Study on long-term effects of military flight operations on brain health and mental health

(a) Study The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a comprehensive, longitudinal study to assess the long term physiological and psychological effects of military aviation, including with respect to high-performance flight and G-force exposure, on military aviators. (b) Elements The study under subsection (a) shall examine, at a minimum— (1) the relationship between cumulative flight hours and exposure to G-forces and incidents of traumatic brain injury, subconcussive trauma, or cognitive impairment; (2) long-term mental health outcomes, including with respect to incidence of depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder, in military aviators compared to other members of the Armed Forces; (3) the correlation between aviation-related physiological stress and suicide risk among aviators; (4) the prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions (including chronic traumatic encephalopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease) in current and former military aviators; (5) the effect of helmet design, oxygen systems, flight suit pressurization, and other cockpit environmental factors on neurocognitive health; (6) current screening and diagnostic procedures used to detect early signs of neurological injury or psychological distress in military aviators; and (7) recommended improvements in the monitoring, prevention, and treatment of aviation-related brain trauma and mental health challenges. (c) Consultation In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with— (1) the Surgeons General of the military departments; (2) the Director of the Defense Health Agency; (3) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and (4) relevant academic institutions and federally funded research and development centers with expertise in aviation medicine, neuroscience, and psychiatry. (d) Pilot health registry The Secretary of Defense shall establish and maintain a centralized Military Aviator Neurohealth Registry that includes— (1) anonymized health data of military aviators voluntarily participating in the study under subsection (a); (2) flight exposure metrics, including cumulative hours and G-force profiles; (3) relevant health outcomes tracked over time; and (4) a mechanism for longitudinal follow-up with the military aviators after retirement or separation from the Armed Forces. (e) Reports (1) Interim report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees an interim report on the study under subsection (a), including any preliminary findings and recommendations. (2) Final report Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the study under subsection (a), including findings and recommendations. (f) Military aviator defined In this section, the term military aviator means a member of the Armed Forces, including a commissioned officer or a warrant officer, who— (1) has been designated as a pilot, naval aviator, or aircrew member by the Secretary of the military department concerned; (2) operates, or is regularly assigned as a flight crew member aboard, high-performance, crewed, fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft designed for tactical, training, or reconnaissance missions, including— (A) fighter aircraft (such as the F–35, F/A–18, F–22, and F–16 aircraft); (B) attack aircraft (such as the A–10 and AH–64 aircraft); (C) trainer jets (such as the T–7, T–38,and T–45 aircraft); and (D) tiltrotor or high-speed rotary aircraft (such as the V–22 aircraft); and (3) is subject to sustained or repeated G-forces during the routine execution of flight duties.

(a) Study The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a comprehensive, longitudinal study to assess the long term physiological and psychological effects of military aviation, including with respect to high-performance flight and G-force exposure, on military aviators. (b) Elements The study under subsection (a) shall examine, at a minimum— (1) the relationship between cumulative flight hours and exposure to G-forces and incidents of traumatic brain injury, subconcussive trauma, or cognitive impairment; (2) long-term mental health outcomes, including with respect to incidence of depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder, in military aviators compared to other members of the Armed Forces; (3) the correlation between aviation-related physiological stress and suicide risk among aviators; (4) the prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions (including chronic traumatic encephalopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease) in current and former military aviators; (5) the effect of helmet design, oxygen systems, flight suit pressurization, and other cockpit environmental factors on neurocognitive health; (6) current screening and diagnostic procedures used to detect early signs of neurological injury or psychological distress in military aviators; and (7) recommended improvements in the monitoring, prevention, and treatment of aviation-related brain trauma and mental health challenges. (c) Consultation In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with— (1) the Surgeons General of the military departments; (2) the Director of the Defense Health Agency; (3) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and (4) relevant academic institutions and federally funded research and development centers with expertise in aviation medicine, neuroscience, and psychiatry. (d) Pilot health registry The Secretary of Defense shall establish and maintain a centralized Military Aviator Neurohealth Registry that includes— (1) anonymized health data of military aviators voluntarily participating in the study under subsection (a); (2) flight exposure metrics, including cumulative hours and G-force profiles; (3) relevant health outcomes tracked over time; and (4) a mechanism for longitudinal follow-up with the military aviators after retirement or separation from the Armed Forces. (e) Reports (1) Interim report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees an interim report on the study under subsection (a), including any preliminary findings and recommendations. (2) Final report Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the study under subsection (a), including findings and recommendations. (f) Military aviator defined In this section, the term military aviator means a member of the Armed Forces, including a commissioned officer or a warrant officer, who— (1) has been designated as a pilot, naval aviator, or aircrew member by the Secretary of the military department concerned; (2) operates, or is regularly assigned as a flight crew member aboard, high-performance, crewed, fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft designed for tactical, training, or reconnaissance missions, including— (A) fighter aircraft (such as the F–35, F/A–18, F–22, and F–16 aircraft); (B) attack aircraft (such as the A–10 and AH–64 aircraft); (C) trainer jets (such as the T–7, T–38,and T–45 aircraft); and (D) tiltrotor or high-speed rotary aircraft (such as the V–22 aircraft); and (3) is subject to sustained or repeated G-forces during the routine execution of flight duties.