University of Wisconsin–Madison

In the News: Is Blast Exposure in Training Hurting Soldiers Brains?

Is it possible that the training of elite soldiers can cause brain injuries that accumulate over time? The following article brings attention to this important question.

A Green Beret Went on a Shooting Rampage. Is the Army at Fault?

by Dave Philipps January 12, 2026

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Special Operations troops train relentlessly, jumping from planes, firing shoulder-fired rockets and setting off explosives. The years of training exposes them to so many weapons blasts and knocks to the head that it can erode their ability to do the job, or even to function normally. Many end up with significant brain injuries — injuries that are often missed by the Army.
blast exposure