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Information for veterans, their families and others about certain military tests involving biological and chemical warfare materials during the 1960s.
Project 112/Project SHAD Overview: Project SHAD, an acronym for Shipboard Hazard and Defense, was part of a larger effort called Project 112 which was a comprehensive program initiated in 1962, by the Department of Defense (DoD) to protect and defend against potential chemical and biological warfare threats. Project SHAD encompassed a series of tests by DoD to determine the vulnerability of U.S. warships to attacks with chemical and biological warfare agents, and the potential risk to American forces posed by these agents. Project 112 tests involved similar tests conducted on land rather than aboard ships. Project SHAD involved service members from the Navy and Army and may have involved a small number of personnel from the Marine Corps and Air Force. Service members were not test subjects, but rather were involved in conducting the tests. Animals were used in some, but not most, tests.
DoD continues to release declassified reports about sea- and land- based tests of chemical and biological materials known collectively as "Project 112." The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is working with DoD to obtain information as to the nature and availability of the tests, who participated, duration and agents used.
Fact Sheet: Long-Term Health Effects from SHAD-Related Exposures
Under Secretary For Health's Information Letter (IL 10-2006-010): Potential Health Effects Among Veterans Involved In Military Chemical Warfare Agent Experiments Conducted From 1955 to 1975 (August 14, 2006)
Two Documents Related to IL 10-2006-010:
Chemical Warfare Agent Experiments Among U.S. Service Members (Updated August 2006)
VBA Letter and DoD Fact Sheet and FAQs For Veterans Involved in Military Experiments at Edgewood/Aberdeen with Chemical Warfare Agents from 1955 to 1975 (June 30, 2006)
Veterans Health Administration Directive (2004-016) - Provision of Health Care Services to Veterans Involved in Project 112/Shipboard Hazard and Defense (SHAD) Testing (April 15, 2004)
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) have developed a clinical pocket card to aid health care providers evaluating veterans who participated in Cold War tests directed by DoD's Deseret Test Center in Utah. The pocket card was not designed as general outreach for veterans but was intended specifically to assist health care providers in the diagnosis and management of patients' health problems:
Project 112 and Project SHAD Clinical Pocket Guide; Deseret Test Center (Revised Janury 2004)
Project 112 and Project SHAD Clinical Pocket Guide; Deseret Test Center (July 2003)
VA Charge to the IOM Oversight Committee (March 21, 2003)
VA Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards Q & A (January 7, 2003)
Veterans Health Administration Directive (2002-079) - Clinical Evaluation of Veterans Involved in Project 112 and Related Project SHAD Tests (December 9, 2002)
VA Under Secretary for Health Information Letter (IL 10-2002-016) August 26, 2002
Report to the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee: VA Health Care and Compensation for Project SHAD Veterans (August 5, 2002)
VA Under Secretary for Health Information Letter (IL 10-2001-015) December 31, 2001
VA Under Secretary for Health Information Letter (IL 10-2000-012) December 1, 2000
Department of Defense Project 112/Project SHAD Web Site (DeploymentLINK)
Deployment LINK - Project 112 Test Chart (test names/dates/locations, agent/simulant used and investigation status fact sheets)
DeploymentLINK - Ships Associated with SHAD Tests
Any veteran involved in Project SHAD who believes that one or more of their disabilities may have resulted from exposure during testing may file a claim for compensation with VA. For information and assistance on applying for service-connected compensation contact the nearest VA Regional Office toll-free at (800) 827-1000. Or, apply on-line at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp. For information and assistance by e-mail contact SHADHELPLINE@vba.va.gov.) Veterans involved in Project SHAD with health-related questions or concerns can receive information and assistance by calling toll-free (800) 749-8387.
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