US troops train on weapons that can cause brain injury

Despite mounting evidence of brain injury, the US troops continue to face exposure to severe repeated blasts during training exercises, reports The New York Times.

The effects
The Pentagon’s Warfighter Brain Health initiative—established to study and address the issue—has shown that firing rocket launchers, like the Carl Gustaf M3, results in immediate adverse effects on troops’ cognitive function.

Last year, the initiative set a weapon blast safety threshold and a weapon blast above that is considered hazardous. But rocket launchers and other weapons that exceed safety thresholds by a considerable margin are still widely used.

Studies conducted over three years at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas indicated that troops experienced worsened memory and coordination, lower cognitive and executive function, and elevated levels of proteins in their blood (safety thresholds) after launching these shoulder-fired rockets.

Limited tools and efforts
Research also revealed that troops lack consistent access to tools, such as wearable blast gauges, which help them know the impact and aid in changing behavior to avoid blasts.

While the military has acknowledged these risks, practical steps to mitigate them haven’t been consistent and are limited, observes the NYT. It leaves soldiers vulnerable to potential long-term brain damage and mental health issues.