AMVETS RESPONSE TO WASHINGTON TIMES REPORT ON MISCONDUCT DISCHARGESReport on misconduct discharges from military service for combat stress disorders pose a grave threat for today’s veterans

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2010-Washington Times reported this week on a Navy memo from 2007 warning that troops who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan could be wrongfully discharged for misconduct when suffering from combat-related stress issues such as PTSD. The memo, which called on the Pentagon to mandate PTSD screening by May 1, 2007, was never acted on by military leadership, leaving the situation potentially dire for today’s veterans exhibiting behavioral problems related to combat stress.

“It’s sad to see that the military could jump to such rash conclusions about the behavioral issues of veterans who had otherwise served honorably prior to their combat experiences,” said AMVETS National Commander Duane J. Miskulin upon reading the news. “This persistent problem only further demonstrates the larger issue of a negative stigma associated with PTSD for those who continue to serve.”

AMVETS leader believe that the misconduct discharges reported by the Times were not intentional mischaracterizations of PTSD, but rather a manifestation of the lack of understanding surrounding PTSD and its effects within today’s military culture.

“Military health care and military disciplinary channels are traditionally separate entities that play vastly different roles within the military community,” said AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof. “While discharges for traditional misconduct are essential to maintaining good order and discipline, special consideration must be made for cases of misconduct that arise from the combat experience.

“It seems that a lack of policy for handling interconnected issues such as behavioral disorders and military misconduct will only exacerbate combat stress issues for today’s warfighters,”

As the Times noted, misconduct discharges often deprive affected veterans of the necessary VA health care services they would need to properly address their combat-related behavioral issues. AMVETS believes that the Pentagon must improve its screening and treatment processes for PTSD to ensure that veterans no longer slip through the cracks.

Cmdr. Miskulin and AMVETS have made military mental health a top priority for the fiscal year, seeking out new partners to help address the issue and actively participating in the discussion with VA and the Pentagon on the national level.

AMVETS leaders were on hand this week at the VA and Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Conference at the Capitol Hyatt Regency in Washington. For more details on the conference, check the official blog of American Veteran magazine at http://americanveteranmagazine.blogspot.com.

About AMVETS:    
A leader since 1944 in preserving the freedoms secured by America’s armed forces, AMVETS provides support for veterans and the active military in procuring their earned entitlements, as well as community service and legislative reform that enhances the quality of life for this nation’s citizens and veterans alike. AMVETS is one of the largest congressionally-chartered veterans’ service organizations in the United States, and includes members from each branch of the military, including the National Guard and Reserves. To learn more visit www.amvets.org.