New guidelines for who can be deployed to a combat zone:
The U.S. military command that oversees troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan wants to make it harder for combat commanders to send medically unfit troops to war zones, according to a proposal reviewed by USA TODAY.
The proposal from Central Command would add 16 medical conditions that would bar troops from deploying for combat duty. It would toughen a 2½-year-old rule requiring combat commanders to seek a waiver before sending troops who need medical care to a war zone.
At first, this seems like a rather mundane policy change, the kind that takes place in the military all the time. As times change, standards are altered, policies changed. However, if you keep reading the story, you see this:
Last year, 36 soldiers of the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division from Fort Carson, Colo., were sent to war with medical problems, an investigation by the Army inspector general shows. Commanders sought no waivers for the 36 soldiers, according to the report released under a Freedom of Information Act request.
Six soldiers deployed with health problems were ultimately sent home. Two had shoulder injuries, two had mental health problems, one had a groin injury and a sixth could not carry a weapon, according to the investigative report.
Since last July, the Army sought deployment waivers for 22 soldiers with medical problems, Army spokesman Paul Boyce says.
Couldn’t carry a weapon? Was the CO of this unit brought up on charges? That sounds like complete and total insanity to me, and the notion that only 22 soldiers ARMY-WIDE have had waivers filed for them seems to be a bit on the low side.
What is going on (obligatory “You go to war with the Army you have” reference)?
Is There No Room For Common Sense Anymore?Post + Comments (25)