Bill Overview
Title: Warrior Brain Health Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative to unify efforts and programs across DOD to improve the cognitive performance and brain health of members of the Armed Forces. DOD must submit a report to Congress setting forth a strategy and implementation plan to achieve the objectives of the initiative. Additionally, DOD must include a budget justification display for activities relating to the initiative in budget justification materials submitted for FY2025-FY2029.
Sponsors: Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
Target Audience
Population: Members of the Armed Forces
Estimated Size: 1300000
- The bill is focused on the cognitive performance and brain health of members of the Armed Forces.
- It mandates the Department of Defense to set up this initiative, indicating it is specifically targeting military personnel.
- Active duty military members, which number approximately 1.3 million globally, would be the primary target population.
- The focus is specifically on members of the Armed Forces rather than potential future recruits or veterans.
Reasoning
- The primary target population for this policy consists of the 1.3 million active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
- There may be some impact on their families and military communities, but the direct effects are focused on active service members.
- Budget considerations mean the policy's reach within the first years may be limited, potentially focusing on high-priority or easily implementable aspects of cognitive and brain health.
- Differing roles and responsibilities within the military (e.g., high-stress roles, combat vs. non-combat roles) will likely experience varied levels of impact.
- It is important to recognize the mix of genders and ages within the military and understand that the policy's effectiveness could vary by these demographics.
Simulated Interviews
Army Officer (Fort Bragg, NC)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The initiative is crucial for maintaining performance and safety in demanding roles.
- I believe it will improve not only professional performance but personal mental health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Navy Pilot (San Diego, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I expect the policy to enhance training by incorporating advanced brain health strategies.
- The policy should bring long-term career benefits in terms of preparedness and resilience.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Navy Engineer (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhancing cognitive health is essential, especially for seasoned service members facing stress and mental fatigue.
- The initiative may help transition skills to civilian life post-service.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Pentagon Analyst (Washington D.C.)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Benefits of improving cognitive health may not be immediately felt due to already high personal wellbeing.
- The broader military culture and structure will likely see improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Army Medic (Fort Hood, TX)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I expect this initiative to strengthen support systems within the military.
- Early career personnel might benefit from improved resources and training.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Air Force Intelligence Analyst (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Psychological and cognitive support is vital for roles requiring intense focus.
- The initiative will likely enhance work-life balance strategies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Coast Guard Rescue Operator (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The focus on brain health could improve mission efficiency and safety.
- Expecting long-term benefits despite immediate operational impacts being limited.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
National Guard Member (Seattle, WA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy is more relevant for active frontline roles than for the National Guard.
- However, general improvements in cognitive resources will likely be beneficial for disaster response effectiveness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Marine Corps Infantryman (Chicago, IL)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is essential for combat readiness and personal resilience.
- Expecting a moderate increase in mental readiness and reduced operational stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Retired Navy Commander (Hampton Roads, VA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While personally unaffected in retirement, I see this as a necessary evolution of military health.
- Improvements will likely have a positive cascading effect on family wellbeing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $250000000)
Year 2: $210000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $260000000)
Year 3: $220000000 (Low: $170000000, High: $270000000)
Year 5: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Year 10: $240000000 (Low: $190000000, High: $290000000)
Year 100: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Key Considerations
- The potential overlap and integration with existing DOD health programs and initiatives could impact cost and effectiveness.
- Ensuring adequate funding and resource allocation to each necessary component of the initiative will be crucial for successful implementation.
- The initiative's success is contingent on robust oversight, coordination, and measurable objectives to track improvements in warrior brain health.