With brain injuries a growing problem, the US military tests how to
protect troops from blasts
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[October 21, 2024]
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
WASHINGTON (AP) — The blast shook the ground and its red flash of fire
covered the doorway as U.S. special operations forces blew open a door
during a recent training exercise.
Moments later, in their next attempt, the boom was noticeably suppressed
and the blaze a bit smaller, testament to just one of the new
technologies that U.S. Special Operations Command is using to limit the
brain injuries that have become a growing problem for the military.
From new required testing and blast monitors to reshaping an explosive
charge that reduces its blowback on troops, the command is developing
new ways to better protect warfighters from such blast overpressure and
to evaluate their health risks, particularly during training.
“We have guys lining up to volunteer for these studies,” said retired
Sgt. Maj. F. Bowling, a former special operations medic who now works as
a contractor at the command. “This is extremely important to the
community. They’re very concerned about it.”
The Defense Department does not have good data on the number of troops
with blast overpressure problems, which are much harder to detect than a
traumatic brain injury.
Traumatic brain injuries are better known and have been a persistent
problem among combat forces, including those subjected to missile
strikes and explosions that hit nearby.
According to the department's Traumatic Brain Injury Center of
Excellence, more than 20,000 service members were diagnosed with
traumatic brain injuries last year. More than 500,000 have been
diagnosed since 2000.
Josh Wick, a Pentagon spokesperson, said emerging information from
evaluations of both acute blasts and repetitive low-level exposures
shows links to adverse effects, such as the inability to sleep, degraded
cognitive performance, headaches and dizziness.
“Our top priority remains our forces’ long-term cognitive well-being and
operational effectiveness as warfighters,” said Gen. Bryan Fenton, head
of U.S. Special Operations Command. “We are committed to understanding
and identifying the impacts of blast overpressure on our personnel’s
brain health.”
Fenton said research with academics and medical and industry experts is
helping find ways to mitigate and treat overpressure. He said
cutting-edge technologies are key to reducing the effects of repeated
exposures, such as those many of his troops experience.
Out in a remote training area for Army special forces at Fort Liberty in
North Carolina, commandos used what they call a Muchete breaching
charge, specifically formed into a shape that more precisely directs the
blasts and limits the harmful waves coming from an explosion. A small
number of journalists were allowed to watch the training.
“The reduction on the blast overpressure coming back on the operator on
average is generally between 40 and 60%,” said Chris Wilson, who leads
the team at the command that oversees clinical research and other
performance-related initiatives. “It really also depends on where
somebody is standing. But it’s certainly a pretty dramatic reduction in
the exposure. So I think that’s a win.”
Wilson said development and testing of the refined charge is ongoing but
that units are using this one now in training until one gets final
approval and can be more widely distributed.
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A U.S. special forces soldier sets off a traditional explosive
charge that's noticeably larger then recently-developed breaching
charges, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at at Fort Liberty in
Fayetteville, N.C. Special Operations Command is developing ways to
better protect warfighters and evaluate their health risks,
particularly during training. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Because of the extensive amount of
training for special operations forces — both to hone their skills
and to prepare for specific operations — troops may practice
breaching a door dozens or hundreds of times. As a result, training
is where they are most likely to have such repeated exposures. The
command wants a better sense of how each person is affected.
During the demonstration, a number of the Army special forces
soldiers were wearing small monitors or sensors to help leaders
better understand the level of blast pressure that troops are
absorbing. The sensors allow officials to compare readings based on
where troops were standing and how close they were to the blast.
The command is evaluating a number of blast sensors on the market,
and some higher risk troops are already using them. Testing and
other studies are continuing with the goal of getting them out
across the force in the next couple of years.
According to Wilson and Col. Amanda Robbins, the command's
psychologist, there are distinct differences between acute traumatic
brain injuries and what is called long-term blast exposure or blast
overpressure.
Traumatic brain injuries, they said, are acute injuries that are
relatively well documented and diagnosed. They said repetitive blast
exposure needs more attention because there are lots of questions
about the impact on the human brain. The damage is far more complex
to diagnose and requires more study to establish links between the
repetitive blasts and any damage or symptoms.
To aid the research, Special Operations Command is looking at doing
more routine testing throughout service members' careers. One test
is a neurocognitive assessment that the command does every three
years. Officials also want warfighters to be assessed if they have
had a concussion or similar event.
The Defense Department more broadly will require cognitive
assessments for all new recruits as part of an effort to protect
troops from brain injuries resulting from blast exposures. New
guidance released in August requires greater use of protective
equipment, minimum “stand-off distances” during certain types of
training, and a reduction in the number of people in proximity to
blasts.
The other test being done by Special Operations Command is a more
subjective comprehensive assessment that catalogs each person's
history of injuries or falls, even as a child. It's done early to
get a baseline.
Robbins said what they have seen is that new, younger operators and
those with 20 or more years of experience are more amenable to doing
the testing.
“The challenge is going to be in the midcareer operators who may be
more concerned about self-reporting potentially having a perceived
negative impact,” she said.
She added that the assessment is a way to take into account
incidents that may not be in their medical records, so that problems
can be identified early on and people can get treatment.
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