"U.S. Troops Persist in Training with Brain Injury-Prone Weapons"

Despite mounting evidence of the serious and lasting harm caused by repetitive blasts, U.S. troops continue to train with weapons like shoulder-fired rockets that deliver shock waves well above the safety threshold. Congress has ordered the military to set safety limits and track troops' exposure, but little has changed on the ground. Troops have reported seeing little being done to limit or track blast exposure, and training continues as usual. Studies have shown that blast exposure can lead to brain injuries and long-term consequences for mental health. The military has been criticized for failing to take practical steps to ensure the safety of its troops, including providing blast gauges for real-time monitoring.