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Army to review discharges for soldiers kicked out for suicide attempts and sexual assault trauma
Big win for veterans today, as the Army agrees on settlement terms to review bad paper discharges it handed soldiers who had issues with PTSD, sexual assault and suicide.
Tens of thousands could benefit from the change.
Link to tweet
Military
Army to review discharges for soldiers kicked out for suicide attempts and sexual assault trauma
By Alex Horton
November 18, 2020 at 1:27 p.m. EST
Thousands of traumatized veterans kicked out of the Army achieved a legal victory Wednesday after the Army agreed to review punitive discharges linked to mental health and sexual assault trauma, potentially unlocking care for those struggling in their post-military lives.
In a lawsuit filed against Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, a class of veterans argued that the Army should overhaul its process of reviewing discharge upgrade requests and review past denials under more generous guidelines.
The Army agreed to a settlement that would achieve that, the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School said, with an approval pending by a federal judge.
The changes would affect tens of thousands of Army veterans who served since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks who were discharged for behavior stemming from post-traumatic stress, sexual assault and traumatic brain injuries, the clinic said. In some cases, suicide attempts have led to punishment and dismissals instead of care.
{snip}
Alex Horton
Alex Horton is a general assignment reporter for The Washington Post. He previously covered the military and national security for Stars and Stripes, and served in Iraq as an Army infantryman. Follow https://twitter.com/AlexHortonTX
Army to review discharges for soldiers kicked out for suicide attempts and sexual assault trauma
By Alex Horton
November 18, 2020 at 1:27 p.m. EST
Thousands of traumatized veterans kicked out of the Army achieved a legal victory Wednesday after the Army agreed to review punitive discharges linked to mental health and sexual assault trauma, potentially unlocking care for those struggling in their post-military lives.
In a lawsuit filed against Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, a class of veterans argued that the Army should overhaul its process of reviewing discharge upgrade requests and review past denials under more generous guidelines.
The Army agreed to a settlement that would achieve that, the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School said, with an approval pending by a federal judge.
The changes would affect tens of thousands of Army veterans who served since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks who were discharged for behavior stemming from post-traumatic stress, sexual assault and traumatic brain injuries, the clinic said. In some cases, suicide attempts have led to punishment and dismissals instead of care.
{snip}
Alex Horton
Alex Horton is a general assignment reporter for The Washington Post. He previously covered the military and national security for Stars and Stripes, and served in Iraq as an Army infantryman. Follow https://twitter.com/AlexHortonTX