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New questions about how the U.S. Military protects the mental health of their troops have surfaced after Rolling Stone magazine ran a story in its March 27th issue regarding the tale of Bravo Company's 3rd Platoon, part of the 5th Stryker Brigade that was operating in Afghanistan's Kahdahar Province.
The Tragic Tale of Bravo Company's 3rd Platoon
This platoon was responsible for one of the first widely publicized civilian kills conducted by Cpl. Jeremy Morlock and Pfc. Andrew Holmes. After the murder of a young farmer, the platoon continued on a 4-month killing spree that resulted in the deaths of at least 3 more civilians. The reports claimed the men had talked about killing a civilian for months prior to the first murder. Once the deed was done, they often posed for pictures with the body, mocking and celebrating their accomplishment.
This behavior among troops has been found to be more widespread than first imagined. Throughout several subsequent investigations, one of the main issues many of our troops, both active and veterans, struggle with remained unattended: mental health.
Morlock was already regarded as a high-risk soldier following a charge of disorderly conduct after burning his wife with a cigarette a month before being deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. His record prior to joining the Army was such that he normally would have been passed on had the troop shortage not been so grave. His teen years involved drunken fights, driving without a license, and leaving the scene of a serious car accident.
Evaluating Mental Health Risks Before Deployment
In January 2011 reports were released showing many ups and downs when it came to the progress being made in evaluating the mental health of soldiers. On one hand, the number of suicides in the active-duty force had declined, but at the same time, suicides in the Army Reserve and National Guard increased.
Continued concerns for the mental health of our soldiers has prompted the Army Surgeon General's office to place an emphasis on new screening and treatment procedures being implemented within 6 months of the reports. Among the enhancements is pre-deployment screening to detect risk factors that may need to be managed to avoid later risk of developing a mental disability.
While the demand for men and women willing to serve our country is still high, Army officials should perform screenings to determine the soldiers' potential for developing a serious mental disability from combat stress, fatigue, and other mental health concerns.
Inadequate care and preparation for the psychological hazards soldiers face during deployment can lead to more severe cases of mental disability during their service and after retiring from active duty. If you or a loved one suffers from mental disorders after returning from military service, a Florida VA disability attorney can help you seek the veterans' disability benefits you are entitled to.
Contacting a Florida VA Disability Attorney
Filing for veterans' disability benefits is complicated and time-consuming, but at LaVan & Neidenberg, P.A., our team of disability attorneys is ready for the challenge. We like to empower our clients by providing a FREE veterans' disability guide so you can learn more about the process of filing for veterans' disability benefits. When you're ready to get started, contact The Law Offices of LaVan & Neidenberg, P.A. to begin your claim. Our state-of-the-art, customized intake and database system means less hassle, so you can focus on what's most important to you instead of having to spend your days wading through confusing legalese and legal red tape. Call today - 1-888-234-5758.