Bruce S. Cohen

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Research Psychologist & Physiologist at U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Weapons training in the U.S. Army has followed a time-tested curriculum. The U.S. Army’s metric of marksmanship proficiency is the Basic Rifle Marksmanship (BRM) record fire test (RFT). The traditional scoring method requires a minimum score of 23 to pass, with a maximum score of 40 possible. In addition to assessing performance by RFT, USARIEM ha...

Introduction US Army Initial Entry Training (IET) aims to develop general fitness and conditioning among large groups of trainees. Despite group mean improvement in physical fitness during IET, some trainees experience substantial gains and others experience no improvement or even declines in fitness. The purpose of this study was to examine the as...

“Excusercise” is “getting exercise out of making excuses for not exercising.” This twist of a phrase/play-on-words is a small attempt at including humor in addressing the serious subject of sedentariness. A sedentary lifestyle is most likely the leading factor behind the mortality rate associated with our current obesity epidemic. Most individuals...

The primary purpose of the Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) is to ensure all trainees can meet the physical demands of their intended MOS and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury. This study investigated the relationship between performance on the OPAT and attrition/separation from the U.S. Army beginning with the end of Initial En...

CBE measurements were taken with a retractable tape in triplicate to the nearest 0.5 inch at the neck and abdomen for males, and the neck, waist and hips for females. %BF estimates were calculated using the sex-specific Hodgdon equation 2,3. Male equation: % Body Fat = [86.010 x Log 10 (abdomen-neck)]-[70.041 x Log 10 (height)] + 36.76 Female equat...

Excuses for not exercising are the professional and personal bane of our existence as exercise psychologists-they are everywhere, and number in the hundreds. While not everyone makes excuses for not exercising (there are many who exercise regularly and making excuses doesn"t even come into consideration), the majority of individuals who exercise (w...

The purpose of this study was to define the exercise relapse stage of behavior change in terms of excuses or perceived barriers, self-efficacy, decisional balance, and motives. Nine hundred and thirty-one participants from a sample of convenience responded to a 68-question Internet survey. Participants had a mean age of 37.4 (SD ± 12.9) years. Cauc...

CBE measurements were taken with a retractable tape in triplicate to the nearest 0.5 inch at the neck and abdomen for males, and the neck, waist and hips for females. %BF estimates were calculated using the sex-specific Hodgdon equation 2,3. Male equation: % Body Fat = [86.010 x Log 10 (abdomen-neck)]-[70.041 x Log 10 (height)] + 36.76 Female equat...

What’s your excuse for not attaining your fitness/exercise goals? With Drs. Bruce & Mike there is no excuse that cannot be overcome with effective strategies. We have researched, counselled, and coached people on how to plan and implement effective and efficient solutions to their exhaustive exercise excuse-making. In EXCUSERCISE: Inexcusable Exerc...

BACKGROUND: The U.S. Army uses a circumference-based equation (CBE) to estimate body fat (%BF) of Soldiers. Since adoption, the Army population has changed, and a re-evaluation of body composition testing is warranted. Modern technology offers increased precision, however the accuracy of newer methods has not been evaluated.

Context: The Osteoarthritis Action Alliance formed a secondary prevention task group to develop a consensus on secondary prevention recommendations to reduce the risk of osteoarthritis after a knee injury. Objective: Our goal was to provide clinicians with secondary prevention recommendations that are intended to reduce the risk of osteoarthriti...

After an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, people need secondary prevention strategies to identify osteoarthritis at its earliest stages so that interventions can be implemented to halt or slow the progression toward its long-term burden. The Osteoarthritis Action Alliance formed an interdisciplinary Secondary Prevention Task Group to develo...

This study measured the impact of occupational experience (i.e., time spent deployed/in military service/in job, and task performance frequency in training/deployment/study practice) on the physiological (heart rate [HR], and oxygen consumption [VO2]) and perceptual (Rate of Perceived Exertion [RPE]) responses to performance of critical physically...

Military recruits are at elevated risk of injury during training. However, many are hesitant to report their injuries, a factor which can degrade medical readiness and add to the financial burden of training. Research examining factors that influence injury reporting by military trainees is limited. The present study examines psychological and phys...

Introduction Drill sergeants work under mentally and physically challenging conditions. The current study examined self-reported rates of physical injuries in drill sergeants; rates of treatment-seeking for injuries; perceived barriers toward treatment-seeking; and associated demographic and environmental factors. Materials and Methods Drill serge...

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) during U.S. Army Basic Combat Training (BCT) are pervasive, costly, and erode training effectiveness. Research has explored factors, particularly physical and demographic characteristics, which contribute to injury risk in military trainees. Psychological traits, such as hardiness and grit, have been associated with...

This abstract (# MHSRS-22-06767 for Treatment Strategies Following Musculoskeletal Injury) was accepted (on May 05, 2022) for a poster presentation. TITLE: Evaluation of Special Operations Aviation Soldiers’ Musculoskeletal Injury Reporting Using the Theory of Planned Behavior. The purpose of this study was to explore injury reporting rates and des...

Introduction: Drill sergeants work under mentally and physically challenging conditions. The current study examined: self-reported rates of physical injuries in drill sergeants; rates of treatment-seeking for injuries; perceived barriers toward treatment seeking; and associated demographic and environmental factors. Materials and Methods: Drill ser...

Marksmanship performance is a challenging skill for recreational enthusiasts, sport competitors and tactical (military and law enforcement) athletes. Peak performance is associated with the favorable psychological state of 'flow,' occurring when we perceive equilibrium between challenges and our capabilities. Stressors, like sleep loss, disrupt mar...

Background: In 2013 the U.S. Army began developing physical tests to predict a recruit's ability to perform the critical physically demanding tasks (CPDTs) of combat arms jobs not previously open to women. Objective: To revalidate 15 CPDTs chosen by subject matter experts (SMEs) and researchers through questionnaires pertaining to task performan...

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) result in approximately 24 million medical visits annually and an excess of 25 million limited duty days with more than 900,000 Servicemembers (SMs) affected each year. Research has revealed that concealment of injuries occurs in both training and deployed environments ultimately resulting in underreporting of MSKIs...

METHODS Subjects Active duty Airmen from AFSPECWAR units were invited to participate in the survey Procedures Subjects completed a one time digital anonymous survey intended to identify MSKI history in the previous 12 months *This survey was adapted and modified into a digital format from a previous study (4) Sample item as seen by participants Sta...

RESULTS BACKGROUND. Currently, there are no validated outcome measures to address a Soldier's psychosocial readiness to Return to Duty (RTD) and how it may impact their ability to perform in a physically demanding military occupational specialty (MOS) following a lower extremity musculoskeletal injury (LE MSKI). The purpose of this study was to det...

RESULTS Background: Currently, there are no validated test batteries which accurately predict Soldier performance on military related tasks to guide return to duty (RTD) decision making following lower extremity musculoskeletal injury (LE MSKI). This study compared the performance of Soldiers on three physical performance tests (PPTs) following reh...

Purpose: This study evaluated the musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) self-reporting behaviors among active-duty Air Force Special Warfare personnel to explore potential limitations of injury surveillance approaches. Methods: Participants completed a 47-item survey between December 2018 and March 2019 regarding their MSKI history. Participants were as...

Peak physical performance is often associated with “being in the zone” or the mental performance state of ‘flow’ typically occurring when a person perceives balance between situational challenges and their capabilities. Stressors capable of degrading marksmanship performance, such as sleep restriction and cognitive demand, may also disrupt ‘flow’....

Statement of the problem: Flow has been described as a state of increased concentration and attention in which one feels absorbed by a task and “in the zone” (Csikszentmihalyi, Abuhamdeh, & Nakamura, 1990). Optimal performance and learning have been positively associated with elevated flow states (Culbertson, Fullagar, Simmons, & Zhu, 2015). Neuros...

Introduction The U.S. Army Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) is a pre-enlistment physical employment screening assessment developed to place recruits and soldiers into Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) based on their physical capabilities in order to optimize performance and limit injury. The OPAT consists of the seated power thro...

Background: Attrition rate in new army recruits is higher than in incumbent troops. In the current study, we identified the risk factors for attrition due to injuries and physical fitness failure in recruit training. A variety of predictive models were attempted. Methods: This retrospective cohort included 19,769 Army soldiers of the Australian...

Abstract: Association of Occupational Physical Assessment Test Performance With Risks of Injury During U.S. Army Initial Entry Training Keith G. Hauret1, Joseph R. Pierce1, Marilyn A. Sharp2, Maria C. Canino2, Jan. E. Redmond2, Bruce S. Cohen2, Stephen A. Foulis2, Bruce H. Jones1 1 Injury Prevention Program, Clinical Public Health and Epidemiolog...

Introduction: There are many ways to quantify the training loads required to perform soldiering tasks. Although indirect calorimetry may provide the most accurate measures, the equipment can be burdensome and expensive. Simpler measures may provide sufficient data, while being more practical for measuring soldiers in the field. The purpose of this...

Introduction This study compared the relationship between height (HT), body mass (BM), and body mass index (BMI) of female trainees and active duty female soldiers and their performance on simulated common soldiering tasks (CSTs) with high physical demands. Methods Female trainees (n = 133) and soldiers (n = 229) completed the following CSTs: sand...

INTRODUCTION: Monitoring heart rate is a prevalent method used in athletics to gauge physical training intensity and recovery in order to produce optimal adaptations. To quantify heart rate training load, summated heart rate zone scores (SumHR) have been utilized by calculating the duration spent in 5 heart rate zones during an activity (1). Advanc...

Background: Beginning in 2017, successfully passing the four-part pre-enlistment Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) became a requirement for all U.S. Army recruits. To ensure the test accurately identifies individuals who are qualified for their job, it was necessary to examine classification errors. Objective: The objectives were to 1...

U.S. Army initial entry training (IET) is designed to prepare trainees for the military environment and subsequent training, including specific programs to increase physical fitness to perform job-specific tasks to the minimal acceptable performance standard (MAPS). The aim of this study was to compare physical fitness and occupational task perform...

The Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) was developed as a pre-enlistment screen to determine a recruit's ability to begin training, and is based on occupation-specific physical demands. The OPAT assesses cardiorespiratory fitness (interval aerobic run (IAR)); upper-and lower-body muscular power (seated power throw (SPT) and standing long...

Introduction Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) pose a significant threat to military readiness and are difficult to monitor due to Soldiers’ reluctance to seek medical treatment. There is high risk of developing MSKIs while going through initial entry training (IET), many of which go unreported. The purposes of this study were to identify the contri...

BACKGROUND: Female trainees are required to perform physically demanding common soldiering tasks (CSTs) during initial training and throughout their career. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between female trainee height (HT), body mass (BM) and body mass index (BMI) and their performance on simulated assessments of high p...

The specific purpose of this report was to describe the inter-relationships between physical performance on the OPAT and APFT and BMI in college-aged (21 + or - 3 y) male (n=774; BMI=25.4 + or - 3.7 kgm-2) and female (n=195; BMI=23.9+ or - 2.7 kgm-2) Army trainees. Differences between male and female trainees on the OPAT and APFT reflect the well-d...

In January 2017, the U.S. Army employed the Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) to determine the physical readiness of recruits (RCs) prior to initial entry training (IET). The OPAT consists of the standing long jump (SLJ), seated power throw (SPT), strength deadlift (SDL), and interval aerobic run (IAR). Recruits who meet the top OPAT lev...

The training implemented during initial entry training (IET) for combat arms trainees (up to 16 weeks) is designed to sufficiently optimize performance of physically demanding occupational tasks. Trainees must be physically capable of performing the tasks within their jobs to the minimal acceptable performance standard, as delineated by U.S. Army T...

Background The 20-m shuttle run test (MSRT) is a common field test used to measure aerobic fitness in controlled environments. The U.S. Army currently assesses aerobic fitness with the two-mile run (TMR), but external factors may impact test performance. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the Army Physical Fitness Test TMR...

Sleep restriction degrades cognitive and motor performance, which can adversely impact job performance and increase the risk of accidents. Military personnel are prone to operating under sleep restriction, and previous work suggests that military marksmanship may be negatively affected under such conditions. Results of these studies, however, are m...

Objectives In 2013, the U.S. Army began developing physical tests to predict a recruit’s ability to perform the critical, physically demanding tasks (CPDTs) of combat arms jobs previously not open to women. The purpose of this paper is to describe the methodology and results of analyses of the accuracy and inclusiveness of the critical physically d...

Objectives: To compare percentages of on-duty time spent performing physically demanding soldier tasks in non-deployed and deployed settings, and secondarily examine the number of physically demanding tasks performed among five Army combat arms occupational specialties. Design: Job task analysis. Methods: Soldiers (n=1295; over 99% serving on...

Summary: There is growing evidence that Polarized Endurance Training (PET) is a promising method for optimizing a tactical athlete's cardiovascular system, preparing quickly and safely for Fitness For Duty physical performance tests, allowing for a more full recovery during deployment and safer return to duty after injury or deployment fitness leve...

Researchers conducted 3 web-administered job analysis questionnaires (JAQs) among Army cavalry scouts and armor crewmen (i.e. Army jobs, or MOSs, 19D and 19K). Two JAQs addressed MOS-specific tasks; the other common soldiering tasks. Tasks were ranked in categories of most frequently done, most important to job, most time consuming, uniform most of...

Researchers conducted 3 web-administered job analysis questionnaires (JAQ's) among Army cannon crewmembers and fire support specialists (i.e. Army jobs, or MOSs, 13B and 13F). Two JAQ's addressed MOS-specific tasks; the other common Soldiering tasks. Tasks were ranked in categories of most frequently done, most important to job, most time consuming...

Successful completion of load carriage (LC) is the best method for assessing a recruit's potential to perform this critical Soldiering task, but the use of physical fitness tests (PFTs) to predict their potential is more time efficient and may mitigate injury risk. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between PFTs and walking...

Hydren, JR and Cohen, BS. Current scientific evidence for a polarized cardiovascular endurance training model. J Strength Cond Res 29(12): 3523-3530, 2015-Recent publications have provided new scientific evidence for a modern aerobic or cardiovascular endurance exercise prescription that optimizes the periodization cycle and maximizes potential end...

Researchers conducted 2 web-administered job analysis questionnaires (JAQ's) among Army combat engineers (Military Operational Specialty [MOS] 12B). One JAQ addressed MOS-specific tasks, the other common soldiering tasks. Tasks were ranked in the following categories; most frequently conducted, most important to job, most time consuming, uniform mo...

This study examined psychological and physical health factors in a cohort of U.S. Marine recruits with the goal of developing a comprehensive understanding of attributes recruits bring to training. 1,350 male recruits completed a multimeasure survey during the first week of training. A 2-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted...

An understanding of the demands of physical activity (PA) during US Army Basic Combat Training (BCT) is necessary to support Soldier readiness and resilience. The purpose of this study was to determine the agreement among 3 different PA measurement instruments in the BCT environment. Twenty-four recruits from each of 11 companies wore an ActiGraph...

During US Army Basic Combat Training (BCT), graduation requirements, including physical readiness training (PRT), are standardized across training sites. However, there are concerns that the standardization may not be closely followed. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to measure and compare physical activity (PA) performed by recruits at 2...

Physical training programs that enhance battlefield-related fitness needs have been increasingly advocated as operational demands on the U.S. military have increased, but few studies have evaluated program effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to compare a novel 7-week physical training program with traditional army physical fitness training...

EXCUSERCISE: DIFFERENTIATING THE RELAPSE STAGE OF EXERCISE BEHAVIOR CHANGE IN TERMS OF PERCEIVED BARRIERS, SELF-EFFICACY, AND MOTIVES VIA AN INTERNET BASED DATA COLLECTION The purpose of this study was to define the exercise relapse stage of behavior change in terms of excuses or perceived barriers, self-efficacy, decisional balance, and motives i...