January 15, 2024: During the last three decades, military medical experts have discovered and identified a combat affliction that has always existed but never properly recognized or treated. This is brain trauma, something that, until quite recently, was not even recognized as a wound or injury. These injuries can be inflicted by a severe bump on the head or being close to an explosion. Because of better diagnostic tools and techniques, many other combat zone injuries could now be measured as well. These included over a quarter million cases of traumatic brain injury, more commonly called concussion and over a hundred thousand cases of PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that were discovered among combat veterans since September 11, 2001. In the past these conditions were not considered wounds in the same sense as something that made the victim bleed. This was despite the fact that many soldiers were put out of action temporarily because of concussion and PTSD.

Physical injuries to the brain can now be detected using more precise instruments like MRI and can often be treated. In the last decade it has become clear that injury and disability from PTSD and concussions from explosions were more of a factor than previously thought. Many troops, because of exposure to roadside bombs and battlefield explosions in general, developed minor concussions that, like sports injuries, could turn into long term medical problems. Often these concussions were accompanied by some PTSD. Examining medical histories of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam War vets showed a pattern of later medical problems among many concussion victims. The same pattern has been found among athletes and accident victims who suffered concussions. Roadside bombs are only one of several sources of concussions. Military medicine experts believed that roadside bombs were by far the biggest source of these concussions and the resulting brain injuries.

Now there is a peacetime cause of PTSD concussions. This is the impact on M1 tank crews when they fire their 120mm main gun. Firing the main gun generates enough impact on the tank crew to create mild concussions that get worse the more a soldier is exposed to the gun firings, whether inside the tank or as infantry operating near the tank. This was soon recognized, and the army solution was to provide tank crews and infantry operating nearby with ear protection. While the tank crews would wear this protection at all times, infantry require it if they are within ten meters of the tank when the main gun fires. The debilitating effects of the concussive impact are not immediately obvious. The army discovered that over time, even in peacetime, troops exposed to these loud noises developed behavioral problem, such as becoming more easily agitated and prone to unexpected aggressive behavior. This was a classic PTSD injury and unexpected for soldiers who have not been in combat but have been close to M1 tank 120mm guns being fired. The army is seeking a way to quickly identify and treat those injured in this way, and to do so before they lose a soldier who has been rendered unfit for duty by the condition.

The army is using the medical tests it developed to detect PTSD injuries early when they could still be treated. That often means transferring the soldier to a new job, which usually requires retraining. Old

January 15, 2024: During the last three decades, military medical experts have discovered and identified a combat affliction that has always existed but never properly recognized or treated. This is brain trauma, something that, until quite recently, was not even recognized as a wound or injury. These injuries can be inflicted by a severe bump on the head or being close to an explosion. Because of better diagnostic tools and techniques, many other combat zone injuries could now be measured as well. These included over a quarter million cases of traumatic brain injury, more commonly called concussion and over a hundred thousand cases of PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that were discovered among combat veterans since September 11, 2001. In the past these conditions were not considered wounds in the same sense as something that made the victim bleed. This was despite the fact that many soldiers were put out of action temporarily because of concussion and PTSD.

Physical injuries to the brain can now be detected using more precise instruments like MRI and can often be treated. In the last decade it has become clear that there are several sources of PTSD and concussions from explosions were more of a factor than previously thought. Many troops, because of exposure to roadside bombs and battlefield explosions in general, developed minor concussions that, like sports injuries, could turn into long term medical problems. Often these concussions were accompanied by some PTSD. Examining medical histories of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam War vets showed a pattern of later medical problems among many concussion victims. The same pattern has been found among athletes and accident victims who suffered concussions. Roadside bombs are only one of several sources of concussions. Military medicine experts believed that roadside bombs were by far the biggest source of these concussions and the resulting brain injuries.

Now there is a peacetime cause of PTSD concussions. This is the impact on M1 tank crews when they fire their 120mm main gun. Firing the main gun generates enough impact on the tank crew to create mild concussions that get worse the more a soldier is exposed to the gun firings, whether inside the tank or as infantry operating near the tank. This was soon recognized, and the army solution was to provide tank crews and infantry operating nearby with ear protection. While the tank crews would wear this protection at all times, infantry require it if they are within ten meters of the tank when the main gun fires. The debilitating effects of the concussive impact are not immediately obvious. The army discovered that over time, even in peacetime, troops exposed to these loud noises developed behavioral problem, such as becoming more easily agitated and prone to unexpected aggressive behavior. This was a classic PTSD injury and unexpected for soldiers who have not been in combat but have been close to M1 tank 120mm guns being fired. The army is seeking a way to quickly identify and treat those injured in this way, and to do so before they lose a soldier who has been rendered unfit for duty by the condition.

The army is using the medical tests it developed to detect PTSD injuries early when they could still be treated. That often means transferring the soldier to a new job, which usually requires retraining.