The United States Army is launching a new education program to teach 1 million soldiers how to recognize symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the two signature injuries of the war in Iraq. The program also hopes to erase the stigma of getting treatment for these serious medical/emotional problems.
In late July 2007, the Army will start a program to educate the entire Army within 90 days. Everyone is to receive a one-hour briefing on brain injuries and stress. Teachers will be equipped with videos, slides and list of anticipated questions and answers. The topics will be taught through a “chain teach” program in the which the subject is taught to leaders, who then teach it to soldiers, continuing down through the Army’s chain of command.
This program is one of many designed to help the Army and Department of Defense keep up with the injured from the war in Iraq, a war that has gone on longer than expected. The rising number of injured has overwhelmed the system.
The insurgent tactic of using roadside bombs is the top killer in Iraq and also responsible for brain injuries from concussions to severe brain trauma. The long exposure to combat, especially for very long and repeated tours, has caused increasing mental health problems among soldiers.
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in Philadelphia or elsewhere in Pennsylvania, please contact the Pennsylvania Brain Injury Attorneys at Pomerantz, Perlberger & Lewis.
