A job task analysis of the physical demands of manually preparing a 4-person battle trench as a military defensive position

Rue, C A, Myers, S D, Vine, C A J, Nevola, V R, Lee, B J, Walker, E F, Coakley, S L, Flood, Tessa R ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8897-0957, Doherty, J, Jackson, S, Greeves, J P and Blacker, S D (2025) A job task analysis of the physical demands of manually preparing a 4-person battle trench as a military defensive position. Applied Ergonomics, 127. 104520. ISSN 0003-6870

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Abstract

Aim: Conduct a Job Task Analysis (JTA) to quantify the physical demands of preparing a defensive position by British Army Ground Close Combat (GCC) roles. Method: Subjective data to describe the demands of preparing a defensive position were gathered from focus groups (n = 90) and questionnaires (n = 1495). Eight GCC personnel were observed preparing a defensive position which involved digging, lifting, and carrying materials. The oxygen cost of digging was measured using staged reconstructions at slow (12 shovels min−1, n = 16) and fast (22 shovels min−1, n = 13) rates. Results: The JTA identified digging trenches, filling sandbags, and shovelling debris as principal tasks of preparing a defensive position. Oxygen cost during the fast-digging rate (27.45 ± 4.93 ml kg−1 min−1) was 26 % greater than the slower rate (21.75 ± 2.83 ml kg−1 min−1; p < 0.001, d = −1.461). Conclusion: Digging a defensive position was identified by military experts as a critical job-task, with variability in metabolic cost dependent on work rate. Data may inform selection, training, and technology interventions to improve task performance.