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Posted on Oct 28, 2015
Did you know that, according to NPR, the Army kicked out 22k soldiers for "misconduct" despite mental health issues?
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https://twitter.com/NPR/status/ [login to see] 38688001
Misconduct
Soldiers
Discharge
PTSD
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 9
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CPO John Jacobson, SFC Joseph James, GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
I didn't see this before I posted my version of it, I did add some context from a few different news stories and discussion questions. I won't merge the two due to a conflict of interest (since they dont truly merge, one just gets dropped), this post came first, mine might offer more resources for discussion, I'll leave it to other admins to decide.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/mental-health-pts-combat-deploy-ability-a-crippled-va-system-market-externalities-can-you-think-of-a-more-challenging-gordian-knot
I didn't see this before I posted my version of it, I did add some context from a few different news stories and discussion questions. I won't merge the two due to a conflict of interest (since they dont truly merge, one just gets dropped), this post came first, mine might offer more resources for discussion, I'll leave it to other admins to decide.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/mental-health-pts-combat-deploy-ability-a-crippled-va-system-market-externalities-can-you-think-of-a-more-challenging-gordian-knot
Mental Health, PTS, Combat, Deploy-ability, a crippled VA system, market externalities, Can you...
I know the VA and veterans care is a perennial topic here. I was struck by this story on NPR on the way home today. Please give it a listen/read. It is a very challenging topic and I don't know the answer, but I strongly believe there is something wrong here. This one cuts across politics and normal lines of thinking. Clearly a nation that sends people into harms way bears responsibility for damage incurred both physical and mental. Which part...
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Capt Richard I P.
UPDATE: One of my fellow admins decided this post was first and merged mine into it: for those looking for the citations and discussion questions I'll repost them:
<<
I know the VA and veterans care is a perennial topic here. I was struck by this story on NPR on the way home today. Please give it a listen/read. It is a very challenging topic and I don't know the answer, but I strongly believe there is something wrong here.
http://www.npr.org/2015/10/28/451146230/missed-treatment-soldiers-with-mental-health-issues-dismissed-for-misconduct
This one cuts across politics and normal lines of thinking. Clearly a nation that sends people into harms way bears responsibility for damage incurred both physical and mental. Which part of the national collective should address that damage? The VA? The Military? The civil mental health system?
And earlier year versions of the same theme:
http://www.npr.org/series/11609328/mental-health-care-at-fort-carson
>>
Unfortunately the survey results are lost, but they called for discussion about how to truly address the issue:
Military health system on active duty?
Retire with honors and access to tricare for life?
Discharge whether good or bad conduct with VA health care?
Overblown and media frenzy? Nothing to see here...move along?
<<
I know the VA and veterans care is a perennial topic here. I was struck by this story on NPR on the way home today. Please give it a listen/read. It is a very challenging topic and I don't know the answer, but I strongly believe there is something wrong here.
http://www.npr.org/2015/10/28/451146230/missed-treatment-soldiers-with-mental-health-issues-dismissed-for-misconduct
This one cuts across politics and normal lines of thinking. Clearly a nation that sends people into harms way bears responsibility for damage incurred both physical and mental. Which part of the national collective should address that damage? The VA? The Military? The civil mental health system?
And earlier year versions of the same theme:
http://www.npr.org/series/11609328/mental-health-care-at-fort-carson
>>
Unfortunately the survey results are lost, but they called for discussion about how to truly address the issue:
Military health system on active duty?
Retire with honors and access to tricare for life?
Discharge whether good or bad conduct with VA health care?
Overblown and media frenzy? Nothing to see here...move along?
Missed Treatment: Soldiers With Mental Health Issues Dismissed For 'Misconduct'
The Army has "separated" more than 22,000 soldiers for "misconduct" since 2009 — often without benefits — after they returned from war with mental health problems or brain injuries.
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SSG Carlos Madden
Capt Richard I P. - That was me. I should have moved your contents over. Thanks for posting.
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im not surprised as much as it sucks, uncle sam is eager to down size asap
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Did all those Soldiers have Mental Health Issues? If so I hope they are taken care of in the VA or any MH center available in their area!
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To be honest, it is hard to know what to make of this from the information presented CPO John Jacobson. Can you get some additional details ... perhaps a better source?
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Mental Health issues typically result in unemployment. Which, in turn, can be resolved by a state-issued medical card at no cost. A good portion of MH facilities, such as Prestera, will waive some or all of the costs to individuals whom do not qualify for medical card. Therefore, it is not necessary for these individuals to retain their VA benefits. The biggest inhibitor to a cure would be the individuals' inability to recognize the need for treatment.
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The problem we are having is "breaking" some of the soldiers in question, booting them out on a Bad Conduct or Dishonorable, but then come to find out the VA can't help them because of the type of discharge. I think there should be a review of the soldier prior to dropping them off at the gate to see if mental issues played a part in their "less than honorable" discharges due to having been deployed or any other mitigating factors. There are those who just can't stay out of trouble. I served with a guy that routinely had the German Police beat the crap out of him due to drinking, and another very similar that drank too much soju when he was in S. Korea and it "fried" his brain. These guys just couldn't follow the rules or shut their mouths and their problems were of their own making. There is a distinct difference.
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When I worked at a certain place at a certain time with a certain boss, we made sure that a lot of these 'misconduct' charges were followed up on with the CG. SOP's include MANDATORY mental health intakes/assessments prior to any discharge of that nature.
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No matter how harsh it may sound, we cannot allow Troops with gross violations and misconduct to continue to serve, it is just the realities of being ready to engage and destroy the enemies of our country. For instance, take SSG Bales, should he have been allowed to continue to serve after killing 17 Afghans? We can all give examples (for both sides) but at the end of the day, we have a mission to complete, which is to go to war and win against a determined enemy by engaging them and shooting them in the face.
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