AUGUST 26, 2025 – When I began to notice lapses in memory and lingering brain fog, I chalked it up to getting older. But those subtle shifts – carrying a notepad everywhere, losing track of time, missing things I should have remembered – were early signs of something more serious. After 20 years in the Army, most of it as a master breacher in the 75th Ranger Regiment, I was diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI.)
That diagnosis changed my perspective. And it’s why, after retiring in 2024, I joined InVeris.
Today, I work on the frontlines of a different kind of mission. I’m helping service members train smarter, so they can avoid the long-term effects of repeated blast exposure that I and so many others live with.
The Hidden Cost of Readiness
The military has taken great strides in acknowledging TBI as a signature injury of modern warfare. But the issue goes deeper than battlefield trauma. Training itself, especially repeated exposure to high-powered weapons systems, can quietly and cumulatively harm the brain.
Over the course of my career, I was exposed to countless blasts from breaching charges from Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles, mortars, and other heavy weapons. Those moments felt routine. But they were causing invisible damage. Soldiers from all MOS backgrounds, not just combat arms, may be exposed to dangerous levels of blast overpressure (BOP) over time.
In 2024, the Department of Defense responded with a new policy. All soldiers will now receive baseline cognitive assessments, starting from the earliest phases of service. This is an essential step toward early detection and prevention. But prevention itself begins in training. And that’s where InVeris comes in.
A Safer Way to Train
At InVeris, we create immersive training systems that replicate battlefield conditions without putting warfighters at risk. Our simulation environments, ranging from screen-based training to full VR platforms,have been refined to reduce exposure to BOP. All while preserving realism, readiness, and decision-making under stress.
The goal isn’t to replace live fire. It’s to build a smarter continuum of training where soldiers gain muscle memory and tactical judgment through safe, repeatable reps in high-fidelity environments. By the time they get to the range, they’re better prepared – and less exposed.
We’re also working behind the scenes to raise awareness. Through articles like this, media partnerships, and legislative engagement, we’re advocating for new approaches to safety and readiness. And we’re not stopping there.
Supporting Veterans Beyond the Training Room
Our company’s commitment to this issue goes beyond technology. About 80% of the team I work with at InVeris are veterans. Nearly a third of our U.S. workforce has served – and we’re proud of that. It’s more than a hiring policy. It’s a reflection of who we are and why we care so deeply about the mission.
Looking Ahead
I’ve seen first hand what happens when tough soldiers try to “push through” symptoms of brain injury. I did it myself. But training smarter – training with technology designed to protect – can change that trajectory for the next generation.
We have the tools. We have the data. And we have the obligation to use both in service of something bigger.
That’s why I’m proud to be part of the team at InVeris. Because when training is safer, decisions get faster. Recovery gets shorter. And soldiers stay sharper, longer.
No soldier should have to choose between readiness and long-term health. We’re here to make sure they don’t have to.
By 1SG. Evan Childers Ret., InVeris