Elite Navy special warfare boat crews may be returning to duty with undiagnosed brain injuries, Pentagon watchdog warns
The report said that sending service members back into high-risk environments with an undiagnosed brain injury could negatively affect operations.
A Pentagon watchdog has warned that elite US Navy special warfare boat crews may be returning to dangerous missions with undiagnosed brain injuries due to breakdowns in reporting, screening, and follow-up evaluations. The Department of Defense's Office of the Inspector General (IG) released a report detailing gaps in the system that may be allowing service members to rejoin active duty with traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
The report stated that SWCCs (Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen) often fail to report symptoms or attend follow-up appointments due to high-tempo schedules and concerns about workload impact on fellow service members. The IG report highlighted that without consistent and objective TBI screening, symptoms may be mistaken for routine fatigue, potentially sending injured sailors back to high-risk maritime and riverine environments.
The military's primary concussion screening tool, the Military Acute Concussion Evaluation (MACE-2), failed to appear in cases reviewed by investigators. Additionally, follow-up care was rare, with the IG report concluding that some service members may have returned to duty while still suffering from undiagnosed or untreated TBIs, potentially leading to long-term health issues and decreased readiness.
Recommendations from the IG report include the establishment of a standardized TBI checklist and enforcement of mandatory follow-up treatment appointments, with completion expected by March 2027.
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