{"id":36052,"date":"2026-04-29T16:41:57","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T16:41:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2026\/04\/29\/brain-function-evaluations-to-be-part-of-marine-health-records\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:56:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:56:36","slug":"brain-function-evaluations-to-be-part-of-marine-health-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2026\/04\/29\/brain-function-evaluations-to-be-part-of-marine-health-records\/","title":{"rendered":"Brain function evaluations to be part of Marine health records"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the U.S. Marine Corps faces congressionally mandated deadlines to evaluate the brain injury impacts<\/a> of weapons blasts<\/a> on the force and start implementing mitigation measures, changes are already being made to limit blast exposure in training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brig. Gen. Sean Hoewing, head of the Corps\u2019 newly established Risk Management Directorate<\/a>, told an audience at the Modern Day Marine exposition in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday that, while the impacts of blast exposure and overpressure across time are still being studied, training supervisors have been instructed to take steps to limit prospective damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re an instructor on the range today, and you\u2019re observing a Marine using a particular weapon system, we\u2019ve already implemented distance requirements for the observer to be away from that weapon system,\u201d Hoewing said. \u201cUnderstanding that the Marine today with weapon systems that we use, many of them, they have to be in close proximity to the weapon. But anybody else that\u2019s assisting doesn\u2019t necessarily need to be inside that bubble where there would be danger. So those things are already being implemented.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February, according to Hoewing, the Corps established a baseline evaluation in a computer-based brain function assessment known as the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics, or ANAM, for all troops designated \u201chigh risk,\u201d including weapons instructors, range staff and others whose routine work puts them in proximity to overpressure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By this September, he said in a presentation, ANAM data would be incorporated into Marines\u2019 periodic health assessments, an annual four-part screening administered by Navy medicine. September 2027 will see baseline ANAM evals complete for all troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Marine Corps is set to evaluate a study on the impacts of blast overpressure at different levels and update the risk threshold \u2014 now set at 4 pounds per square inch (PSI) \u2014 by September 2029.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re still debating amongst the scientists and medical health professionals, with the periodicity \u2026 how frequently we will do those tests from here on out, whether it\u2019s a part of your annual periodic health assessment that most Marines will go through, or whether it\u2019s something that\u2019s, you know, every two years or every three years,\u201d Hoewing said. \u201cIn the meantime, our mandate is to get after doing this assessment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Corps has also built a working group, he said, to determine what to do with the information being gathered. Those tasked with building awareness may inform Marines, as well as makers of military equipment and protective gear, of blast risks and thresholds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those in the working group from Marine Corps Training and Education Command will have \u201cthe largest stake,\u201d Hoewing said, as they\u2019ll have to develop mitigation methods and procedures in a space where avoiding blast exposure altogether isn\u2019t an option.<\/p>\n\n\n\t