Soldiers fired from the military for mental conditions unrelated to their service such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, may not get required screenings for combat-related psychological issues like post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Department of Defense and each of the military branches except the Air Force cannot say how many such soldiers are fired for non-service related mental conditions despite federal requirements for such documentation, according to a Government Accountability Office report.
If a service member is fired for a mental condition unrelated to their service, they’re required to receive a screening for issues such as the disorder. However, no military branch conducts oversight to ensure this process is followed.
“In general, if a service member is diagnosed with service-related [post-traumatic stress disorder], they cannot be separated [fired] for a non-disability mental condition,” said Government Accountability Office health care team director Randy Williamson.
In other words, the military can fire a soldier for a psychological condition, unless it’s caused or aggravated by combat, which would instead require a medical discharge.
Being kicked out under such conditions will still allow a soldier to receive benefits if they meet certain qualifications, but it won’t necessarily result in an honorable discharge.
Although the Pentagon agreed to follow the accountability office’s recommendations, it provided no “information on how or when it plans to implement the recommendations,” the report said.
Firings for non-combat related mental conditions, which require a soldier to be deemed unfit for service, can’t be tracked because the military doesn’t use codes that distinguish whether the separation was for a mental or physical condition.
The branches had varying reasons for using the broad code.
“Marine Corps officials cited concerns with potential stigma the service member may face if a more specific code is used,” according to the report.
Similarly, the Army was kicking out veterans for misconduct that was most likely caused by mental conditions linked to their military service, according to a Pulitzer Prize-winning 2013 Colorado Springs Gazette series.
