Report: Some soldiers at remote bases lack health care access

[unhappycamper]

Report: Some soldiers at remote bases lack health care access
Stars and Stripes
European edition, Thursday, April 3, 2008

WASHINGTON — Soldiers in remote outposts in Iraq and Afghanistan lack timely access to mental health care, USA Today reported Wednesday, citing Pentagon officials and a recent survey.

About one-third of soldiers in these areas say they can’t see a counselor when they need to, according to results of an Army survey conducted last year and released last month, the paper reported.

Citing the survey, USA Today wrote that in Iraq, mental health professionals must travel in armed convoys to reach troops stationed in embattled neighborhoods. In Afghanistan, it can take an average of 40 hours for a psychologist to visit soldiers.

The Army surveyed 3,168 soldiers. Today there are 157,000 soldiers in Iraq and 31,000 in Afghanistan. As part of President Bush’s troop increase in Iraq last year, many soldiers were moved to isolated outposts, USA Today noted.

The Army, recognizing the need for more counseling, said nine months ago that it would hire 200 additional mental health professionals by May, the paper reported. It later raised the number to 288, about a 25 percent increase in staff. So far, 158 slots are filled.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53800

[nytemare]

1. Stars and Stripes has changed a lot since I was in.

Now, they are speaking out a lot more, and truth telling. I am sure there is propoganda still, but I don't remember them speaking out as much in my day.

There is such a big need for counselors for these soldiers. I hope they get those positions filled.