Washington is pushing a new “blast safety officer” mandate for military training, and it’s raising serious questions about whether this is about protecting our troops or just another bureaucratic overreach.
Story Snapshot
- A proposed provision in the FY‑2026 National Defense Authorization Act would require the military to assign dedicated “blast safety officers” at training events involving heavy weapons and explosives.
- These officers would monitor blast overpressure exposure, enforce stand‑off distances and PPE rules, and coordinate medical follow‑up for troops.
- The measure is based on growing concern about blast‑related brain injuries and is modeled in part on NFL concussion reforms.
- If passed, the services would have to implement blast safety officers by September 30, 2026, adding new personnel, sensors, and data systems to training ranges.
What the New Law Would Do
A proposed provision in the FY‑2026 National Defense Authorization Act would require each military service to designate dedicated “blast safety officers” at training events where heavy weapons and explosives are used. These officers would be responsible for enforcing Department of Defense blast overpressure safety rules, including safe distances and protective equipment for mortars, howitzers, rifles, and breaching charges. They would monitor wearable blast sensors, log exposure data, and pull service members off the line if they exceed exposure thresholds, triggering medical assessment. The officers would also coordinate with mental health providers and medical staff to ensure follow‑up for troops showing blast‑related symptoms and advise on range design and operations to reduce harmful blast exposure.
New law could require ‘blast safety officers’ for military training https://t.co/gon7NFzGsm
— Task & Purpose (@TaskandPurpose) December 9, 2025
Origins and Advocacy Behind the Proposal
The blast safety officer requirement was drafted by Todd Strader, a former Army mortarman and founder of the advocacy group OverPressured LLC, which focuses on blast overpressure risks. Strader argues that current range safety officers are already overburdened, typically managing ammunition flow, range control, and training objectives with little bandwidth to also monitor blast sensor data and detailed blast mitigation. He envisions the new officer giving briefings on blast overpressure hazards when troops arrive on the range, monitoring sensor data in real time, and removing soldiers from training after exceptionally high exposures for concussion assessment. The proposal draws an analogy to NFL concussion reforms, aiming to shift military culture from “shake it off” to a more systematic approach to brain health and sub‑concussive injuries.
The measure is part of a broader effort to address the brain and other health effects of repeated low‑level blast exposure in training. It builds on DoD’s August 2024 rules that established recommended safe distances and procedures for blast overpressure during training with heavy weapons and breaching explosives. Advocacy from OverPressured LLC and similar groups led members of Congress to incorporate the blast safety officer language into the FY‑2026 NDAA, reflecting growing concern about blast‑related traumatic brain injuries and long‑term neurological effects among service members.
Impact on Training, Readiness, and Costs
If enacted, the law would require the services to assign blast safety officers wherever blast hazards are reasonably anticipated, with implementation required by September 30, 2026. This would mean more pre‑range briefings specifically on blast overpressure and its health consequences, and more frequent temporary removals from training when sensor readings are high, leading to more concussion assessments and possible duty restrictions. Operationally, commanders and training units would need to adapt training plans and throughput to accommodate exposure limits, stand‑off distances, and temporary removals based on sensor data.
Administratively, the mandate would create new burdens: procuring, fielding, and maintaining blast sensors; training personnel to use them; staffing blast safety officer positions; and creating data management systems to handle exposure logs and interface with medical records. The military already has unit duty safety officers and occupational safety specialists who manage comprehensive safety programs, so the new role would overlay and specialize within that existing safety ecosystem. Long‑term, the goal is to reduce cumulative brain injury burden, improve early detection of blast‑related concussions, and elevate brain health as a key component of combat readiness, but it will come at a cost in personnel, equipment, and training time.
Sources:
New law could require ‘blast safety officers’ for military training
Naval School of Aviation Safety – History
Ground Safety Officer Course (GSOC)
Military Environmental Health and Safety Specialists
Air Force Occupational Safety Division
Ground Safety for Marines Course
