Project R3con
07/20/2026
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐
๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ค ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
The U.S. Department of War applies the principle of keeping blast overpressure exposure As Low As Reasonably Achievable, or ALARA, while balancing operational and training requirements.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฑ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ:
1. Minimize the number of personnel near a blast event
2. Increase standoff distance from the weapon
3. Minimize the duration of live-fire events
4. Follow limits on the number of rounds fired
5. Use appropriate personal protective equipment
6. Train and educate personnel on blast hazards and risk management
๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ค.
๐๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฑ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ๐ฌ. ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ. ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ. ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ. ๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ.
Realistic training is essential. So is preventing exposure that does not need to occur.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ:
Which of these six actions do you think is hardest to apply consistently during realistic military training?
Source
U.S. Department of Defense. (2024, October). DoD blast overpressure reference and information guide (D-BOP RIG), p. 3.
07/19/2026
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐
๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ซ
For many Special Operations Forces personnel, blast exposure isn't remembered as a single event.
๐๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ...
"Just another range day."
"Another breach."
"Another mortar shoot."
"Another Carl Gustaf round."
"Another deployment workup."
๐๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ.
The next repetition.
The next iteration.
The next objective.
Over time, it's easy to accept headaches, ringing in the ears, trouble sleeping, slower recall, or difficulty concentrating as simply part of the profession.
๐๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐.
๐๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง'๐ญ.
That's exactly why the U.S. Department of War is investing in blast exposure research.
Not because every blast causes injury.
But because understanding how a career of repeated exposure affects brain health is essential to protecting the force.
๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค.....๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ.
Question for our community:
When did you first realize blast exposure was something the military was taking seriously?
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง. ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง.
07/18/2026
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐
๐๐
To better understand how blast overpressure affects our warfighters, the Defense Health Agency developed a list of ๐๐ โ๐๐ข๐๐ซ ๐โ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ง ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐ฌ representing the militaryโs highest-priority weapon systems and breaching activities for monitoring and research.
๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐:
โข Shoulder-mounted weapon systems, such as the M3 MAAWS, AT4, and LAW
โข .50 caliber weapon systems, including the M107 sniper rifle, M2A1 machine gun, MK15, and GAU-21
โข Indirect fire systems, including the M119A3, M777A2, M109A6, and 60 mm, 81 mm, and 120 mm mortars
โข Explosive breaching operations, including open space, door, and wall breaching
To gain insights and develop an understanding of the blast exposures that result from firing or detonating Tier 1 weapon systems, the U.S. Department of War collected blast wearable sensors monitoring information, analyzed weapon system safety guidance, conducted analysis on the health and performance effects, and identified knowledge gaps and policy deficiencies that could be used to inform recommendations.
That Blast Overpressure Studies pilot demonstrated that blast exposure can be measured and tracked during training, laying the foundation for better research, smarter risk management, and evidence-based strategies to protect the brain while preserving the mission.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ:
Which advancements do you believe will have the greatest impact on protecting brain health while maintaining the realistic training our military requires?
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง. ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง.
07/18/2026
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐
๐๐%+ of Study Participants (n = 11 Army Ranger mortarmen)
In collaboration with the U.S. Army Rangers at Fort Benning, blast exposure, symptoms, and pupillary light reflex were measured during 3 days of firing 81 mm and 120 mm mortars in training. Blast exposure analysis included the examination of the blast overpressure (BOP) and cumulative exposure by mortarman position, as well as comparison to the 4 psi safety threshold. Nearly 500 rounds were fired during the study, resulting in a high cumulative blast exposure for all mortarmen.
Researchers found that after repeated low-level blast exposure during training, more than ๐๐% of ๐.๐. ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง reported:
โข Headaches
โข Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
โข Forgetfulness or poor memory
โข Taking longer to think
Mortarmen experienced high cumulative blast exposure coinciding with altered neurocognition that is suggestive of blast-related subconcussive injury. These neurocognitive effects occurred even in mortarmen with average BOP below the 4 psi safety threshold.
While this study was limited by a small sample size, its results demonstrate a concerning health risk for mortarmen that requires additional study and immediate action.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ:
What role do you think continued research should play in improving brain health and readiness for future generations of warfighters?
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง. ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง.
Source: Julia l.a Woodall, Jordyn a Sak, Kyle R Cowdrick, Brady m Bove Muรฑoz, Jessica h McElrath, Grace r Trimpe, Yajun Mei, Re*****on l Myhre, James k Rains, Charles r Hutchinson, Repetitive Low-level Blast Exposure and Neurocognitive Effects in Army Ranger Mortarmen, Military Medicine, Volume 188, Issue 3-4, March-April 2023, Pages e771โe779, https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usab394
07/17/2026
We're proud to welcome ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง as a sponsor of the 2nd Annual Reps for R3covery benefiting Project R3con.
The Mission, led by former SOF Operator Charlie Irving, is a weekly newsletter that serves Christian men through practical, faith-driven content focused on purpose, leadership, and personal growth.
We are grateful for organizations from many backgrounds that choose to stand with America's Special Operations Forces community.
๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง:
"Our active-duty military and veterans have sacrificed more than most people outside our families can fully understand. Any opportunity to help ease the physical and mental burdens that can follow military service is something I am thankful to support."
Every sponsor helps make this nationwide campaign possible while advancing Project R3con's mission to improve the lives of Special Operations Forces personnel living with traumatic brain injury.
Thank you, ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง, for standing alongside America's warriors and helping turn awareness into action.
Learn more and subscribe: https://themission.beehiiv.com/
Support Reps for R3covery: https://givebutter.com/repsforr3covery
07/16/2026
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฌ
Blast overpressure isn't always visible.
Sometimes, the first signs are the symptoms that are easiest to dismiss.
According to the ๐๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง ๐๐ง๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ (๐๐๐๐๐จ๐), the following symptoms have been reported after ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ-๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐:
โข Headaches
โข Dizziness
โข Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
โข Difficulty hearing
โข Trouble concentrating
โข Memory problems
โข Slowed thinking or reaction time
โข Irritability
โข Sleep problems
โข Fatigue
These symptoms are not unique to blast exposure and can have many causes. They also do not necessarily mean someone has sustained a traumatic brain injury.
However, recognizing them and reporting persistent symptoms to a healthcare provider is an important part of protecting brain health and preserving readiness.
The more we understand these symptoms, the better equipped we are to recognize them, document them, and continue advancing the science that supports our warfighters.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ:
Which of these reported symptoms do you think is most often overlooked or dismissed as "just part of the job"?
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง. ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง.
Source: Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence. (2025). What you should know about blast overpressure: Service member fact sheet. Defense Health Agency. https://lnkd.in/eABJRuqw
07/15/2026
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐
๐ ๐
๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ
Blast overpressure doesn't stop with the service member.
It comes home.
Whether exposure occurs from combat, explosive breaching, heavy weapons, mortars, artillery, shoulder-fired weapons, or years of mission-essential training, the effects of brain injury can extend far beyond the battlefield or range.
Spouses may notice changes in communication.
Children may not understand why Mom or Dad seems different.
Friends may see someone withdraw from the activities they once loved.
No two warriors experience blast exposure the same way, and no two families experience its effects the same way.
That is why conversations about blast overpressure are about more than operational readiness.
They're about marriages.
They're about parenting.
They're about friendships.
They're about quality of life long after the uniform comes off.
At Project R3con, we believe that supporting brain health means supporting the entire family standing behind the warrior.
Because when one service member carries the weight of invisible injuries, one family carries it too.
Question for our community:
How has military service shaped your perspective on the importance of brain health, whether as a service member, veteran, spouse, or family member?
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง. ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง.
07/15/2026
Project R3con has earned the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency.
This is the highest level of recognition awarded by Candid, the nation's leading source of nonprofit information.
The ๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ฅ signifies more than financial transparency. It reflects our commitment to openly sharing our mission, leadership, finances, measurable outcomes, and the impact donor support makes possible.
๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง, ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ.
As we work to expand access to ethically sourced, U.S.-based stem cell therapy for Special Operations Forces personnel living with traumatic brain injury, we are equally committed to measuring outcomes, reporting results, and stewarding every donation with integrity.
To our donors, partners, service-members, veterans, and supporters, thank you for believing in this mission. Your trust is something we never take for granted.
๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ, ๐ฐ๐'๐ซ๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ฒ. ๐๐'๐ซ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ'๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ.
Learn more about our mission and our Candid profile: https://app.candid.org/profile/16387567/project-r3con
07/14/2026
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐
๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
Blast overpressure exposure isn't limited to one branch, one unit, or one mission.
The U.S. Department of War identifies seven primary military occupational groups that are routinely exposed to low-level blast overpressure during training and operations:
โข Armor, Artillery, and Gunnery
โข Combat Engineers
โข Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
โข Infantry
โข Medical Assets Attached to Expeditionary Units
โข Military Training Instructors
โข Special Operations Forces
These professionals may encounter blast overpressure while conducting explosive breaching, firing shoulder-mounted weapons, operating heavy weapons, or supporting mission-essential training. They are at increased risk of cumulative subconcussive impacts that can adversely affect cognitive performance and brain health.
๐
๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ฒ, ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ง'๐ญ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ.
๐๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฃ๐จ๐.
Understanding who is routinely exposed helps improve awareness, guide research, strengthen prevention efforts, and support long-term brain health across the force.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ:
If you served in one of these occupations, what do you think is the most important lesson we've learned about blast exposure over the past decade?
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง. ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง.
Source: Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence. (2025). What You Should Know About Blast Overpressure: Service Member Fact Sheet. Defense Health Agency. https://health.mil/Reference-Center/Fact-Sheets/2025/09/16/Blast-Overpressure-Service-Member-Fact-Sheet
07/14/2026
We are proud to recognize ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ as an official sponsor of the ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ hosted by retired Green Beret and host of Lesser Known Operators Nick Ward in support of Project R3con.
Led by Dr. Taylor Bosley, a former Special Forces 18D, Precision Wellness Group is committed to advancing innovative, patient-centered care and is fueled by a singular purpose: To redefine wellness from reactive care to purposeful vitality.
They offer hormone therapy, weight-loss management, and lifestyle plans to support your goals.
Their dedication to serving the Special Operations Forces community extends far beyond the clinic through their support of our mission.
Their sponsorship helps fuel Nick's 50-state Reps for R3covery journey, raising awareness and funding to expand access to stem cell therapy for Special Operations Forces personnel living with the lasting effects of traumatic brain injury.
Thank you, Precision Wellness Group and Dr. Bosley, for standing beside our nation's warriors and investing in recovery, resilience, and hope.
๐บ๐ธ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง. ๐บ๐ธ
Ready to join the Reps for R3covery team in support of SOF brain health: https://givebutter.com/repsforr3covery
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