美国军方在一份声明中表示，几乎所有美军士兵都完成了这项强制性测试。该测试旨在评估士兵在爆炸环境中所受的影响，并监测其大脑健康状况。
Nearly all U.S. soldiers completed a mandatory test meant to track the effects of blast exposure and monitor brain health across the Army, the service said in a release.
这项名为“神经认知评估工具”（Neurocognitive Assessment Tool, NCAT）的测试是通过计算机进行的，能够记录士兵的神经功能表现，包括注意力、集中力、反应时间、记忆力、信息处理速度以及决策能力等。测试于2024年开始实施，原因是此前有报告指出常规武器训练可能对士兵的大脑造成伤害，甚至导致创伤性脑损伤。
The test, or Neurocognitive Assessment Tool, is computer-based and records neurological activity, such as attention, concentration, reaction time, memory, processing speed and decision-making. Testing started in 2024 in response to reports about the effects that routine weapons training can have on the brain, including traumatic brain injury.
那些从事高风险军事职业的现役军人、国民警卫队成员及预备役士兵（如战斗工程师、爆炸物处理技术人员，以及操作重型武器系统的士兵）必须从入伍后不久就开始每年接受这项评估；而其他所有士兵则每三年需要接受一次测试。
Active-duty, National Guard and Reserve soldiers in high-risk military occupational specialties, including combat engineers and explosive ordnance technicians, as well as troops operating heavy weapons systems, must take the assessment every year, starting soon after they enlist. All other soldiers are required to test every three years.
医疗专业人员利用这些测试数据来监测士兵在整个服役期间的认知健康状况，以便及时发现任何异常变化，尤其是潜在的脑损伤。
Medical professionals use the data to monitor service members’ cognitive health throughout their military careers, allowing them to spot significant changes, including potential brain injuries.
“这项测试是维护士兵健康的重要手段，它为士兵的反应时间和记忆力等指标建立了基准值，”美国陆军设施、能源与环境事务助理部长乔丹·吉利斯（Jordan Gillis）在声明中说道。“通过为所有士兵建立基准值，我们可以监测他们的大脑健康状况，并在必要时为医疗人员提供治疗建议。”根据9月30日的声明，美国陆军预计将发布关于这项神经认知评估工具的正式指令，同时还会推出一项更为全面的压力管理计划，该计划涵盖危险评估、暴露情况跟踪、风险缓解、认知健康监测、疾病与伤害报告，以及相关培训和教育内容。
“[The NCAT] is an important part of taking care of soldiers, but what this does is, it sets a baseline for reaction times and for memory,” Jordan Gillis, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment, said in a release. “By establishing a baseline for all soldiers, we’re able to monitor brain health, as well as … let medical providers help with treatment, if required.”According to the Sept. 30 release, the Army is expected to publish a directive about the Neurocognitive Assessment Tool and a broader overpressure program, which includes hazard assessment, exposure tracking, risk mitigation, cognitive monitoring, information management, illness and injury reporting and training and education.
“我们的核心目标是照顾士兵并监测他们的健康状况，”吉利斯说，“如果他们出现任何健康问题，我们能够及时为他们提供治疗。”吉利斯补充道：“97%的士兵接受了NCAT测试这一里程碑式的成就，充分体现了我们对士兵认知健康、医疗准备状况以及作战能力的重视。”
“The takeaway is we are trying to take care of soldiers and monitor their health,” Gillis said. “And if there is an impact, we’ll be able to treat them.”Reaching the milestone of 97% of soldiers being tested on the NCAT “demonstrates our commitment to cognitive safety, medical readiness and warfighting capability,” Gillis added.
这一成就的公布，距离政府问责办公室（GAO）发布关于军方提供认知评估能力调查结果仅过去一个月。根据该调查报告，国防部在各个军种中都面临着人员短缺以及缺乏进行认知评估所需技术的难题。
The announcement of the milestone came just one month after the Government Accountability Office released the findings of its investigation into the ability of military services to provide the baseline cognitive assessments. Across the services, the Defense Department is hampered by staff shortages and a lack of technology needed to conduct the assessments, the GAO found.
五角大楼于4月宣布将启动一项为期一年的试点计划，测试一种新的认知评估工具——这款应用程序可供军人使用来完成评估。国防部官员表示，这款应用程序比现有的评估方法更节省资源，并有助于提升军方追踪士兵认知健康状况的能力。
The Pentagon announced in April that it will begin a one-year pilot program to test a new cognitive assessment tool, an app that service members can use to complete assessments. DoD officials said the app will be less resource-intensive than current assessments and will help improve the services’ ability to track exposures.