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Be a Brain Warrior: Protect. Treat. Optimize.

The Department of Defense leads in the treatment and research of brain-related injuries and is committed to identifying breakthroughs to improve the lives of individuals who have sustained brain injuries. DOD’s efforts address a holistic view at brain health and brain injuries—before, during, and after any blast exposure or other injury.

The DOD considers protectingtreating, and optimizing brain health a top priority.

Evergreen Brain Injury Awareness image

TBI, considered one of the signature wounds of war in the 21st century, presents complex and challenging problems for many of our service members.

More than 490,000 service members have sustained TBI since 2000, according to reports from the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence.

See below for TBI resources for health care providers, leaders, service members, veterans, families, and caregivers.

 

Protecting Brain Health

Leaders are in a unique position to protect their service members.

 

Treating Brain Health

TBI is treatable, and recovery is expected with appropriate care.

 

Optimizing Brain Health

Military health care providers can be brain warriors and help optimize resources.

TBICoE's BIAM Activities

View All Events

More BIAM Events

For in-person and virtual events at the National Museum of Health and Medicine, check out the Brain Awareness Day and the virtual Science Café event information.

Brain Awareness Day Sat. March 16. Free for everyone. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Virtual Science Cafe. Headache and TBI: The evolution of Medication. A virtual event held on the Facebook @medicalmuseum on March 28, 2024 at 11 a.m. ET.

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Video
Jan 19, 2024

What Happens To The Brain After A TBI?

What Happens To The Brian After A TBI?

What Happens to the Brain After a TBI? This video explores the effects of concussion on a warfighter's brain, commonly caused by falls, sports, or car accidents. It emphasizes the importance of prevention through protective measures like helmets, seatbelts, and safe training practices, which are essential for maintaining brain health.

Video
Jan 19, 2024

What Steps Should A Military Leader Take After A Potentially Concussive Event?

What Steps Should A Military Leader Take After A Potentially Concussive Event?

Military leadership has a responsibility to promote warfighter brain health among service members. That means prompt reporting of potentially concussive events and ensuring service members with TBI get medical attention. This video covers the steps leaders should take after a potential concussion.

Article Around MHS
Jan 11, 2024

How the U.S. Army Outfits Wounded Soldiers for Life After Recovery

Adaptive sports equipment, such as wheelchairs for rugby and basketball, are just a portion of the supply chain that soldiers in recovery use to thrive into their future as they overcome a wound, injury, or illness. (Photo by Mary Therese Griffin/Army Recovery Care Program)

There are many moving parts to the Army Recovery Care Program, not the least of which is adaptive reconditioning. This includes equipment and logistics for soldiers who want to recover and overcome their wounds, injury, or illness. “Part of our job is to help coaches, logistics folks, etc., work together to ensure our units and soldiers have the best ...

Fact Sheet
Jan 9, 2024

Hearing Protector Fit-Testing Requirement in the Department of Defense

.PDF | 331.11 KB

Significant updates to the Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 6055.12 “Hearing Conservation Program” are expected to be published in April 2023. The significant change is a new requirement for initial hearing protector fit-testing to be conducted for all DOD personnel who have documented noise exposure greater than or equal to 95 dBA 8-hour time ...

Topic
Dec 19, 2023

Vision Center of Excellence

The Vision Center of Excellence leads and advocates for programs and initiatives with the following three inter-related goals: to improve vision health, optimize readiness, and enhance quality of life for Service members and Veterans.

Article
Dec 15, 2023

Department of Defense Taking Action with Warfighter Brain Health Initiative

Department of Defense Taking Action with Warfighter Brain Health Initiative

"A top priority for the DOD is taking care of our people,” said Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. “This priority includes promoting brain health and countering traumatic brain injury in all its forms. As the military community’s understanding of brain health has evolved over the years, the Department’s ...

Publication
Dec 14, 2023

2024 TBICoE Quarterly Education Series Schedule

.PDF | 209.46 KB

Save the dates with a complete 2024 schedule of the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence's Quarterly Education Series. The QES is an enterprise-wide learning opportunity for Military Health System stakeholders. Since inception, the QES provides trainings and education events that are relevant to the MHS, discussing specialty topics and current ...

Fact Sheet
Dec 14, 2023

PTSD and Other Stress-Related Disorders Following Concussion/Mild TBI Fact Sheet

.PDF | 542.68 KB

Co-occurring concussion and stress-related disorders, including PTSD, are common among service members. This fact sheet defines concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury, and provides an overview of common stress-related disorders, the overlapping symptoms, and how to manage those symptoms.

Fact Sheet
Dec 13, 2023

Low-Level Blast: VA Provider Fact Sheet

.PDF | 820.18 KB

This fact sheet was developed specifically for VA medical providers. Low-level blast is defined as blast generated from firing heavy weapon systems or explosives in combat or training environments. Exposure to low-level blast does not typically result in a clinically diagnosable concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury.

Topic
Dec 8, 2023

TBI Resources for Military Leadership

This content is intended for all levels of military leaders (i.e., any service member who supervises others) so that they can actively encourage troops to be medically evaluated after a potentially concussive event and accurately report the incident.

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Last Updated: April 02, 2024
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