Left to right: Bradley C. Nindl, Mita Lovalekar and Karl E. Friedl
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Neuromuscular Research Laboratory (NMRL) held a media roundtable on Wednesday, Sept. 4, to discuss their study on training U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) military recruits in a mixed-gender environment. The study, published as a supplement to the July/August issue of Military Medicine, was the first university study to examine gender-integrated recruit training with a peer-reviewed, published result. The USMC commissioned the independent scientific study to analyze current approaches to gender integrated recruit training and related policy recommendations that would increase integration while maintaining current USMC standards.
The other branches of the military already integrate their men and women recruits in basic training, but the USMC is the first to conduct research prior to implementation. “The USMC was very thoughtful about integrating and wanted to make data-driven decisions,” said Karl E. Friedl, PhD, senior research scientist for physiology at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine and guest editor of the published report. “They are to be credited for seeking high quality data and interpretation of that data from this consortium organized by the University of Pittsburgh to develop well-informed policy decisions.”
Researchers from the NMRL and partners from the University of South Carolina, University of Maryland and Insight Policy Research studied recruits during their 13-week basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depots in San Diego and Parris Island, South Carolina. About 600 Marine Corps recruits and 160 recruits from sister services participated in the seven-month study.
The study found that the integration of men and women in recruit training helps break down barriers and builds trust. Best practices for mixed-gender training include having both men and women as drill instructors, integrating men and women from the start, and focusing on teamwork and task completion. The study also suggests that physical training should be gradually increased to prevent injuries and ensure that recruits build strength properly.
“The benefits of a gender-integrated training environment include dispelling gender biases and stereotypes; developing trust and shared bonds; and having recruits experiencing leadership and training from both men and women,” said Mita Lovalekar, PhD, co-principal investigator of the study and research epidemiologist with the NMRL.
The Marine Corps commissioned the 2020 study because of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which mandated that Marine Corps Recruit training “may not be segregated based on gender.”
Bradley C. Nindl, PhD, co-principal investigator of the study and director of the NMRL, emphasized the importance of this research “to help ensure women are provided full and equal opportunities in pursuit of successful military careers, free of bias and unfounded barriers.” Nindl was also a former enlisted soldier who completed Army basic training, is an Army Reserve officer with over 33 years of military experience and served in command positions at the company, battalion and brigade levels.
“I have first-hand knowledge and experience on how pivotal the initial military training pipeline is for inculcating a military ethos for new recruits and plays a key role for military readiness,” stated Nindl. “This project was an absolute privilege to conduct with the Marine Corps.”
"The NMRL team has unique capabilities and experience in conducting military field studies, something not typically found in academic centers," explained Friedl. “This requires a deep understanding of how the military works and a special sensitivity to minimal intrusion in the training mission. The University of Pittsburgh is to be credited for this extraordinarily bold research.”
The peer-reviewed supplement of the “United States Marine Corps Gender-Integrated Recruit Training Study” was published in the July/August 2024 issue of Military Medicine.