The US Military’s Brain Injury Program
Brain injuries have become a focus of study and controversy received during the current war. This is partly the result of improved detection and understanding of maladies whose symptoms are sometimes subtle, and can be mistaken for purely psychological maladies. It is also partly the result of enemies whose primary tactical approach is land mine warfare. When these go off, they have a tendency to throw vehicles around pretty hard. Being slammed against the top or side of one’s vehicle leads to concussions, and sometimes to brain injuries. US veterans have been pushing for more work and funding in this area in order to help soldiers who have encountered this hazard, and to improve the future design of equipment and vehicles.
Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson was a US Senator [D-WA], who was known as one of the most consistent supporters of a powerful US military and a strong anti-communist foreign policy within his party. He was also known as a smart lawmaker who authored the National Environmental Policy Act, was a key player in the grant of statehood to Alaska and Hawaii, strongly supported the US submarine fleet, and sought his party’s nomination for President in 1972 & 1976. With the shift of USS Ohio and three other ballistic missile submarines to SSGN special forces and conventional strike roles, the lead sub of the US Trident fleet is now the SSBN 730 Henry M Jackson based in Bangor, WA. His legacy is also continued by the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicines…
March 27/08: The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicines in Rockville, MD received a cost plus fixed fee contract for $23.2 million for the management of the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center program.
The majority of work will be performed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Estimated completion date is Dec 16/08. Web bids were solicited on Sept 6/07, and 1 was received by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity at Ft. Detrick, MD (W81XWH-08-C-0066)
July 23/07: The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicines in Pomona, NY received a $17.3 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for management of the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center program.
Work will be performed in Washington, DC (51.5%), Columbus, OH (9%), Fort Bragg, NC (3.5%), San Diego, CA (6.5%), Tampa, FL (2%), Lackland Air Force Base, TX (5%), Johnstown, PA (10%), Richmond, VA (2%), Palo Alto, CA (2.5%), Minneapolis, MN (2%), and Charlottesville, VA (6%), and is expected to be complete by Feb. 19, 2007. Bids were solicited via the World Wide Web on April 6, 2007, and 1 bid was received by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity in Fort Detrick, MD (W81XWH-07-C-0089).