In 2007, a high-ranking Navy doctor sent a sobering warning to colleagues: The service may be discharging soldiers for misconduct when in fact they are merely displaying symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
By doing so, the anonymous doctor noted in a memo to other medical administrators, the service may be denying those troops their rights to Veterans Affairs benefits — including treatment for medical conditions they incurred while serving on the battlefield.
In the future, any military personnel facing dismissal for misconduct after a deployment should be screened first for PTSD, the memo said. The recommendation was never implemented.
High-ranking Navy doctors who oversee medical care for the Marines say such screenings would help avoid sending troops back into society without the ability to get treatment for combat-induced illness from the very government that dispatched them to the battlefield.
"Post-deployment misconduct, especially in a Marine who has previously served honorably, may indicate an unrecognized and unhealed line-of-duty stress injury that deserves expeditious medical evaluation and, when indicated, appropriate treatment," said the memo, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times.
The Pentagon confirmed the memo's authenticity, but could provide no further information on the author or the names of the recipients. Veterans' mental health issues have come under increasing scrutiny during the years of the war on terrorism. The latest example is Monday's release of a government study showing a dramatic increase in suicides among young veterans.
The PTSD memo also warned, "If adjudication of misconduct charges results in a less-than-honorable discharge, the Marine may lose eligibility for ongoing treatment in the Veterans Administration health care system."
The memo recommended that screening for all troops facing misconduct discharges be implemented by May 1, 2007, but that recommendation was never followed.
"There is not a formal process or directive that I am aware of where [troops discharged for misconduct] must be screened," The Times was told by Frederick "Fritz" Kass, the director of clinical programs for the Marine Corps.
Mr. Kass said the document raises the issue of "service members who are given adverse separation discharges who are at risk of not being eligible for treatment in the VA system."
MORE from the Washington Times story.
By doing so, the anonymous doctor noted in a memo to other medical administrators, the service may be denying those troops their rights to Veterans Affairs benefits — including treatment for medical conditions they incurred while serving on the battlefield.
In the future, any military personnel facing dismissal for misconduct after a deployment should be screened first for PTSD, the memo said. The recommendation was never implemented.
High-ranking Navy doctors who oversee medical care for the Marines say such screenings would help avoid sending troops back into society without the ability to get treatment for combat-induced illness from the very government that dispatched them to the battlefield.
"Post-deployment misconduct, especially in a Marine who has previously served honorably, may indicate an unrecognized and unhealed line-of-duty stress injury that deserves expeditious medical evaluation and, when indicated, appropriate treatment," said the memo, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times.
The Pentagon confirmed the memo's authenticity, but could provide no further information on the author or the names of the recipients. Veterans' mental health issues have come under increasing scrutiny during the years of the war on terrorism. The latest example is Monday's release of a government study showing a dramatic increase in suicides among young veterans.
The PTSD memo also warned, "If adjudication of misconduct charges results in a less-than-honorable discharge, the Marine may lose eligibility for ongoing treatment in the Veterans Administration health care system."
The memo recommended that screening for all troops facing misconduct discharges be implemented by May 1, 2007, but that recommendation was never followed.
"There is not a formal process or directive that I am aware of where [troops discharged for misconduct] must be screened," The Times was told by Frederick "Fritz" Kass, the director of clinical programs for the Marine Corps.
Mr. Kass said the document raises the issue of "service members who are given adverse separation discharges who are at risk of not being eligible for treatment in the VA system."
MORE from the Washington Times story.
There MUST be a screening process in place for ALL war-exposed marines, sailors and soldiers.
ReplyDeleteHow many have already slipped through the cracks and are now psychological wrecks, both still in service or discharged to civilian life? And how many of them are ticking time bombs?
Were all ticking time bombs.
ReplyDeleteyeah, BS... it's much simpler than that. We are seeing a high level of misconduct because the soldiers are having a major internal dilemma. They know their duty is to follow commands, however, they know these command are wrong. They have been sent to war, and they know they shouldn't be there. With this degree of internal conflict, ANYBODY would be on the edge of losing it.
ReplyDeletedoctors would rather cash in on the tabloid,than due their job.Its easier and better conversation in the lunch room.inadvertant way to make themselves feel better about the brothel their running (hospital)."THE INSIDER".
ReplyDelete2:07
ReplyDeleteAnd what meds are you not taking?