“A top priority for the Department of Defense is taking care of our people. This priority includes promoting brain health and countering traumatic brain injury (TBI) in all its forms. DOD recognizes that TBI could result from concussive impact and exposure to blast waves. The Department understands blast exposure derives from both the effects of enemy action in combat, U.S forces combat actions, and from training on our own weapons and tactics. Experiences by Service members in recent conflicts and training environments illuminate concerns related to repetitive sub concussive blast exposures and their effect on brain health.
As the military community’s understanding of brain health has evolved over the years, the Department’s senior leaders recognized the need to develop a department-wide comprehensive strategy and plan to address these issues. The Warfighter Brain Health (WBH) Initiative, a coordinated effort between operational and medical communities, was established with the critical focus of optimizing the brain health of the warfighter.
In support of the DOD’s WBH Initiative, and in response to Section 734 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, the Department conducted a series of studies on blast pressure exposure of members of the Armed Forces. The areas of study focused on monitoring and documenting repetitive sub concussive blast exposures as well as addressing safety and brain health effects of exposures.
As a result of the above efforts, DOD issued an interim guidance memo on Nov. 4, 2022 to raise blast overpressure risk awareness and manage exposure across the force. It provides leaders with guidance for what they will do today to limit the impact of blast exposure on Service members.
The Department is committed to protecting our Service members from unnecessary exposures to blast.”
Dr. Lester Martinez-López, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs