Statistical justification of standards for weapons handling skills tests in basic military training

Abstract

Abstract. The article is dedicated to the statistical justification of norms for tests of weapon handling proficiency within the framework of initial general military training for youth. The article aims to refine the standards for three control exercises: «Disassembly and Assembly of a Pistol» (pneumatic Sig Sauer Air 1911), «Disassembly and Assembly of a Kalashnikov Rifle», and «Disassembly and Assembly of a Pump-Action Shotgun». Methods. Statistical methods were employed for analysis, including the Shapiro-Wilk test to check the normality of data distribution, determination of percentiles (20th, 40th, 60th, and 80th) to establish a five-level evaluation scale (low, below average, average, above average, high), and Spearman’s correlation to identify relationships between results, age, and gender. Results. The research involved 30 children and adolescents aged 10–17 years, who were engaged in shooting at the Zaporizhzhia branch of the National Shooting Khorting Federation of Ukraine. Participants were divided into three age groups (10–12, 13–15, and 16–17 years) and underwent training according to an original military-patriotic extracurricular education program. Data collection was conducted at the beginning and end of the study, allowing for the evaluation of changes in proficiency indicators over time. The results indicated that the data distribution was non-normal, justifying the use of non-parametric statistical methods. Thresholds for each exercise were established, for example, for the pistol: high level – less than 31.69 seconds, low level – more than 45.43 seconds. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between age and the time taken to complete the exercises (r = –0.51 to –0.66), indicating that older participants demonstrated improved motor skills and coordination. Gender, however, showed no significant impact on performance (r = –0.001 to +0.163). Analysis by age groups revealed a substantial difference in proficiency between the 10–12 age group and the older groups, while the difference between the 13–15 and 16–17 age groups was negligible. Conclusions. The obtained results enable the creation of an objective system for evaluating weapon handling proficiency, tailored to age-specific characteristics. The proposed standards are flexible, accounting for physiological traits and the statistical distribution of data, which enhances the validity of assessments and participants’ motivation. The study highlights the need for further refinement of initial general military training methodologies, taking into account limited resources and the context of combat conditions.