Boxing is responsible for more concussions than any other sport at the US Military Academy at West Point, according to a recent New York Times article.
One out of every five concussions at West Point is attributed to boxing – and one out of every four at the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy.
At both West Point and the Air Force Academy, boxing is a required class for the freshman male cadets, and at the Naval Academy it is required for both genders. The tradition began decades ago, and “plebe boxing” is now considered something of a rite of passage.
Despite the worrisome concussion statistics, the schools are reluctant to consider eliminating the requirement. Boxing provides a (comparatively) safe way to teach cadets how to face an enemy and helps them to develop the courage and fortitude necessary for combat.
Not that the dangerous nature of concussion has gone entirely unheeded: In recent years at West Point, rules requiring more protective padding and limiting the number of hits per round have been implemented, and each class and test bout is now followed by a short talk telling students to report to the health clinic if they’re experiencing symptoms.
The Board of Visitors is searching for an alternative that doesn’t endanger the head, though none has been agreed upon yet. Perhaps if such a solution can be found, in the future more cadets will be able to graduate and enter military service concussion-free.
*Scientists have no conclusive evidence as to whether or how the reduction of g-forces during impacts reduces the number or degree of concussions and head injuries. GelDefender products provide supplemental padding as well as cooling and comfort benefits when used with helmets and caps. Participants in activities in which head impacts can occur should always use tested and approved helmets for protection. However, no helmet or supplemental padding can protect the user from all serious head or neck injuries that can result from impacts.
