A Word From Our Publisher

Greetings JSOM Newsletter Subscribers,


Happy New Year. I would like to wish all of yοu a very happy and successful 2023. The Winter 22 podcast episode will be out soon. You can listen to our podcast on our website, on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please rate, review, and spread the word!


By now, many of our digital subscribers have already accessed the Winter edition. As always, we ask you to share your thoughts with us directly via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn @jsomonline. If a particular article peaks your interest, start a conversation on social media about it with your followers and colleagues and #jsomonline. Those conversations are incredibly important as we continue to grow and evolve.


Thank you for your continued support!

Respectfully,

Michelle DuGuay Landers, MBA, BSN, RN

Breakaway Media, LLC

Publisher

Journal of Special Operations Medicine (JSOM)

Lt Col, USAF/NC (Ret)

publisher@jsomonline.org

www.JSOMonline.org

Purchase our Handbooks

A note about the newsletter design: This newsletter has been created using one cohesive font and a unified JSOM brand and color design. If the banner/header is missing and/or multiple fonts or unusual colors are appearing in your copy, it is a result of your personal settings or the settings attached to your email. For optimal viewing of this newsletter, we suggest opening the newsletter in a browser.
Journal of Special Operations Medicine Featured Abstracts

Improvised Management of Polycythemia Vera Using Whole Blood Transfusion Kits

Carius BMDodge PMBates JACastaneda P. 22(4). 15 - 17. (Journal Article)

ABSTRACT


Polycythemia vera (PV) is a frequent myeloproliferative disease resulting in excessive red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets rarely identified in military populations. Increased blood viscosity and platelets can lead to fatal myocardial infarction and stroke. Historically, regimented phlebotomy managed this condition, but modern medicinal advances now are utilized. These immunosuppressive medications are generally incompatible with active-duty service and can lead to medical discharge. Phlebotomy therefore is critical for readiness and health; however, this can be challenging in resource-limited environments, necessitating effective improvisation. We describe an active-duty Soldier with PV symptoms consisting of substernal chest pressure, bilateral lower extremity paresthesias, and persistent pruritic neck rash. He had an elevated hematocrit (Hct) of 47%, necessitating phlebotomy and posing a challenge to his primary care team. The local emergency medicine team employed blood collection bags from whole blood (WB) transfusion kits, including proven volume estimation methods, to routinely draw one unit of blood and effectively manage this condition. This is the first reported case in military literature of PV managed with improvised field resources and techniques.


Read More

Where Do We Stand on "Buddy Transfusion" During Military Operations?

Daniel YDerkenne CMahe PTravers SMartinaud C. 22(4). 46 - 49. (Journal Article)

ABSTRACT



Warm fresh whole-blood transfusion between comrades on the battlefield, also known as "buddy transfusion," has been thrust back into the limelight for several years now. It means drawing blood on the battlefield, once a bleeding soldier needs a transfusion, from one of their uninjured companions and immediately infusing it. It is a lifesaving procedure, effective and hardy. This work aims to answer the main questions that military caregivers might have about it: interest of this procedure, donor and recipient safety, and hemostatic capacity of the blood collected this way.


Read More

January 2023 Featured Article

Does Mental and Visual Skills Training Improve High-Value Target Identification and Marksmanship Among Elite Soldiers?

Dawes JJ, Tramel W, Bartley N, Bricker D, Werth-Bailey K, Brodine L, Clark C, Goldberg P, Pagel K, Federico T, Bullinger D, Canada DM. 22(4). 22 - 25. (Journal Article)

ABSTRACT


Background: The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to determine the impact of a mental and visual skills training (MVST) program on a high-value target identification and marksmanship (HVTM) task among Special Operations Forces (SOF) Soldiers. Methods: Deidentified archival data for 52 male SOF Operators (age: 31.06 ± 4.10 years) were assessed to determine if differences in performance existed between MVST program users (n = 15) and nonusers (n = 37) on a HVTM task performed immediately after a Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) stress shoot. Independent-samples t-tests were utilized to determine if significant mean score differences existed between groups on specific shooting elements within the HVTM task. Effect size calculations were also performed to assess the magnitude of differences between groups in each measure of performance. Results: Statistically significant differences in performance were not discovered between MVST users and nonusers on overall score (Score) or any individual elements of the HVTM task. However, small to medium effect sizes (d = 0.305-0.493) were observed between groups in Score, Positive Identification Accuracy, Shot Accuracy, and Kill Shot Score. Conclusion: While inconclusive, these findings suggest the use of a MVST program administered by a trained cognitive performance specialist may have the potential to positively influence HVTM performance. More research using larger sample sizes is required to confirm this supposition.


Keywords: shooting; sport psychology; Special Operations Forces; cognition; military

Read More
The Journal of Special Operations Medicine Podcast

The JSOM podcast digs deeper into the articles and subjects that matter to our readers. Our podcast hosts, Captains Alex Merkle and Josh Randles, tackle articles from the journal based on merit, interest, and application for operators in the field.

Current Episode


The new Fall 2022 episode of the JSOM podcast is now available on our website and wherever you listen to podcasts.


This podcast episode is focused on research and contributions made by women in service to the military. We start with a review of "Women in US Military History" by Gretchen Garceau-Kragh.


Guest medic HM1(FMF/EXW) Eric Dodson reviews "Active Warfighter Resilience: A Descriptive Analysis" by Nikki Rarczak-Scarborov, et. al.


Finally, we give an objective review of "Operation Blood Rain Phase 2: Evaluating the Effect of Airdrop on Fresh and Stored Whole Blood." The review is complemented with an interview with lead author Dr. (LtCol.) Roselyn Fuentes.


Listen on our Website
Listen, Rate, and Review on Spotify

Please Support Our Sponsors and Media Partners

The Journal of Special Operations Medicine is proud to have the support of many great sponsors and media partners. Our sponsors are leaders in the field of military medical technology. Please help support these companies by following the links below to learn more about their missions and the products they offer. This section also features peridoic promtional information for events and conferences, including the 2023 SOMA Scientific Assembly. 

Institutional Subscribers

The JSOM is incredibly grateful to have the support of many institutions around the world. We would like to thank our recent institutional subscribers and re-subscribers for their support by acknowledging them in our eNewsletter and, when applicable, sharing their social media information.


Visit https://jsom.us/Library for a full list of institutions currently subscribing to the JSOM. We are beginning a campaign to expand our institutional subscriptions. If you think your company would benefit from an institutional subscription, let us know! We'll be happy to talk to you and get the ball rolling. You don't have to be a university or medical center to subscribe - we have many EMS units, government agencies, and military medical units in the United States and abroad.


Are you on the list? Great! Need to know how to access our resources? You can either contact your head librarian or shoot an email to subscriptions@JSOMonline.org.


Institutions receive a print copy of our journal, digital access, or both. Digital subscribers have unlimited access to our full compendium of articles, journals, and the ATP-P. If you are a student, researcher, doctor, or other medical professionals at one of these institutions, please contact your librarian for login details. Additionally, the digital resources are typically available 2-3 weeks ahead of print publication.


If your institution is not on the list and you want more information about our institutional access, contact our subscriptions manager, Dr. Scott Graverson.

Contact Dr. Graverson

Advertise with the Journal of Special Operations Medicine

For over 20 years, the Journal of Special Operations Medicine (JSOM) has brought important, lifesaving information to the Special Operations Forces (SOF) community. And over the years, as our audience and readership has expanded into over 80 countries, physicians, military and tactical medics, and other medical professionals working in unconventional environments rely on the JSOM for breakthrough research at the intersection of operational medicine and tactical casualty care. Our peer-reviewed research and interactive clinical content make the JSOM a must-read for:


  • Physicians
  • Medics
  • Educators
  • Law Enforcement
  • The military and civilian global medical community


For these reasons, many of the world’s top medical technology companies and medical device distributors make the JSOM a cornerstone of their advertising programs. And with a strong multichannel and social media presence, the JSOM offers the most dynamic print and digital media options at cost-effective prices. For medical marketers worldwide looking to reach our niche audience, the JSOM is the gold standard. For more information, please see our attached media kit.


See Our Media Kit
Support the Journal of Special Operations Medicine
Photo of the Week

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

Photo by Cpl. Grace Kindred 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego


U.S. Marine Corps recruits with Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, participated a tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) practical application event at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. TCCC is a three-phase approach to casualty management, ensuring the appropriate medical care is given at the correct time and place during a combat mission. 


Do You Have a Photo to Share?  

Please send us your approved medical action images for future covers, our journal Photo Gallery, bi-weekly eNewsletters, and JSOM social media! All images must include captions in the emails in which they are sent. Images for print must be high resolution, at least 300 dpi. Images for the eNewsletter and social media must be at least 400px wide, 72 dpi.  


Staff Directory
Facebook  Twitter  Linkedin  Instagram  

Breakaway Media, LLC, is a woman service-disabled veteran-owned small business (WOSB and SDVOSB) registered with the Central Contracting Office of the Department of Defense

DUNS #070397122 / Cage #6F0Z6
Primary SIC Code - 2721
 
Journal of Special Operations Medicine 

This disclaimer pertains to any publication (aka, "publications") written or electronic set forth by Breakaway Media, LLC (BAM) and includes, but is not limited to: The Journal of Special Operations Medicine (JSOM), social media posts to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, the JSOM eNewsletter, the JSOM website, and any promotional materials published by BAM. The views and opinions expressed in these publications are those of the authors, contributors, and sponsors of the JSOM and BAM, and do not necessarily reflect those of the JSOM, the JSOM Editorial Board ("the editorial board"), BAM, or its affiliates. Neither the JSOM, the editorial board, BAM, nor its affiliates hold themselves responsible for statements or products discussed in any BAM publications. Unless so stated, material in BAM publications does not reflect endorsement, official attitude, or position of the JSOM, the editorial board, BAM, or affiliates. Products advertised have not been tested by the JSOM, the editorial board, BAM, or its affiliates, and, as such, cannot be held liable for any injury or death caused by the use or misuse of the products contained herein. Neither BAM, the editorial board, nor its affiliates, make any warranty, representation, endorsement, or guarantee of products advertised, discussed, tweeted, retweeted, or shared any publication, to include the assumption of any liability whatsoever arising out of the application, use, or misuse of any product. As a medical publication, we are committed to sharing new technology and products we feel may be of interest to our readers, and encourage all readers and users of said products to use with caution and under proper authorization and professional guidance.

Tagging the JSOM on Instagram / Disclaimer
We assume by tagging us on Instagram, you are authorized to disseminate the photograph you are sharing with us. If you are a photographer whose image has been used or shared without authorization, please notify us immediately so we may give you proper credit.