Pentagon takes steps to protect warfighters from blast-related brain injury

Washington — A recent memo from the Department of Defense lists new requirements intended to protect military personnel from brain and cognitive trauma associated with blast overpressure.

DOD has defined BOP as “the sudden onset of a pressure wave from explosions occurring with the use of shoulder-carried artillery and heavy armor in both training and deployment, in breaching buildings, and from improvised explosive devices.”

BOP’s effects on brain health “are not yet fully understood,” Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks writes in the memo, “but adverse health and cognitive performance impacts have been reported from acute exposures to BOP above 4 pounds per square inch.”

Among the new requirements:

• Baseline cognitive assessments for new and reserve military members as part of the entry process
• Tracking of personnel exposed to BOP
• Creation of training and operations provisions that allow for BOP risk management, such as establishing standoff distances for specific weapons systems
• Development of procedures to ensure service members recognize BOP symptoms, report exposures to their command and request a medical evaluation if symptoms persist
• Personal protective equipment for weapons firers, trainers and other personnel at higher risk of BOP exposure

The memo adds that the policy “is not meant to preclude or reasonably restrict commanders from conducting mission-essential weapons training” but rather to set requirements “for practical risk management actions to mitigate and track BOP exposures across the DOD.”

Sen. Angus King (I-ME), who in July wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin requesting immediate action to conduct baseline brain-injury screenings for service members, applauds the move.

“The more we focus efforts on the effects of blasts, the more we learn about the direct link to brain injury and how we can prevent these injuries in the future,” King said in a press release.

“By beginning a cognitive test program this year to screen every service member upon entry to the military, as well as screen current at-risk service members, we can learn how to manage these exposures with the aim of protecting their well-being and saving lives.”