During Brain Injury Awareness Month, the Defense Department demonstrates its commitment to increasing awareness of traumatic brain injury and to providing educational and healing resources to service members, veterans, family members and health care professionals.

Stories & Blogs

Armed With Science: Navy SEALs Research Impacts of Blast Exposure

Coast Guard Veteran Recovers With Family's Support

Military Spouse Helps Husband Address TBI

Military Spouse Recognizes Value of Self-Care

DoD Numbers for Traumatic Brain Injury Worldwide - Totals

A Head for the Future is recognizing BIAM 2018 on social media by highlighting stories of those who support wounded warriors with TBI.

The #TBIchampion social media campaign features profiles of military providers and healthcare staff, Defense Department and Department of Veterans Affairs leadership and others who help those that have experienced TBI.

Follow A Head for the Future on Facebook and on Twitter throughout the month of March to be inspired by the #TBIchampion profiles.

Mild TBI Symptom Management Fact Sheets

Headaches

Head Injury and Dizziness

Changes in Behavior, Personality or Mood

Ways to Improve Your Memory

Healthy Sleep

Videos

This “Power to Prevent” video, from A Head for the Future (http://dvbic.dcoe.mil/aheadforthefuture) depicts a day in the life of a service member who prevents a traumatic brain injury (TBI) by staying safe during his activities. Follow along as the service member rides a bike, plays a game of basketball, drives a motorcycle and hangs out with friends – and learn helpful tips on how you can prevent TBI.

According to recent Defense Department data, since 2000 more than 352,000 service members were diagnosed with TBI — most in noncombat settings. Falls, motor vehicle collisions, sports-related incidents and training accidents are the most common causes of noncombat-related brain injuries among service members. Many brain injuries are preventable simply by wearing protective equipment, knowing your surroundings and avoiding risky behavior, such as driving over the speed limit.

A Head for the Future, an intiaitive from the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, produces educational videos and testimonials about inspiring stories from those in the military community who experienced brain injuries and sought help. The website also features additional resources to prevent, recognize and recover from brain injury.

Follow the initiative on Twitter @AHFTF_Page, and the A Head for the Future page on Facebook.

Power to Prevent: How You Can Help Prevent Traumatic Brain Injury

Feb. 8, 2017 | 2:01

This video depicts a day in the life of a service member who prevents a traumatic brain injury by staying safe during activities. Follow along and learn helpful tips on how you can prevent TBI.

On July 6, 2011, while on a foot patrol in Kajaki, a village in southern Afghanistan, Marine Corps Sgt. Mike Nicholson was hit with a 40-pound roadside bomb. The blast took off his right leg at the hip, his left leg through the knee and his left arm below the elbow. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress. Despite 33 surgeries afterward, Nicholson continues to persevere in recovery through participating in adaptive sports. He is one of 81 athletes representing the United States at the 2017 Invictus Games. He is competing in golf, swimming, track & field and wheelchair basketball for the US team.

Invictus Games Athlete Battles TBI With Sports

Sept. 27, 2017 | 1:55

After Marine Corps Sgt. Mike Nicholson was hit with a 40-pound roadside bomb in Afghanistan, he was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress. After 33 surgeries, Nicholson continues to persevere in recovery through participating in adaptive sports.

During retired Marine Corps Capt. Wally Blair’s deployment in Sept. 2007, his convoy hit a roadside bomb. Health care providers treated him for chemical burns and told him he had a concussion.

In the years that followed, he struggled with memory and speech functions, and at times he lost feeling in his arms. During a deployment in 2015, Blair was medically transported home to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. That’s when he was referred to the traumatic brain injury (TBI) clinic for the injury he sustained in 2007.

Before the referral, Blair’s wife, Jasmin, sensed that something needed to be addressed.
It was the combination of her insistence and his visit to the TBI clinic that convinced Blair to take time to learn more about TBI symptoms and recovery.

Jasmin played an instrumental role in Blair’s recovery. She stayed informed and applied lessons she learned from health care providers to help her husband cope with his symptoms.
She shares her story as a TBI champion for A Head for the Future, the TBI awareness and prevention initiative from the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center: http://dvbic.dcoe.mil

Visit http://dvbic.dcoe.mil/aheadforthefuture to learn more inspiring stories from those in the military community who experienced brain injuries and sought help. The website also features additional resources to prevent, recognize and recover from brain injury.

It’s important to know that each brain injury is different. Not everyone with TBI experiences the same signs and symptoms -- this is why it's always a good idea to get checked out by a medical provider.

Follow the initiative on Twitter @AHFTF_Page, and the A Head for the Future page on Facebook.

A Head for the Future: TBI Champion Military Spouse Jasmin Blair

Nov. 16, 2017 | 3:13

During retired Marine Corps Capt. Wally Blair’s deployment in September 2007, his convoy hit a roadside bomb. Health care providers treated him for chemical burns and told him he had a concussion.

Army Medicine Health Minute video about Brain Injury Awareness Month 2018.

Brain Injury Awareness 2018

Feb. 22, 2018 | 1:12

Army Medicine Health Minute video about Brain Injury Awareness Month 2018.

Based on countless real-life stories, this video from A Head for the Future (dvbic.dcoe.mil/aheadforthefuture) underscores how important it is to get checked out after a head injury. It depicts a service member who gets a concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), while playing sports and the TBI symptoms he experiences.

According to recent Defense Department data, since 2000 more than 370,000 service members have been diagnosed with at least one TBI — most sustained in noncombat settings. Falls, motor vehicle collisions, training accidents and sports-related injuries (like the one shown here) are the most common causes of noncombat-related brain injury among service members.

Because every experience with TBI is different, people who sustain a TBI may not show all the signs and symptoms depicted in this video.

A Head for the Future, an initiative from the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, produces educational videos and testimonials featuring the inspiring stories of those in the military community who have experienced TBI and sought help. The website also provides additional resources to help prevent, recognize and recover from TBI.

Follow the initiative on Twitter (@AHFTF_Page) and on Facebook (A Head for the Future).

Know the Signs: Learn to Recognize Traumatic Brain Injury

Dec. 18, 2017 | 2:25

Based on countless real-life stories, this video underscores how important it is to get checked out after a head injury. It features a service member who suffers a concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury.

“TBI champions” — inspiring service members and veterans who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and got help — share their stories in this public service announcement for A Head for the Future, the TBI awareness and prevention initiative from the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (www.dcoe.dvbic.mil).

Visit www.dvbic.dcoe.mil/aheadforthefuture to learn the stories of TBI champions. The website also features additional resources to prevent, recognize and recover from brain injury.

Follow the initiative on Twitter @AHFTF_Page, and the A Head for the Future page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AHeadfortheFuture/?fref=ts

It's important to know that each TBI is different; not everyone who sustains a TBI will experience the same signs and symptoms, need an MRI for diagnosis, or require identical treatment.

PSA: Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center Explains TBI Awareness

May 20, 2016 | 1:31

It's important to know that each TBI is different; not everyone who sustains a TBI will experience the same signs and symptoms, need an MRI for diagnosis or require identical treatment.

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