabekämpningar skulle kunna se ut, samt ta reda på vilka de största anledningarna är till att vådabekämpningar uppstår.  Analysen visar att det finns en rad olika orsaker till att vådabekämpningar uppstår. Vidare så visas ett antal åtgärder som kan vidtas för att minska risken för vådabekämpningar. Resultatet visar på att det går att reducerar riskerna, men att fenomenet aldrig helt kan försvinna. / When it comes to military operations, fratricide is not a new phenomenon. In order to solve the problem of fratricide, one has to be aware of its major cause as well as the means by which the risk of fratricide can be decreased. This paper presents a qualitative study of literature concerning the phenomenon of fratricide from the time of Operation Desert Storm and after. The purpose of the paper is to learn how the work to prevent fratricide might be organized as well as outlining the major causes of fratricide.  The analysis shows that there are several causes to fratricide. It also presents a number of actions that can be taken to decrease the risk of it happening. The result shows that even though the risk can indeed be reduced the phenomenon as such will never disappear completely.

Thesis (M. of Military Art and Science)--U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, 2007. / The original document contains color images. Title from title page of PDF document (viewed on May 27, 2008).

Thesis (Master of Military Studies)-Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 2008. / Title from title page of PDF document (viewed on: Feb 2, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

En ökad exploatering och markanvändning har under det senaste århundradet kraftigt reducerat odlingslandskapets variationsrikedom och biodiversitet, vilket medfört drastiskt förändrade livsvillkor för många arter på jorden. Forskning visar att militära övnings- och skjutfält har kommit att bli en tillflyktsort för många hotade arter, dels  på grund av att de blivit förskonade från annan markexploatering och dels för att de militära störningarna visat sig gynna många arter.   Denna studie har som syfte  att utreda vilka störningsregimer som historiskt gynnat biodiversiteten på Torhamns övnings- och skjutfält  i sydöstra Blekinge. I denna undersökning analyseras biodiversitet på landskaps- och artnivå. Tidigare resultat från pollenanalyser ca en mil norr om undersökningsområdet visar att regionen har präglats av markanvändningsformerna bete och slåtter under flera tusen år och att den floristiska diversiteten varit hög sedan tidig järnålder. Den militära verksamhet som bedrivits på Torhamns udde under de senaste 100 åren har med stor sannolikhet bidragit till att bevara de unika naturvärden som finns där idag. En viktig slutsats som kunnat dras av denna studie är att biologisk mångfald förändras över tiden och att det finns en tydlig koppling till markanvändningsförändringar. Det är med kunskap om den historiska markanvändningen som det går att förklara varför flora och fauna ser ut som den gör idag och för att kunna främja biologisk mångfald på militära övnings- och skjutfält, är det därför av största vikt, att ha ett paleoekologiskt perspektiv vid upprättandet av bevarandemål och hållbara handlingsplaner. / The increasing exploitation of land and the changes in land use over the last few hundred years has led to a marked reduction in the biodiversity of the landscape. Species populations have diminished in number or even gone locally extinct due to habitat loss. Research has shown that military training areas have become a refuge for many endangered species, partly due to the fact that these areas have been spared from exploitation of the land and partly due to the fact that these species have thrived as a result of the disturbance of habitat caused by military activity.   This study aims to clarify which types of disturbance have had a positive effect on the biodiversity of Torhamns udde in South East Blekinge through history. In this investigation biodiversity is analyzed at the landscape and species levels. Earlier results from a pollen analysis north of the study area show that the region has been affected by land use over a period of several thousand years. The military activity that has taken place in the area over the last hundred years, has contributed to the preservation of the unique natural environment that exists there today. An important conclusion from this study is that changes in biodiversity are strongly connected with changes in land use. The present composition in the flora and fauna may thus largely be explained by the historical land use. In order to positively influence the biodiversity of a military training area, it is important to have a palaeoecological approach, when conservation and management plans are being set up.

Master of Science / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / James M. Steichen / Military maneuvers involve effectively moving soldiers and equipment across training lands, and this often involves crossing streams. Fording of streams by military vehicles poses a potential for degradation of stream habitats through change of bank angle or excess shear of stream banks and the resultant generation of excessive quantities of sediment, possibly exceeding Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) limits for water quality downstream. This study examines the impact of low water fords on stability of six stream reaches at Fort Riley. Streams with constructed low water fords were mapped and classified according to Rosgen Stream Classification System (1996). Results indicate that some of these streams exhibit some level of instability, which includes bed form changes, accelerated stream bank erosion and backwater pool formation in the vicinity of stream crossings. Poorly constructed fords may act as dams disrupting the transport of sediment along the stream reaches, posing a potential shift in stream equilibrium. Another factor contributing to stream instability is sediment generated from upland areas and routed through approach roads leading to stream crossing sites. The sediment deposited into streams at these crossing locations is a water quality concern, and again poses the potential of disrupting stream equilibrium. Field observations indicate that poorly located stream crossings can alter the direction of stream flow, causing bank erosion on areas immediately below stream crossings. This demonstrates the importance of locating stream crossings on stable locations along a stream reach. Some of the stream reaches also show signs of success ional change. These stream changes have direct implications on the low water fords on Fort Riley. As a result of these stream changes, there will be need to constantly modify the designs and construction techniques of the low water fords in order to accommodate changes in stream dimensions, pattern and profile. Finally, criteria for site selection, design and construction of low water fords are discussed.

Magister Artium (Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science) - MA(SRES) / The job demands of naval members are such that they experience high levels of stress. Stress is often introduced during military training so that real-world stress is more familiar and easy to mitigate. This is often referred to as “train how you fight”. In order to train a stressful task, a stressful environment is often created in the military. The aim of the study was to develop a standardised appraisal tool for the Therapeutic Recreation Stress Management Intervention Model measuring stress, stress coping and leisure behaviour of military staff in the South African context. This study utilised a qualitative research design and followed a multi stage procedure in developing the appraisal tool while making use of the model of instrument development to achieve the aim. The model identified four stages of instrument development: Phase 1, preliminary phase; Phase 2, questionnaire development, Phase 3 pilot testing, Phase 4 Evaluation phase. For the purpose and scope of this study, the researcher focused on phases 1 and 2. Phase 1, the Preliminary phase focused on the translation of the study needs into variables, current literature, interviews and focus group discussions. Three focus groups comprised of eight participants per group and were purposefully selected from military naval staff. In addition, semi-structured interview guides were used for interviews conducted with key informants. Five senior officers and two psychologists from the Institute of Maritime Medicine (IMM) were interviewed. Data was analysed deductively due to the existence of pre-determined themes. In Phase 2, based on the data collected in phase 1, the researcher developed the appraisal tool. The appraisal tool was constructed within the scope of the theoretical framework focusing on the perceptions of naval staff on stress; previous and current leisure experiences; knowledge, skills, resources, behaviour; leisure-coping beliefs; and stress- coping strategies. The literature in the present study revealed that there were six pre-determined themes. The themes included: Theme 1 – Stressors in the military, Theme 2 –support in the military, Theme 3- operational deployment of military members, Theme 4- Impact of stress on military families have been identified as theme four, Theme 5- leadership and Theme 6- sport and recreation in the military. Salient topics included the following: Stress assessment salient topics are personal stress, occupational stress, wellness and operational deployment. Leisure behaviour salient topics include social activities, passive activities, physical activities and outdoor activities. The findings in the study revealed that stress had an adverse effect on military readiness and the wellbeing of staff. This study reiterated the need for greater attention in the rendering of support services needed to military members and their families, preparing families for separation and improved communication between deployed soldiers and the home front. Job-induced separations affect not only the soldier and the spouse, but also their children. The role of the supervisor played a large part in how satisfied and committed the members were regarding their job. Sport and Recreation programs are vital to alleviate the symptoms of stress. The appraisal tool developed needs to be piloted and evaluated in order to recommend it for use in SANDF information systems.

Past research and government reports document that Security Force Assistance (SFA) provided by the United States to partner nations often failed to achieve the desired impact of developing the capacity and capability of the partner to defeat an insurgency and maintain security. A lack of research and available data inhibit the identification of reasons SFA programs fail. In this qualitative phenomenological study, the perspectives of recipients of training were explored to understand the factors that impact the development of capability and capacity as a result of SFA training. The agency theory was applied as the theoretical framework in the study to examine possible conflicting objectives between the United States and the partner nation. The research questions addressed the training effectiveness by exploring the perspectives of Sub-Sahara African soldiers that received training and senior leaders of their army that was engaged in counterinsurgency operations. Data from interviews with 17 soldiers that received training and 5 senior leaders were coded and compared to developed major themes. The results showed evidence of limited capability development but no capacity development as a result of SFA training. The primary reason for the lack of development was that the training provided skills the recipient army was not able to incorporate in its operations or sustain. The results of this study indicated issues that practitioners could address to improve SFA programs and achieve the desired impact. Creating more effective SFA programs will help develop partner nation security forces that can maintain security for their civilian populations in which human development can thrive and eliminate safe havens for terrorist organizations that threaten the United States and its allies.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Educational Leadership / W. Franklin Spikes / The United States (U.S.) response to events in Africa in the 1990s—warlords in Somalia, the genocide in Rwanda, the crisis in Burundi, and the destruction of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania—was the development of the African Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI) followed by the African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) program. This study examined the impact of the command and staff operational skills portion of the ACOTA program to determine how well it prepared Ghanaian commanders and staff officers to conduct peace support operations under the auspices of a legitimate mandate. The importance of this program was revealed in its wide acceptance by the African leaders of 24 participating nations, by its ongoing support by the U.S. State Department, and by the budgetary increases it has received from the U.S. Congress over the years. This case study used qualitative methods to capture and analyze the self-reported perceptions of the course participants. Findings discovered that the students perceived the program as effective; team building was a perceived strength; U.S.-Ghanaian cultural differences were not perceived as effecting training; the teaching methodology instilled confidence to perform the mission; and course reference material, books, and CD-ROMs were valued. Results also showed that the time allowed for the course was insufficient; contingency training did not familiarize students with their mission area; students required timely notification to attend the course in order to properly prepare; and the course benefited the junior officers more than the senior officers.

TITLE: Human Protection in Emergencies as a part of Health Education AUTHOR: Iva Metelková DEPARTMENT: Department of Education SUPERVISOR: PaedDr. Eva Marádová, CSc. ABSTRACT Human Protection in Emergency (HPE) is the subject of this theoretical research thesis. The theoretical part focuses on a set of human protection in emergency and military training in the broader historical context but also legislative context. Space is devoted to the unambiguous definition of related terms. Furthermore the course curriculum reform with emphasis on the level of secondary vocational education. The practical part is focused on the evaluation of the research that was conducted among the students of first and second years of nonscience oriented secondary vocational schools. Data for the research was obtained by questionnaire survey and analyzed the statistical method. The work also includes a draft concept for the implementation of the teaching of human protection in emergencies. The objective of this proposal is to ensure access to information concerning the HPE for students but also for teachers and that contribute to the formation of desirable patterns of behavior for participation in the incident. KEY WORDS: emergency event, protection of man, military training, vocational education, comparison, chemical experiment

The subject of this diploma thesis is an analysis of the historical existence of European bison in the Czech geographical region and an evaluation of the significance of its presence to the surrounding landscape. The goal of the thesis is to depict bison population changes in the Czech territory over time and the meaning of efforts to reintroduce the bison into its natural habitat. An important part of the work then will be the preparation, realization and evaluation of two excursions during which students go for European bison directly into the field.