News

Dr Rob Orr was recently interviewed by the U.S. Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness Program Director, Army Drew Hammond and Alex Morrow for the MOPs and MOEs podcast. The MOPs and MOEs podcast, a military acronym for Measures of Performance (MOPs) and Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs), focusses on changing the fitness culture of the US Army. You can listen to the podcast here.

Discussing the concept behind 'protecting our protectors', Dr Rob Orr was recently interviewed by Julie Clift from the ABC Radio’s Drive program. For those interested the interview can be found here (the interview runs 2:08:12 – 2:15:17).

The TRU were also recently featured behind the scenes on Channel 9 News showing viewers how the equipment that keep our military and first responders safe, are tested. You can watch it here.

U.S. National Strength and Conditioning Association's Tactical Annual Training Conference

Dr Rob Orr recently presented at the US National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Tactical Annual Training Conference on Optimising movement for tactical professionals and sat on a panel discussing the future fitness needs of these professionals. While at the conference, Rob caught up with the Tactical Research Unit’s PhD students who live in the U.S. - LT Joe Dulla (retired), Whitney Trammel and Mark Stevenson (pictured below L-R). Joe and Mark also presented at the conference on topics relevant to their HDR studies - Law enforcement training and Impacts of stress on tactical performance.

PhD student invited on panel at the 30x30 National Summit on Women in Law Enforcement

Last month, TRU PhD student Joe Dulla was a requested panellist on Physical abilities in law enforcement at the 30x30 National Summit on Women in Law Enforcement, which was sponsored by the United States Bureau of Justice Assistance, Department of Justice.

2022 Trauma Conference

The TRU teamed up with Bond’s Translational Simulation Collaborative (TSC) participating in a panel on High Performing Teams at the 2022 Trauma Conference. Hosted by the TSC’s Professor Victoria Brazil, the panel included Dr Rob Orr (TRU), Dr Andrew Donohue (Anaesthetist, GCUH), Dr Eve Purdy (Emergency Physician, GCUH) and Dr Liz Crowe (Staff Wellness Lead, RBWH).

Landforces conference

The TRU recently attended the LAND FORCES 2022 Conference in support of Australian Defence Apparel. The TRU demonstrated the interaction of academic and research in regard to load carriage, exoskeletons and digital anthropometric devices for future clothing systems. During the conference the TRU partnership with defence industry giant Babcock International was also announced, with TRU supporting Babcock’s LAND 125-4 bid to supply Commonwealth with an integrated soldier system solution.

Rapid Fire Mini Congress
The 2^nd Rapid Fire Mini Congress was held during research week this month. Following a keynote presentation by Dr Jace Drain from the Defence Science and Technology Group, HDR students, Doctor of Physiotherapy students, TRU staff and industry guests presented on a variety of topics spanning the tactical field, from military to law enforcement to fire and rescue. Around 40 people attended face-to-face and another 40 attended online. Online guests included delegates from the USA, UK, UAE, Finland, the Netherlands, Serbia, Germany, South Africa and Singapore.

Pictured below is Dr Jace Drain presenting the keynote at the TRU Rapid Fire Mini Congress.

Bond Health Science and Medicine Faculty researchers Dr Robin Orr and Dr Christian Moro have taken out gongs at the Queensland 2022 Young Tall Poppy Science Awards. The pair were recognised for their scientific excellence and unique passion for science communication by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science at a gala function at the Griffith University Queensland College of Art in South Bank recently.

Dr Orr was awarded for his research into injury prevention for service men and women, firefighters, police officers and first responders who put themselves in harm’s way in the line of duty. Dr Moro was recognised for his research into the physiology associated with bladder diseases. Congratulations to both!

More information can be found on the Bond University website.

Setting up base at Bond's new Brisbane location

While Dr Rob Orr was in the field with military personnel at Gallipoli Barracks in support of the prime vendors for the LAND 125-4 bid, Dr Ben Schram and Dr Elisa Canetti were able to take full advantage of Bond's new location in Brisbane by setting up a ‘forward operating base’. Located just 7 km from the barracks in Enoggera, the use of the Brisbane facilities allowed for the passing of time-critical and safe-hand information.

TACOPS course for the Australian Army and Navy Physical Training Instructors

Dr Rob Orr recently spent three days down at the Puckapunyal Army Base in Victoria running the Tactical Conditioning Optimisation (TACOPS) Course for Australian Army and Navy Physical Training Instructors. There is one more face-to-face TACOPS course planned for the Singapore Defence Force, before the Microcredential Tactical Conditioning Optimisation Program is scheduled to take over.

TRU presents at the 2022 Global Summit - End PJ Paralysis

Dr Rob Orr was invited to present at the recent 2022 Global Summit #EndPJparalysis hosted by Adjunct Professor Brian Dolan, OBE. With the theme of the summit being - the impacts of deconditioning on health and wellbeing - Rob presented on the unique impacts deconditioning has on tactical populations and presented on how losses of physical fitness can have wide-ranging impacts on tactical force generation and maintenance, leading to fewer trained officers, firefighters and military personnel able to support the community as demand for their support increases. 

NT Police Territory Response Group (TRG)­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Dr Ben Schram and Dr Rob Orr are pictured below chasing NT Police Territory Response Group (TRG) officers dressed in full tactical gear weighing around 18kg to track VO2 data as the officers sprinted. Surprisingly, results showed that the load did not necessarily slow the officers down, completing the distance at sub 4 minute km (15 km/h) pace before vaulting fences and sprinting upstairs with an additional 14kg and completing other duty specific tasks. The elite fitness of these officers was clearly evident with VO2 values peaking at over 70mL/kg/min.

Registration is now open for the 4th International Physical Employment Standards Conference to be held on Friday, 24 February - Sunday, 26 February 2023!

For all information pertaining to IPES 2023, including abstract submission, key dates and sponsorship packages, please visit https://bond.edu.au/researchers/research-bond/IPES-conference

Hosted by the Bond University Tactical Research Unit the conference will address the three T's essential to supporting physical performance in physically demanding occupations; Theory, Testing and Training. Specific topics will include physical employment standards, identifying and mitigating injury risk factors, physical conditioning and assessing occupational readiness.

The conference content will be a blend of research and applied practice in a range of physically demanding occupations including military, law enforcement, fire and rescue and first responders.

The Tactical Research Unit Rapid Fire Mini Congress is on again during Bond University Research week. The event will highlight the latest research in tactical populations (military, law enforcement and fire and rescue) through a keynote presentation, rapid presentations from its research students and a guided industry/academia discussion. Topics will cover several fields including using fitness tests and standards in tactical populations, sex differences in equipment wear, how to assess competence in critical skills, thermal impacts on performance, and how industry and academia worked together to optimise body armour systems.

The Keynote address will be given by Dr Jace Drain from the Defence Science and Technology Group.

In person or virtual attendance is welcome. The virtual link will be sent 2 days beforehand.

Please register to attend:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/tactical-research-unit-rapid-fire-mini-congress-tickets-395713849777

Dr Rob Orr from the Tactical Research Unit was awarded the 2022 Tactical Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year Award. It is awarded 'to the coach, researcher, tactical professional, educator, or administrator whose influential contributions to the field measurably result in its advancement in a way that exceeds the outcomes achieved by others'.

In a press release, which can be found on the NSCA website, the NSCA have said the following of Dr Orr:

“Dr Rob Orr’s contributions to the field of tactical strength and conditioning are numerous and highly valued. He continues to demonstrate the qualities desired from a leader in our field,” said Jason Soileau, NSCA Tactical Program Manager. “His experience as a researcher, instructor, professor, and service member has provided valuable insight for thousands of tactical professionals and coaches and will continue to help shape the future of tactical human performance. NSCA Tactical extends immense congratulations to him for receiving this very well deserved award.”

Dr Orr was honoured at the NSCA’s Tactical Annual Training Conference, which was held in San Antonio, Texas, August 23-26, 2022. It is the premier educational event of the year for the tactical community. 

Noting the importance of translation to practice, Dr Orr wanted to specifically thank the NSCA, Australian Defence Apparel, and LEGEAR Australia for their ongoing support of the Tactical Research Unit.

Please enjoy reading more about Dr Orr, eligibility requirements and information pertaining to how the recipients are selected on the National Strength and Conditioning Association website.

Territory Response Group

Dr Elisa Canetti and research assistant Colin Tomes, recently assisted the Territory Response Group during the conduct of their selection course. Starting with 18 applicants, the course finished with one applicant following the two-day activity (which deprives applicants of both sleep and food). Elisa and Colin investigated stress and performance of the candidates under these conditions. Noting the value of the research output provided, the Territory Response Group has again invited the TRU to attend their specialist selection course and further requested assistance with the follow up specialist training course for those members selected. This work will see up to four TRU team members fly to Darwin on several occasions in August to collect data and further support  the Northern Territory Police.

Watch Dr Rob Orr's presentation: Back off; strong backs from rehabilitation to performance

Dr Rob Orr’s presentation to over 450 delegates at the 2019 Tactical Strength and Conditioning Annual Training conference in Texas, has recently been featured on NSCA TV. The lecture ‘Back Off; Strong backs from rehabilitation to performance' has been accredited to provide Continuing Education Credits to all coaches who are members of the National Strength and Conditioning Association. The presentation is available here. 

Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) Award

The TRU's Elisa Canetti recently collected the Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) citation for innovation, leadership and scholarship awarded to the Tactical Research Unit. Elisa is pictured below with Bond's Director of Learning and Teaching, Dr Sarah Long.

Law Enforcement Innovation Day

Dr Rob Orr was invited to present a keynote address at the Law Enforcement Innovation Day. The event was hosted by Australian Defence Apparel in Sydney and was held for law enforcement agencies across Australia. Rob presented on how TRU’s research informed the body armour designs which are now worn by many of the agencies, including many of those in attendance, and discussed the future directions of research and law-enforcement load carriage.

California State University

Dr Rob Orr was recently invited back to teach a session for the California State University, Fullerton - a Kinesiology subject, Measurement Techniques in Strength and Conditioning. The session focused on the use of occupational fitness testing for tactical personnel. Following the session last year, one of the attending students decided to complete their honours research in fitness testing for police officers and is now applying to complete a PHD in the same field.

Development work with Elbit Systems Australia

Continuing their support for Elbit Systems Australia's Commonwealth bid for the LAND125-4 contract, the TRU conducted primary protocol development work with two Australian Army soldiers from Elbit. The protocols form part of the Commonwealth’s FITEX (fitment exercise) and LDA (limited dynamic assessment) where the current solider load carriage ensemble will be compared to an enhanced capability variant inclusive of different radio systems, helmet mounted cameras, digital battle management systems and rifle ancillaries.

Congratulations to Dr Danny Maupin, for our first Tactical Research Unit PhD awarded. Dr Maupin's PhD topic is Optimising Training Load and its Relationship to Injury Risk and Fitness in a Tactical Population. Please visit Dr Maupin’s profile on our website for more information relating to the project.

Dr Maupin’s PhD will be the first of many TRU PhD’s awarded. We have a number of exciting projects currently underway with some exceptional PhD candidates. You can browse more information relating to each of the below projects under the ‘Higher Degree Research Students’ heading of the TRU Staff page of the website.

1. Jeremy Robinson: Identifying and optimising neuromuscular strength and power measures for Law Enforcement candidates.

2. Nathan Andrews: Can competence achievability in law enforcement firearms training be defined and predicted.

3. Darren Corea: The effects of a Virtual Reality based intervention on Chronic pain and anxiety in Veterans.

4. Kate Lyons: Musculoskeletal Injuries in Military Basic Training: Does Changing the Training Program Change the Injury Profile?

5. Graham Marvin: The relationship between sleep, training load, fatigue, and injury rate in emergency service workers.

6. Mark Stephenson: Tactical performance under stress.

7. Sandra Adiarte: Eyes on the Target: Assessing and Training Tactical Personnel in Threat Assessment via Structured Behaviour Observation.

8. Joseph Dulla: Optimizing the Training Outcomes of Law Enforcement Recruits and Through Provision of an Evidence-based Physical Training Approach.

9. Dustin Kidd: A Comparison of Overt and Covert Body Armour.

10. Shane Irving: Occupational task and conditioning analysis in operational members of the Australian and New Zealand Police Tactical Groups.

11. Jeremy Robinson: Identifying and optimising neuromuscular strength and power measures for Law Enforcement candidates.

12. Michael Stierli: Can workplace reconditioning improve the return to duty status and outcomes of the injured Police officer?

13. Colin Tomes: Heart Rate Variability as a Human Performance Optimization Tool for the Tactical Professional.

14. Whitney Tramel: Subjective and objective measures of stress during activities related to tactical operator performance.

15. Robert Walsh: The benefits of extended reality (XR) simulation and training in the area of weapon draw time for the tactical response police services sector.