One-third of a Navy UDT class (32 men) was followed by thrice-weekly psychological assessment and measurement of serum cortisol until they dropped from training or graduated. Mean cortisol values for the 20 men who completed the course ranged between 20 and 26 μg%. Against this background of chronically elevated levels, transient increases in serum cortisol occurred coincident with the introduction of new equipment (face mask, swim fins, SCUBA, weaponry) and with the beginning of new tasks (helicopter maneuvers, night problems, long compass swims). The UDT training program thus appears to be a chronic stress of considerable magnitude, and is one of unique characteristics among military situations.
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Rubín et al. (1969) studied this question.