SKRUNDA, LATVIA – A Marine's civilian past is actively shaping how units prepare for modern deployments. On June 6, 2026, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Noah Brill, an assistant operations officer with 2nd Marine Logistics Group joined an annual Department of War force protection research project targeting ticks to provide force health protection guidance to units before deploying.
Conducted by entomologists from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research - Europe Middle East, WRAIR-EME, as part of exercise Aurora 26 and Baltic operations 26, this critical field research provides commanders with the timely medical intelligence needed to safeguard service members against vector-borne diseases and nuisance pests.
Brill, who worked as a biologist studying insects prior to his military service, recognized a unique opportunity to contribute to the joint mission.
“WRAIR-EME was reaching out to coordinate an opportunity for our unit to help collect ticks as part of a research project,” Brill stated. “As a biologist that worked with insects prior to joining the Marine Corps, I couldn’t resist asking for the opportunity to assist. I believe that this research is incredibly important to conduct. It offers insight and intelligence on potential risks that service members face when operating in austere environments.”
Working alongside the WRAIR-EME team, Brill helped gather precise data on local pest populations. Identifying these environmental threats early is essential to maintaining unit readiness and preventing non battle injuries that could otherwise compromise a mission.
"We are looking for ticks because they are known to carry pathogens that are dangerous to military personnel," explained U.S. Army Maj. Joseph Margotta, an entomologist assigned to WRAIR-EME. Diseases such as Lyme disease and Tick-Borne Encephalitis, TBE, pose significant risks in various European theaters.
Based on this research, geographic combatant commands decide the entry requirements for military personnel entering specific regions, leading to vaccination requirements or recommendations for pre-deployment medical readiness. The intelligence directly shapes the force health protection posture of the currently forward deployed Marines and Sailors of CLB-24 in the Baltic Sea area.
U.S. Navy Lt. Christopher Fahlsing, battalion surgeon for CLB-24, explains the operational impact of the data. “It directly informs me of my recommendations as the battalion surgeon," Fahlsing said. "If the data shows a high prevalence of TBE, it gives us the concrete evidence needed to require the TBE vaccine series for our deploying forces. If the threat is primarily Lyme disease, which lacks a vaccine, it tells us that we need to aggressively enforce environmental countermeasures, like permethrin treated uniforms, insect repellent use, and mandatory tick checks.”
Following a United States European Command March 2026 policy shift that made the TBE vaccine highly recommended rather than strictly required, data from entomologists has become essential for medical planning. It provides the hard evidence needed to determine when the logistics burden of a multiple dose vaccine series is justified.
“As an emergency medicine physician, I would rather prevent exposure than treat an acute infection in our shock trauma platoon," Fahlsing continued. "Ultimately, this joint research allows us to tailor our medical decisions, ensuring our Marines and Sailors remain healthy and fully mission capable.”
To track these elusive vectors, researchers employ a field-tested environmental surveillance technique known as "tick dragging," where scientists pull a piece of white cloth across vegetation to collect ticks actively seeking a host. "It allows us to determine whether ticks are present, identify the species, estimate their abundance, and assess the potential risk to personnel operating in the area," Margotta detailed.
Reflecting on the mission, Brill noted that every Marine brings past experiences prior to joining the Marine Corps, possessing unique talents and skills that do not necessarily align to their military occupational specialties. It is imperative that each Marine apply these unique skills and knowledge to improve the Force and make the world a better place.
Ultimately, this joint data enables leadership to equip units with the precise force health protection protocols and pre-deployment ready vaccines necessary for the mission.