Reassessment of Self-Reported Behavioral Health Habits and Other Issues Among Distributed Common Ground System Intelligence Operators and Non-Combatant Support Personnel

The distributed common ground system (DCGS) community assigned to the U.S. Air Force 480th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing is responsible for around-the-clock analysis and exploitation of real-time, critical information in support of combat operations and in decision-making regarding global issues of national interest. Maintaining an accurate understanding of health and wellness trends among DCGS personnel is essential to sustaining this critical intelligence (intel) capability. A total of 1717 active duty intel, 394 active duty non-intel, 312 Air National Guard/Reserve intel operators, and 73 Air National Guard/Reserve non-intel personnel from DCGS locations from multiple squadrons across the globe completed the web-based psychological health behaviors survey. The estimated overall response rate was 24% for the Total Force DCGS community. Statistical analyses were performed to assess between-group differences to quantitative and qualitative psychological health behavior items assessing (a) the amount of sleep obtained before work and the frequency of engaging in structured physical exercise throughout the week; (b) the amount, frequency, and increase in consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine and the reasons for increased consumption; (c) medical conditions worsened by current unit assignment and occupational stress; (d) changes in healthcare utilization since being assigned to their current duties and the reasons for these changes; and finally (e) increases in medication utilization since being assigned to their current duties and the reasons for such increases. A series of comparisons with a previous, similar study is conducted, and recommendations are provided for line and medical leadership to assist in force management efforts focused on optimizing health within the DCGS Total Force community.