News

9 answers we'd like to have regarding Maj Hasan and the Fort Hood shootings:

1. Reports described Hasan as a non-traditional medical student who had experience as prior enlisted. Were his academic credentials appropriate for USUHS?
2. Some reports suggested Hasan struggled academically at USUHS during medical school. If this was the case why was he allowed to graduate and why was he allowed to go straight into a residency without a GMO tour?
3. A very negative evaluation authored by Hasan's psychiatry residency program director was published by a variety of news outlets. Why was he allowed to graduate residency?

In June of 2007 the DoD Mental Health Task Report recommended that mental health screening questions from the security clearance questionnaire be removed to reduce stigma. In response, the DoD announced in the spring of 2008 that the mental health question on the Standard Form 86 would be revised.

Here is the language from the September 1995 revision:

In the last 7 years, have you consulted with a mental health professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, etc.) or have you consulted with another health care provider about a mental health related condition?

USA Today has an article today written by Gregg Zoroya entitled Troops' kids feel war toll. The article claims that children of combat troops have more fear, anxiety and behavioral problems. Here are some select quotes:

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Phillips’ fellow Marines all knew one thing: He should not be in combat. His reaction to the deaths of four friends in the span of two weeks gave Phillips’ commanders enough concern to send him to a mental health expert. Then again. Then two more times.

But whatever the battle-hardened Marine was dealing with inside, his outward demeanor was of a man ready for duty. At least that’s the impression he gave the doctors. And to the chagrin of his fellow Marines — including his platoon commander, who personally contacted a psychiatrist at Camp Fallujah — he was sent back in.

…

Then came Jan. 20. Phillips, after hearing small-arms fire, spotted an Iraqi policeman in a marked car and shot him in his chest.

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CNN has highlighted a five-fold increase in Army suicide attempts in a report:

Every day, five U.S. soldiers try to kill themselves. Before the Iraq war began, that figure was less than one suicide attempt a day.

The dramatic increase is revealed in new U.S. Army figures, which show 2,100 soldiers tried to commit suicide in 2007.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, took to the Senate floor Thursday, urging more help for military members, especially for those returning from war.

"Our brave service members who face deployment after deployment without the rest, recovery and treatment they need are at the breaking point," Murray said.