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Senate Staff, GAO to Look at Mental Health at Ft. Carson
April 30, 2007 4:42 PM
Congressional staff are coming to Ft. Carson to investigate mental health care for soldiers. Also coming are staff from the Government Accountability Office.
Joining them for part of the visit are members of the non-profit group Veterans For America. VFA says theyve been contacted by dozens of soldiers from across the country who complain of mistreatment or abuse at the hands of the Army due to their combat related mental health problems. Those issues were given national media attention last year, with the coverage focusing on Ft. Carson. Following that, nine members of congress asked the Governent Accountability Office to look into treatment of mentally ill soldiers.
WHITNEY: But today, members of VFA say that in spite of increased scrutiny and criticism, Ft. Carson has not made an progress in improving the treatment of soldiers complaining of combat related mental health problems like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.
POGANY: Im sadly coming to the conclusion that absolutely nothing has changed.
WHITNEY: Thats Andrew Pogany of Veterans For America. He has been a persistent critic of how Ft. Carson treats soldiers with mental health problems for at least two years. Pogany says that recent measures Ft. Carson cites as examples of how they have improved mental health care are meaningless. Training to help leaders identify, sympathize and help soldiers with PTSD or other mental problems is flawed and not taken seriously, Pogany says,
POGANY: They seem to not understand that there is a link between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the use of drugs.
WHITNEY: Veterans For America contends that scores of soldiers across the country are being improperly disciplined or discharged for behavior, like drug and alcohol abuse, that can be linked to PTSD. They say most leaders would still rather punish bad behavior than help a soldier deal with its root causes.
For its part, Ft. Carson has admitted its leaders need to be more aware of and sympathetic towards soldiers with PTSD. But, post leaders contend they have adequate staff to deal with demand for mental health services from active duty troops. Ft. Carson spokeswoman Karen Linne says the base hasn't been given official notice of the reason for the visit, but that they are ready to show congress and the GAO anything it wants to see.
LINNE: we here at Ft. Carson host senate and house delegations frequently, this is our fourth visit this year, and we are very proud to show them our post.
WHITNEY: The congressional and GAO staff were originally scheduled to visit Ft. Carson this week, but they trip has now been postponed until the week of May 14th. Veterans For America says its because there is growing interest about the visit on capitol hill and at the Pentagon. The group says that so far, only one congressman from Colorado, Republican Representative Doug Lamborn, is sending staff on the Ft. Carson tour. Other than Kit Bond of Missouri, the senators sending staff are all democrats, and include Barak Obama of Illinois, California's Barbara Boxer, and John Kerry of Massachusetts.
Posted by Eric Whitney on April 30, 2007 4:42 PM | Permalink
