Warfighter Brain Health Hub

Healthy brains are essential for warfighters to do their jobs well. Tough missions demand quick thinking to make smart choices. That's why protecting warfighter brain health is so important for a strong military.

The Department of Defense Warfighter Brain Health Initiative works to reduce risks of injury, understand more about the brain, and improve treating brain injuries. Checking brain health regularly helps the DOD catch problems earlier. DOD aims to quickly treat warfighters to keep them healthy and ready.

Here's some areas of focus:

  • Helping warfighters think and move at their best
  • Checking up on brain health
  • Preventing and treating Traumatic Brain Injuries
  • Quickly spot TBIs to reduce their harm
  • Protecting warfighters from things that may hurt their brains, like blast overpressure
  • Reducing long-term problems from brain injuries
  • Researching and learning more about how to keep warfighters' brains healthy 

You also may be interested in...

Article
April 17, 2023

Concussion Protocols Aid Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery

Whether on the sport field or the battlefield, the Defense Health Agency is the global leader in research on the effects of concussion—known as mild traumatic brain injury—in the military. Its research has fueled the development of protocols to help providers assess and treat concussion from initial injury to acute and post-acute medical settings, ...

Video
March 23, 2023

Military Traumatic Brain Injury: The History, Impact, and Future

Military Traumatic Brain Injury: The History, Impact, and Future

Megan Lindberg, Pathway of Care Manager for the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence, gives a presentation on the history, impact, and future of TBI in the military during the National Museum of Health and Medicine's Science Cafe series, March 23, 2023. The museum's Science Cafe is a regular speaker series that explores topics within military ...

Article
March 16, 2023

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

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

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.

Video
Feb. 21, 2023

Optimizing Warfighter Brain Health and Performance

Thumbnail image of TBICoE's Dr. Sloley video.

Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence research support cell chief, Dr. Stephanie Sloley, discusses her role in the organization and the importance of collaborative efforts in examining traumatic brain injuries. Dr. Sloley discusses the mission and vision of TBICoE and the importance of optimizing warfighter brain health and performance.

Video
Feb. 21, 2023

Brain Injury Awareness with the 19th Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps

Thumbnail image of the Picking Your Brain podcast episode with Sgt. Maj. Troy Black

In this episode of Picking Your Brain, TBICoE Branch Chief, Capt. Scott Cota and clinical moderator Amanda Gano interview the 19th Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps, Sergeant Major Troy Black. The interview covers topics such as the DOD's Warfighter Brain Health Initiative, the commandant of the Marine Corps' Force Design 2030 efforts, and how warfighter ...

Video
July 18, 2022

Interview with the SEAC: TBI from a Joint Perspective

Picking Your Brian Podcast. Interview with the SEAC: TBI from a Joint Staff Perspective

In this episode of Picking Your Brain, Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence Branch Chief Capt. Scott Cota and clinical moderator Amanda Gano interview the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC), Ramón Colón-López. The discussion covers the health impacts of TBI and blast-related concussion stemming from the ...

Publication
June 8, 2022

DOD Warfighter Brain Health Initiative Strategy and Action Plan

As a Department, we are committed to protecting the health and well-being of our people in order to maximize our ability to defend the nation. Brain health has historically been defined in terms of human performance optimization. The most accepted and familiar aspect of human performance has been physical performance (e.g., agility, endurance, ...

Video
July 22, 2021

PRA Training Video 2: Six Major Changes

Thumbnail image of PRA Training Video 2, Six Major Changes

In this lesson we review the six major changes in the TBICoE's revised 2021 Progressive Return to Activity (PRA) Clinical Recommendation that differ from the original recommendation. The changes reflect the latest TBI research, and will make it easier for providers to manage the recovery process and return service members with concussion to full ...

Video
July 22, 2021

PRA Training Video 6: The Return to Duty Screening

Thumbnail image of PRA training video 6, the return to duty screening

In this lesson, we cover how to perform the Return to Duty, or RTD screening, which now includes both vestibular/physical and neurocognitive examinations. The purpose of the RTD screening is to objectively measure whether a service member is ready for return to full duty. Each video in the Progressive Return to Activity training series is designed ...

Video
July 22, 2021

PRA Training Video 7: Symptom-Guided Management and Specialty Referral Guidance Tables

Thumbnail image of PRA training video 7, the symptom-guided management and specialty referral guidance tables.

This lesson covers how to use the Progressive Return to Activity, or PRA's Symptom-Guided Management and Specialty Referral Guidance tables. This lesson also details primary care management strategies for service members who are not progressing as expected in the PRA. Each video in the Progressive Return to Activity training series is designed to ...

Video
July 22, 2021

PRA Training Video 8: Clinical Case Scenario

Thumbnail image of PRA training video 8, clinical case scenario.

This is an interactive clinical case scenario to test your understanding in applying the Progressive Return to Activity (PRA). We hope this will help medical providers become more familiar with the PRA process when treating service members with concussion. Each video in the PRA training series is designed to support primary care providers' ability ...