Skelton and Snyder Request Immediate Review
In an article entitled "The Army is ordering injured troops to go to Iraq," Mark Benjamin reports:
As the military scrambles to pour more soldiers into Iraq, a unit of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Ga., is deploying troops with serious injuries and other medical problems, including GIs who doctors have said are medically unfit for battle. Some are too injured to wear their body armor, according to medical records.
...
One female soldier with psychiatric issues and a spine problem has been in the Army for nearly 20 years. "My [health] is deteriorating," she said over dinner at a restaurant near Fort Benning. "My spine is separating. I can't carry gear." Her medical records include the note "unable to deploy overseas." Her status was also reviewed on Feb. 15. And she has been ordered to Iraq this week.
Chairmen Skelton and Snyder write to the Comptroller General:
Dear Mr. Walker,We are writing to request that the Government Accountability Office undertake an immediate review of allegations that have recently been reported in the press that wounded and injured soldiers are being sent into a combat theatre with pre-existing medical conditions that could adversely impact their military readiness.
As members of the House Armed Services Committee, it is important that the committee understand whether these allegations are limited to a specific region, base or commander or whether this is a systematic problem within a specific Service or whether it is being experienced by other Services as well.
The concerns at Walter Reed have raised the attention and awareness of the challenges that wounded and injured service members face. The committee has received a number of phone calls and letters from concerned service members and their families, including similar allegations that injured and wounded service members are being deployed into combat despite their injuries. It would help the committee to understand whether members with profiles that limit their physical ability are actually placed into positions that recognize their physical limitations or whether, due to the demands of the conflict, are being required to work outside of their physical profiles and the extent to which this is happening.
The continued high operational tempo and the President's recent decision to surge the force in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom is placing a heavy stress on the force. However, we cannot let these demanding deployments drive the force to send unfit wounded and injured service members into combat.
Sincerely,
Ike Skelton
Chairman, House Armed Services Committee
Vic Snyder
Chairman, Subcommittee on Military Personnel