The United States Coast Guard has recently acknowledged an emerging concern over brain injuries suffered by surf rescue personnel who regularly endure violent wave impacts while operating small boats. The issue came to light following independent research by Kayleigh Bonner, whose father, a former Coast Guard surfman, died by suicide amid a history of cognitive and emotional struggles that she now believes were linked to repeated brain trauma.

Bonner, motivated by the lack of official answers regarding her father’s health, conducted a survey of current and former surfmen. Seventy-seven respondents reported symptoms including headaches, memory lapses, mood swings, anxiety, and cognitive decline—ailments commonly associated with brain injuries. Despite these widespread reports, few had received formal diagnoses from the Coast Guard, which historically has not conducted systematic studies or routine testing related to wave-induced brain trauma.

Experts underline that the problem of brain injuries sustained through repeated jolts and impacts is not unique to the Coast Guard but affects various military branches where personnel operate heavy machinery or fast boats. Studies in similar contexts, including those by NATO and researchers like Johan Ullman in the Swedish Navy, have demonstrated that the force exerted on individuals’ heads can be many times greater than the impact measured on boat decks. Such forces resemble the trauma experienced in car crashes and have been linked to chronic conditions like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease known from contact sports.

Veterans who have served on fast rescue boats report physical consequences such as chronic headaches, cognitive impairment, and emotional distress. One Coast Guard veteran recounted watching colleagues develop serious issues, including drug abuse, homelessness, and hospitalization for mental health crises. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has acknowledged brain injuries in approximately one-third of the veterans it has assisted with related claims; however, this information has not been systematically communicated back to the Coast Guard.

Until recently, the Coast Guard had neither participated in major military brain injury research nor provided comprehensive training or resources addressing the risks from wave impacts. Its publicly available brain injury materials have been outdated for over a decade, and many support links are inactive. Coast Guard personnel like retired surfman Jay Nilles describe a culture where the long-term consequences of wave pounding—such as anxiety, memory loss, and paranoia—are largely unrecognized and unaddressed.

In response to increased attention prompted by Bonner’s research and reporting last year, the Coast Guard has joined a Defense Department study to measure wave impacts on crews and launched a new initiative aimed at improving brain health protocols. Admiral Kevin Lunday, the commandant of the Coast Guard, acknowledged the hazards of the maritime environment in an internal communication and pledged decisive action to protect service members’ long-term neurological health.

The personal toll of this issue is illustrated by Bonner’s family experience. Her father exhibited a worsening decline in cognitive function and emotional stability during his post-service years, including paranoia, memory difficulties, and episodes of aggression. The family struggled to manage these unpredictable behaviors without adequate medical support, culminating in his death by suicide in early 2025.

As the Coast Guard moves to address this emerging hazard, advocates emphasize the need for further research, routine testing, and comprehensive care for surf rescue personnel and other small-boat crews who face the threat of repeated brain trauma. Identifying and mitigating these injuries could significantly improve the long-term quality of life for countless current and former maritime service members.