An investigation of medical discharges from the British Army 1979-1986.

Male medical discharges from the British Army were analyzed for the years 1979-1986. There was a sudden increase in 1983 which reached a peak in 1985 caused by a significant rise in rates of discharge as a consequence of lower limbs and muscular overuse conditions, injuries from road traffic accidents, sports and falls. Training injuries showed an increase which, although substantial, failed to reach statistical significance. The highest increase took place in lower limb and muscular overuse conditions in the youngest and most junior members of the infantry, especially when undergoing basic training. This category appears to be at the highest risk of medical discharge. Other teeth arms had the highest incidence of medical discharges from road traffic accidents. The importance of medical discharges may be misunderstood through the underestimation of their incidence and the absence of a capital valuation of the skills and experience of personnel discharged. The discharge of an infantry corporal with 8 years service may mean the loss of a capital of at least 149,599 pounds. Any interventions aimed at reducing the number discharges should be evaluated using the cost-benefit approach. Ways of reducing wastage are discussed.