An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

March uses automated test to screen for injury

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Michael Blair
  • 452 AMW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. --  It's mandatory. All Airmen must undergo specific testing for a possible injury before going into a combat zone.

Concerned the concussion of an explosion may cause brain injury, the Department of Defense created the Neurocognitive Assessment Tool. The U.S. Army began using the NCAT in 2006. As of July 23, 2008, DOD requires all service members to take the test within 12 months of deployment.

According to the U.S. Army Medical Department, a mild traumatic brain injury or concussion can affect a person's ability to work. Changes include a slower reaction time, headaches, irritability, memory impairments and difficulty sleeping. NCAT was developed because the symptoms may be mild and difficult to diagnose.

"It's like a hearing test for the brain," said Amanda Snay, an Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics proctor who tests March ARB Airmen before they deploy.

"It can't hurt you," she said. "It only takes 10 to 15 minutes on average, and the results are only used as a baseline to see if there has been injury to the brain."

Before they deploy, the Airmen sit in front of laptops and answer questions to judge their memory and reaction time. There is no pass or fail. Scores are stored in a Washington, D.C., database and only used if an Airman experiences a concussion. The test is only used to determine changes in mental function.

Test results before and after the injuries are compared to determine if there has been a change in an Airman's mental capabilities and to allow for better treatment and care. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)