Skip to main content

Military Health System

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps: “Ask for Help” for TBI

Image of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps: “Ask for Help” for TBI. Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps: “Ask for Help” for TBI

Recommended Content:

Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence | Be a Brain Warrior: Protect. Treat. Optimize.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Troy Black recognizes that traumatic brain injuries can be a part of being in the military.

“There is no way to remove stress from combat. There is no way to remove concussions or TBI from combat,” said the 19th sergeant major of the Marine Corps on “Picking Your Brain,” a podcast from the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence.

Black joined U.S. Navy Capt. Scott Cota, branch chief of TBICoE, and moderator Amanda Gano on the podcast to raise awareness and educate service members about TBI and the resources available to recover from injuries.

The interview covered topics such as how service members should reach out if there’s an issue, and how warfighter brain health is a key factor in the Marines.

Concussions and TBIs are a significant health issue which affect service members and veterans during times of both peace and war. Between 2000-2023, there were a total of 468,424 first-time cases of TBI in the military worldwide, with just over 80% being considered mild TBI.

Warfighters May not Talk about TBI

As a Marine, Black has encountered numerous potentially concussive events and has “led by example by seeking care for his injuries,” said Cota.

Black noted he has lived through several concussive related events, and would have himself checked out if he felt something was wrong, but acknowledged not all service members do the same.

  • Stigma of weakness or unfitness for duty
  • Fear of judgment
  • Misconceptions about TBI
  • Perception of mental health issues
  • Cultural norms
  • Unrecognized TBI

“Stigma first starts with the individual,” said Black. “Ask for help. Be open with it. The invisible injuries are as important as the visible injuries.”

Black commented that there have always been concussive events in the military and on the battlefield throughout history, which has led to a better understanding of TBIs.

“In the last 20 years, we now have technology and [an] understanding of TBIs that are different now,” said Black. “The knowledge, the capability, the communities’ ability to understand the brain differently, has changed. But concussions have not.”

“What we have learned over time is that every time you are around an event, [TBIs] just culminate,” he added.

Black mentioned that TBI doesn't always occur after just one event; it is often this culmination of several events. These events do not always happen on the battlefield; they often happen at garrison during training.

“All the small events add up,” said Black. “All these things compound.”

Diagnosing TBI More Rapidly

Cota mentioned that things like triage tools, and more rapid decision making in the field are needed to diagnose TBI more efficiently and quickly.

“Our big thing on the MHS side is looking for resources to help with recovery to get you at your optimum level,” said Cota. “The resources throughout MHS and that we offer here at TBICoE, can assist with understanding TBI and how to recover from TBI.”

“So, it's just a matter of requesting that support, and they can easily do that across the spectrum,” Cota said.

MHS medics are also trained in the Military Acute Concussion Evaluation 2. MACE 2 was created to quickly evaluate a warfighter for a TBI, and is a standardized exam used to evaluate mild TBI, or concussion, in a combat or other deployed settings.

The Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metric has also been a game-changer, according to Black.

“Getting the baseline at pre deployment, then at post deployment–that was phenomenal,” said Black. “That is an advance. We must learn about how the brain works.”

Black also noted that sometimes being able to recognize TBI in yourself or others is important, even in stressful situations.

“The responsibility of the individual is to say, ‘Yeah, my bell's rung. I got to pull out of here for a minute until I can recover,’” said Black.

Common Symptoms of Possible TBIs

  • Confusion
  • Difficulty finding words
  • Difficulty making decisions
  • Memory loss
  • Poor concentration
  • Slowed thinking
  • Anxiety
  • Feeling depressed
  • Irritability
  • Mood Swings
  • Balance problems
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Ringing in Ears
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Blurred or double vision

Getting Diagnosed Improves Readiness

“Our job is to ensure someone can be in the fight. Not to find reasons to remove them from the fight,” said Black.

Setting an example is important for a Marine, Black noted.

“Know your Marines and look out for their welfare,” said Black. “When we communicate with each other, when we are open, we can help.”

Cota mentioned that a cultural shift is happening in the U.S. Marine Corps and has been “supportive with individuals getting assistance no matter what it is for.”

“We want to share knowledge and real experiences so that the warfighter understands that it is important to maintain cognitive capability as well as physical, mental and social capability,” said Cota.

“The acting, thinking, ready, capable, resourced and trained individuals in the military are the difference between success and failure in combat or warfare with any enemy,” said Black. “We train, we fight, we win. That’s what we do.”

TBICoE resources for providers can be found here and for service members and families here.

Listen to the entire episode of “Picking Your Brain” with Black on DVIDS.

You also may be interested in...

2000-2022 Q3 DOD Worldwide Numbers for TBI

Report
2/8/2023

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 from calendar year 2000 through the third quarter of 2022. The data is also broken down by each branch of the armed services.

Recommended Content:

Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence | DOD TBI Worldwide Numbers | TBI Patient and Family Resources | TBI Educators

2022 Q3 DOD Worldwide Numbers for TBI

Report
2/8/2023

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 the calendar year 2022 through the third quarter. The data is also broken down by each branch of the armed services.

Recommended Content:

Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence | DOD TBI Worldwide Numbers | TBI Provider Resources | TBI Patient and Family Resources | TBI Educators

2021 DOD Worldwide Numbers for TBI

Report
2/8/2023

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.

Recommended Content:

Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence | TBI Educators | TBI Provider Resources | DOD TBI Worldwide Numbers

2022 (Q2) DOD Worldwide Numbers for TBI

Report
11/9/2022

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 the calendar year 2022 through the second quarter. The data is also broken down by each branch of the armed services.

Recommended Content:

Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence | DOD TBI Worldwide Numbers | TBI Provider Resources | TBI Educators | TBICoE Research | Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division

2000-2022 Q2 DOD Worldwide Numbers for TBI

Report
11/9/2022

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 from calendar year 2000 through the second quarter of 2022. The data is also broken down by each branch of the armed services.

Recommended Content:

Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence | DOD TBI Worldwide Numbers | TBI Provider Resources | TBI Educators | TBICoE Research | Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division

2022 (Q1) DOD Worldwide Numbers for TBI

Report
8/24/2022

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 the first quarter of calendar year 2022.

Recommended Content:

Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence | TBICoE Research | TBI Educators

2000-2022 (Q1) DOD Worldwide Numbers for TBI

Report
8/24/2022

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 from calendar year 2000 through the first quarter of 2022. The data is also broken down by each branch of the armed services.

Recommended Content:

Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence | TBICoE Research | TBI Educators

Longitudinal Study on Traumatic Brain Injury Incurred by Members of the Armed Forces in OIF/OEF

Report
5/4/2021

HR 5122 NDAA Conference Report for FY 2007 Sec. 721

Recommended Content:

Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence

DCOE Annual Report 2014

Report
7/16/2015

Annual Report for the Defense Center of Excellence - 2014

Recommended Content:

Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence | | Posttraumatic Stress Disorder | Suicide Prevention | Department of Defense/Veterans Affairs Program Office | Health Readiness Support Division

Management of Traumatic Brain Injury in Tactical Combat Casualty Care

Report
7/26/2012

Defense Health Board: Management of Traumatic Brain Injury in Tactical Combat Casualty Care

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness Support Division | | Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence

Indications and Conditions for In-Theater Post-Injury Neurocognitive Assessment Tool (NCAT) Testing

Report
5/31/2011

In accordance with Section 1673 of the NDAA HR 4986, signed into law in January of 2008, the Secretary of Defense was instructed to establish a protocol for the pre-deployment assessment and documentation of the cognitive functioning of Service Members deployed outside the United States.

Recommended Content:

Public Health | Health Readiness & Combat Support | Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence | Disability Evaluation

Traumatic Brain Injury A Guide for Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans Module 3

Report
4/1/2010

Defense Health Board: Traumatic Brain Injury A Guide for Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans Module 3

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness Support Division | Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence

Traumatic Brain Injury A Guide for Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans Module 1

Report
4/1/2010

Defense Health Board: Traumatic Brain Injury A Guide for Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans Module 1

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness Support Division | Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence

A Guide for Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans Caregivers Companion

Report
4/1/2010

Defense Health Board: A Guide for Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans Caregivers Companion

Recommended Content:

Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence

Traumatic Brain Injury A Guide for Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans Module 2

Report
4/1/2010

Defense Health Board: Traumatic Brain Injury A Guide for Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans Module 2

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness Support Division | Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence
<< < 1 2 > >> 
Showing results 1 - 15 Page 1 of 2
Refine your search
Last Updated: March 17, 2023
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery