Stress Fracture and Attrition in Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL Trainees
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Observational cohort study evaluating administrative and self-reported health data
What was done
The study examined stress fractures and attrition among Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) trainees by analyzing a combination of administrative records and self-reported health behavior data across the six-month training program.
What was found
The abstract reports background context—noting general BUD/S stress fracture rates of 5% to 9% and an overall completion rate of approximately 25%—but reports no specific empirical findings, statistical analyses, or outcome numbers from the actual study.
Why it matters
Identifying drivers of stress fractures and attrition in elite military training pipelines can inform injury prevention strategies and improve training retention.
Limits
The abstract does not report sample size, study dates, statistical associations, or actual outcome results. Findings from an elite military training environment have limited generalizability to other populations.
Cited by
- contradicts A standard BUD/S class starts with over 200 candidates and finishes with fewer than 20 graduating.