Be a Brain Warrior: Protect. Treat. Optimize.

The Department of Defense leads in the treatment and research of brain-related injuries and is committed to identifying breakthroughs to improve the lives of individuals who have sustained brain injuries. DOD’s efforts address a holistic view at brain health and brain injuries—before, during, and after any blast exposure or other injury.

The DOD considers protecting, treating, and optimizing brain health a top priority.

Evergreen Brain Injury Awareness image

TBI, considered one of the signature wounds of war in the 21st century, presents complex and challenging problems for many of our service members.

More than 509,000 service members have sustained TBI since 2000, according to reports from the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence.

See below for TBI resources for health care providers, leaders, service members, veterans, families, and caregivers.

Protecting Brain Health

DOD promotes and protects the health and well-being of our nation's armed forces, dedicating significant resources to close gaps in knowledge about TBI. The Warfighter Brain Health Initiative, launched in 2022, brings together multiple resources across the department to optimize brain health. The plan combats TBI by addressing multiple concerns such as blast exposures, repetitive head impacts, and TBI’s long-term effects.

Symptoms of a TBI may reappear or worsen if military training and sports or recreational activities are resumed too quickly. If you are in a leadership role, understanding what to expect and what your responsibilities are will help ensure readiness for your service members. Know how to prevent injury, actively understand and encourage the importance of seeking care, and follow proper care guidance for a medically ready force.

Service members, veterans, families, and caregivers can all Be a Brain Warrior by learning how most TBIs are sustained, how to protect themselves, and how to manage symptoms should a TBI occur.

Treating Brain Health

Most people who sustain a mild TBI (also known as concussion) recover completely. Health care providers can Be a Brain Warrior by using the latest clinical tools to treat patients and improve outcomes, keeping up with the latest research, and following the Acute Concussion Care Pathway.

Be a Brain Warrior by seeking treatment for head injuries; most people recover from concussion. Know the signs and symptoms.

Optimizing Brain Health

Staying up-to-date on clinical tools, the latest research, and training and education by TBICoE educators are ways a military health care provider can Be a Brain Warrior.

Patients, their families, and caregivers can optimize brain health and overall health and Be a Brain Warrior by seeking medical care and maintaining stability through recovery with caregiver support. Check out TBICoE’s Patient and Family Resources page for TBI fact sheets, family and caregiver guides, and other patient resources.

TBICoE Activities

No events to display.

You also may be interested in...

Fact Sheet
Dec. 13, 2023

Low-Level Blast: VA Provider Fact Sheet

.PDF | 820.18 KB

This fact sheet was developed specifically for VA medical providers. Low-level blast is defined as blast generated from firing heavy weapon systems or explosives in combat or training environments. Exposure to low-level blast does not typically result in a clinically diagnosable concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury.

Publication
Nov. 29, 2023

TBICoE's Low-Level Blast Research Efforts Infographic

.PDF | 2.12 MB

This infographic illustrates TBICoE's work to better understand how low-level blast influences warfighter brain health. These efforts directly support Line of Effort 2 of the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative.

Infographic
Nov. 29, 2023

TBICoE's Low-Level Blast Research Infographic

What is TBICoE doing to help warfighters exposed to low-level blast? Leading the charge: 1. Collaborated on Military weapons training studies and Epidemiology studies 2. Led health and performance efforts in support of the Section 734 Program Advancing the science: 1. Measured LLB exposure effects on performance 2. Provided recommendations on LLB surveillance 3. Advanced DOD’s understanding of LLB health and performance effects Answering the call: 1. Outlined next steps for LLB research 2. Helped to develop guidance for managing brain health risk from blast overexposure 3. Recommended the development of a tool to capture career blast exposure These efforts are in support of the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative LLB Relevant Aims 1. Understand the known and emerging threats and hazards to brain health 2. Monitor warfighters for brain exposures 3. Reduce risk of brain exposures that may negatively impact brain health

This infographic illustrates TBICoE's research activity on understanding how low-level blast influences warfighter brain health. This work directly supports Line of Effort 2 of the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative. Learn more about low-level blast exposure and TBI at health.mil/LLB.

Policy
Nov. 22, 2023

Instruction: #6055.12, Hearing Conservation Program

This issuance implements policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for administering a hearing conservation program to prevent hearing loss resulting from occupational and operational illness and injury; establishes the DoD Hearing Conservation Working Group; and, Issues requirements for the integration of noise control into the life ...

  • Identification #: 6055.12
  • Type: Instruction
Fact Sheet
Nov. 6, 2023

Warfighter Brain Health After TBI: Guidance for Leaders

.PDF | 895.85 KB

This TBICoE fact sheet, Warfighter Brain Health After TBI: Guidance for Leaders, condenses the basics of recognizing, reporting, and preventing TBI in service members. It updates and supersedes the Line Leader Policy Guidance fact sheet and includes a list of what the DOD has defined as potentially concussive events and outlines leaders’ ...

Video
Sept. 12, 2023

BACH Hosts TriStar Skyline CEO and CMO

BACH Hosts TriStar Skyline CEO and CMO

Blanchfield Army Community Hospital hosted Mark Miller, Chief Executive Officer, and Dr. Kevin Hamilton, Chief Medical Officer, both with TriStar Skyline Medical Center, and provided them with a tour of the facilities including the Intrepid Spirit Center in anticipation of the future partnership with them.

Infographic
July 12, 2023

What is the Acute Concussion Care Pathway?

What is the Acute Concussion Care Pathway? The Acute Concussion Care Pathway is one of the DHA Director’s Quadruple Aim Performance Plan projects. The intent is to equip providers with state-of-the-science tools to standardize concussion assessment and care across the MHS. It is supported by the DHA Procedural Instruction 6490.04 which establishes the infrastructure to ensure patients achieve optimal concussion clinical outcomes.

TBICoE developed this infographic as a quick reference tool that demonstrates application of the standardized acute concussion assessment and care process. By adhering to this established pathway of care for mild TBI, providers across the MHS can ensure a reduction in unwarranted variation and foster an integrated, standardized system of readiness and ...

Technical Document
July 5, 2023

DHA Practice Recommendation Dizziness with TBI

.PDF | 360.12 KB

This PR will assist eye care providers in evaluating patients presenting with dizziness or vertigo and confirmed history of concussion or TBI of any severity. In some cases of severe TBI, this PR may be applied at a later stage when the patient sufficiently recovers.

Fact Sheet
June 14, 2023

Leader Policy Guidance for Mild TBI/Concussion in the Deployed Setting Fact Sheet

MHS Seal

This document describes the line leader responsibilities for the Department of Defense mandated policy, DOD Instruction 6490.11, “DOD Policy Guidance for the Management of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury/Concussion in the Deployed Setting,” that applies to all service members involved in potentially concussive events in deployed settings.

Report
June 12, 2023

2021 DOD Worldwide Numbers for TBI

.PDF | 847.35 KB

TBICoE is the Defense Department’s office of responsibility for tracking traumatic brain injury data in the U.S. military. Here you’ll find data on the number of active-duty service members—anywhere U.S. forces are located—with a first-time TBI diagnosis in 2021. The data is also broken down by each branch of the armed services.

Fact Sheet
May 22, 2023

Changes in Behavior, Personality or Mood Following Concussion/mTBI Fact Sheet

.PDF | 977.73 KB

This TBICoE fact sheet can be used by health care providers to educate patients with a concussion, or mild TBI, on how to manage changes in mood related to their injury. Patients and caregivers would also find this information useful.