The following support request is provided by Paul Scanlan Founder Vigil Australia and endorsed by Brigadier Mark Smethurst, DSC, AM (Ret’d) Chairman The Commando Welfare Trust
The Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and Blast Overpressure (BOP) Exposure Survey
“Initially designed for the U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF), the survey has been expanded to include all Corps and Police Tactical Groups across the FVEY communities. While the title references SOF, the scope is far broader, and participation is encouraged from anyone exposed to BOP or mTBI, including family members who often notice early changes. Please ignore the title—it’s designed to capture as much relevant data as possible from a broad audience.
The current survey has already generated encouraging results, with Vigil achieving 99 participants, 80% of whom are SF-serving members or veterans. This data will be presented at NATO Working Groups on Blast Exposure, the US Special Operations Medical Association (SOMA) Brain Health Track, and several other global conferences on mTBI and blast exposure. Additionally, I’m collaborating with U.S. researchers from the Department of Veterans Affairs and Walter Reed to publish the findings. These efforts will contribute to global conversations and policy development while ensuring Australian insights are represented.
The findings will inform policy discussions and advocacy efforts to improve health outcomes and support systems for service members, veterans, and their families. While the current numbers are sufficient for meaningful analysis, additional responses will provide a clearer picture of the scale, particularly for the ADF. The survey will stay open for two more weeks until Fri 13 Dec 24.
It’s also important to highlight that the survey is also open to families, particularly wives and partners, as they often notice the earliest changes in behaviour or cognition. Their insights are critical to understanding the broader impact of mTBI and BOP exposure.
The survey is entirely anonymous and designed to be accessible, taking just 8-10 minutes to completeâ€.
The RARA encourages your support for this Survey – Duty First
