"Army cuts 1,000 for personality disorders "

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060707/ap_on_re_us/army_personality_disorders

WASHINGTON - The Army discharged more than 1,000 soldiers last year for personality disorders, the reason it gave for this year's discharge of a private now accused of raping a young Iraqi woman (insert: 14 Year Old Girl here ) and killing her and her family.

That total represents about 1.2 percent of the 83,000 soldiers given early discharges during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2005. That was a bit higher than the less than 1 percent discharged for those reasons during the 2001 fiscal year before the war in Iraq began.

Lt. Gen. Kevin C. Kiley, the Army's surgeon general, told reporters Friday that the disorder usually is not associated with combat trauma and may be a lifelong problem that is not always easy to identify in military screenings. He said soldiers exhibiting such traits would not be automatically discharged because many can continue to perform well.

Steven D. Green, who pleaded not guilty through his public defenders Thursday, was discharged because of an "anti-social personality disorder" according to military officials and documents. That condition is defined as chronic behavior that manipulates, exploits or violates the rights of others, such as someone who repeatedly lies, fights or breaks the law.

[gkhouston]

1. did that include the Commander-in-Chief?

No? Damn.

[applegrove]

2. Don't you think that "new policy" should reach to the very top of the

Pentagon? And the leaders of political parties?

[lonestarnot]

3. Wonder how many that were not discharged, were KIA by friendly

fire?

[RagAss]

4. Jeez...thanks for sending them home...no doubt...without follow-up

care......

[leftchick]

5. yes indeed

rarely is it mentioned that these sick folks are let back right into the population with NO Support! Like The sicko Mr. Steven Green.

[H2O Man]

6. It is worth noting

that anti-social personality disorder is closely connected to behavior. Hence, it is likely that the military is discharging people who exhibit the behaviors associated with this personality disorder, rather than simply a group of people who hold certain beliefs near and dear. I do not view the discharge of this type of person an indictment of the military. The individuals in question certainly had the personality type before they enlisted, and it is not realistic to think the military can weed out every person who applies who may have had the benefit of circumstance (y.o. status, etc) that "covered" for them.

Arlo Guthrie spoke to the military's ability to take some of these qualities, and to mold them so they take a meaningful shape in the military. Of course, he had littered. But, in a more serious sense, anti-social people often have a "criminal code of conduct" that has its own sense of loyalty and honor. It's when we reach the sociopathic range that there is no code, no loyalty, and no honor. This fellow Green is a pretty good example.

I think it is a good thing that the military identifies and weeds these people out.
I do not think we should confuse it with folks who enter "normal," and then have PTSD or other acute symptoms that result from experiences in war. The military has a moral obligation to identify and help these folks re-enter society. Being anti-social, in and of itself, is different.