[FlagDayNCO]

I’m on this journey myself. Started as a 12B in the real Army, then 11B and finally started the journey in National Guard SF.

As the doctors that have been evaluating me put it, the several hundred demolition missions, explosions, blasts, IEDs, whatever… are each a significant concussive event. Throw in the uncounted weapons firing, parachute landings, physical abuse of using your body as a battering ram…


We’re well on the way to significant damage.

Don’t be shy. Don’t be ashamed. Afford yourself the opportunity to be tested and continue to be evaluated. It’s definitely cumulative and before you even realize it, you are already suffering from it.

First thing I noticed was my speech and balance. Memory is close behind.

Interesting about cognitive decline. I tested within normal range. When I explained I used to have a near perfect recall ability and could do demolition calculations in seconds in my head, they realized I had already started losing my memory.

Thanks for posting this and sharing your stories.