Suchergebnisse

'Das Konzept der 'Inneren Führung' entstand in den 1950er Jahren als ambitioniertes Projekt und gilt als Markenzeichen der deutschen Bundeswehr. Mündige 'Staatsbürger in Uniform' sollten für die Landesverteidigung zuständig sein und zum Leitbild einer neuen bundesrepublikanischen Armee im Nachkriegsdeutschland werden. Doch mittlerweile findet die Verteidigung der Heimat immer häufiger in weiter Ferne statt. Auslandseinsätze mit ihren oft extremen Belastungen für alle Beteiligten stellen das Konzept auf eine harte Probe. Die Zusammenarbeit mit Armeen anderer Länder, die unter Umständen völlig anderen Leitbildern verpflichtet sind, schafft zusätzlich Irritationen und Glaubwürdigkeitsverluste. Ist das Konzept angesichts der vielen Auslandseinsätze mit kampfbezogenem Mandat noch tragfähig? Der Autor plädiert eindringlich für eine Weiterentwicklung des Konzepts. Nach einem historischen Abriss überlegt er, wie der Inneren Führung im Bundeswehr-Alltag und in der parlamentarischen Kontrolle ein höherer Stellenwert verschafft werden kann und präsentiert konkrete Vorschläge für die Umsetzung. Seine mannigfaltigen Vorschläge reichen von der Forderung nach konsequenterer Registrierung und Ahndung von Verstößen gegen die Innere Führung über Maßnahmen zur Steigerung der interkulturellen Kompetenz der Soldaten im Einsatz bis hin zur Verbesserung der Vereinbarkeit von Dienst und Familie für die Soldaten und vieles mehr. Der Autor weist überzeugend nach, dass dieses Leitbild durchaus für das Aufgabenspektrum und die Einsatzrealität einer modernen Armee tauglich ist.' (Autorenreferat)

Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is caused by infection with the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), an obligate intracellular parasite. T. gondii infects a large portion of the world's population, but uncommonly causes clinically significant disease. Those that are at greatest risk for more severe disease with toxoplasmosis are the immunologically impaired, fetuses, and newborns. T. gondii infection in immunocompetent patients can present as a self-limiting acute infection, or as an acute systemic disease. There are three main T. gondii genotypes, I, II, and III, with varying geographical prevalence. T. gondii is most commonly acquired via ingestion of infectious oocysts, from the environment, tissue cysts from contaminated food items, vertical transmission, or via organ transplantation from an infected donor. Diagnosis can be made via histological and serologic testing in suspected patients. Seropositive testing should be considered within the clinical context, as IgM antibodies may persist for months to years. IgG antibody avidity patterns further help delineate acute versus chronic infections. Histopathology from tissue biopsy of lymphadenopathy is more commonly pursued to establish diagnosis in immunocompetent patients. Case Report: We present a 37-year-old male who presented to the clinic with persistent bilateral non-tender occipital lymphadenopathy of two months duration. Patient also endorsed an acute fluid filled blister on the penis, recurrent cold sores, and significant fatigue. Review of systems were unremarkable. Patient's immunizations were up-to-date. Patient is an active military serviceman with history of overseas deployment. Patient reports consuming undercooked meat overseas, as well as game meat preparation while hunting. Similar symptoms were also reported by another fellow veteran. Laboratory studies revealed normal CBC, CMP, and TSH. HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia testing were negative. Urology referral found no abnormalities. Aspiration biopsy of the right occipital lymph node demonstrated granulomas and aggregates of histiocytes compatible with reactive hyperplasia. Findings were suggestive of toxoplasmosis and no malignancy was found. Follow up T. gondii serological testing results revealed Ab IgM: 104 AU/ML (reference range 0.0-7.9). Toxoplasma gondii Ab IgG: >400 AU/ML (reference range 0.0-7.1), which were consistent for active infection. Patient was referred to Infectious Disease and supportive therapy was recommended. A three month follow up showed improvement in symptoms. Discussion: Although acute infections with T. gondii in immunocompetent patients typically are self-limiting, more serious systemic infections may occur. A pyrimethamine-containing antibiotic regimen is recommended for treating systemic infections. We propose educating high-risk individuals with appropriate preventive measures, which may be beneficial in preventing Toxoplasmosis.

Since the end of World War II, the USA has maintained a sizable military presence around the world. As one of the main mechanisms that the USA uses to exercise its military power abroad, it is a defining characteristic of the international order. Using time-series cross-sectional models and case evidence, I show that, in addition to strategic considerations, the President's party strength in Congress and the proportion of moderates in the Senate are key determinants of US deployment outcomes. This finding adds to the literature on causes of US troop deployments by examining the incentives for deployments within US politics.

Since the end of World War II, the USA has maintained a sizable military presence around the world. As one of the main mechanisms that the USA uses to exercise its military power abroad, it is a defining characteristic of the international order. Using time-series cross-sectional models and case evidence, I show that, in addition to strategic considerations, the President's party strength in Congress and the proportion of moderates in the Senate are key determinants of US deployment outcomes. This finding adds to the literature on causes of US troop deployments by examining the incentives for deployments within US politics.

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The National Military Strategy calls for the Department of Defense (DOD) to maintain the transportation capability to quickly move the large amounts of personnel and equipment needed to win two nearly simultaneous major theater wars anywhere in the world. To provide this mobility, DOD relies on a transportation system--the En Route System (ERS)--that includes an airlift fleet of cargo aircraft and a critical network of overseas airfields that provide logistical support to aircraft on their way to the war zones. Although the two-war requirement and other aspects of the National Military Strategy are now under review by the new administration, the ERS remains critically important as the primary means of quickly moving U.S. soldiers and equipment to areas of conflict around the world. This report addresses (1) whether en-route airfields have the capacity to meet the requirements of the National Military Strategy, (2) the causes of any shortfalls and DOD's plans to correct them, and (3) whether DOD has the information and management structure needed to ensure that the operations of the ERS can be carried out efficiently and effectively."

Owing to the armed conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, members of the US military have experienced very high rates of deployment overseas. Because military personnel have little to no control over their deployments, the military setting offers a unique opportunity to study the causal effect of major disruptions on marital dissolution. In this paper, we use longitudinal individual-level administrative data from 1999 to 2008 and find that an additional month in deployment increases the divorce hazard of military families, with females being more affected. A standard conceptual framework of marital formation and dissolution predicts a differential effect of these types of shocks depending on the degree to which they are anticipated when a couple gets married. Consistent with this prediction, we find a larger effect for couples married before 9/11, who clearly expected a lower risk of deployment than what they faced post 9/11.

Estimates of the risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection resulting from overseas deployment among U.S. military service members have varied widely, and have been plagued by methodological problems. The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of TB infection in the U.S. military resulting from deployment. Three populations were examined: 1) a unit of 2,228 soldiers redeploying from Iraq in 2008, 2) a cohort of 1,978 soldiers followed up over 5 years after basic training at Fort Jackson in 2009, and 3) 6,062 participants in the 2011–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The risk of TB infection in the deployed population was low—0.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.1–2.3%)—and was similar to the non-deployed population. The prevalence of latent TB infection (LTBI) in the U.S. population was not significantly different among deployed and non-deployed veterans and those with no military service. The limitations of these retrospective studies highlight the challenge in obtaining valid estimates of risk using retrospective data and the need for a more definitive study. Similar to civilian long-term travelers, risks for TB infection during deployment are focal in nature, and testing should be targeted to only those at increased risk.

Since the end of World War II, the U.S. military has deployed its troops all over the world for regional security and/or peace building. Despite the importance of its political, economic, and military impact on the region, few studies examined how U.S. military deployment overseas affects the host nation's economy except Jones and Kane (2012) and Kane (2012). To help fill the gap in the literature, we tested how substantial U.S. troop deployment (more than 100 troops on average) affects the host state's investment, trade, political development, and economic growth for the period from 1960 to 2014, using the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model. The results show that the presence of U.S. troops does promote investment, trade, and economic growth in the host state. The United States deploys troops for regional security purposes, but these deployments also help economic growth directly and indirectly.

Since the end of World War II, the U.S. military has deployed its troops all over the world for regional security and/or peace building. Despite the importance of its political, economic, and military impact on the region, few studies examined how U.S. military deployment overseas affects the host nation's economy except Jones and Kane (2012) and Kane (2012). To help fill the gap in the literature, we tested how substantial U.S. troop deployment (more than 100 troops on average) affects the host state's investment, trade, political development, and economic growth for the period from 1960 to 2014, using the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model. The results show that the presence of U.S. troops does promote investment, trade, and economic growth in the host state. The United States deploys troops for regional security purposes, but these deployments also help economic growth directly and indirectly.

This report provides background information on major instances, since 1970, when congress has utilized funding cutoffs to compel the withdrawal of United States military forces from overseas military deployments.