AWOL Soldier Requested Treatment for PTSD and was Denied/Refused/Threatened

How many more stories do we have to read to understand the DOD still does not get it?

Press Release
AWOL Soldier Requested Treatment for PTSD and was Denied/Refused/Threatened


VETWOW

Enumclaw, Washington, February 3, 2009

Two OIF soldiers from different units at Ft. Lewis, Washington have gone AWOL multiple times after each had multiple requests for mental health care with regards to their "undiagnosed" PTSD. Panic attacks, hypervigilance and inability to sleep are just a few of the symptoms these soldiers are experiencing. Not being allowed to obtain treatment, leaves them without a Diagnosis, which traps them in a Catch-22 situation.

After calling Ft. Lewis Inspector General as well as their AWOL Apprehension Team, Susan Avila-Smith discovered that the only way Fort Lewis officials will "approach this" is to have the soldiers return to base, be taken into custody by Ft. Lewis Military Police, and release them to their prospective units, the very Commanders that would not listen to their plea for treatment in the first place.

"While I understand that there are military rules and regulations, there comes a point when the best interests of the Military, the Soldiers and taxpayers need to step up to the plate and give medical and mental health care to those who need it, and who know enough to ask for help. Throwing them into the stockade and having their Command punish them, and possibly kicking them out of service when they have a valid medical issue is no way to treat our American Soldiers who have fought for our Freedom."

We encourage people to contact Fort Lewis officials to make sure that any soldier have complete access to Mental Health care, and hold Command accountable for their actions, rather than the soldier for their illness.

Susan Avila-Smith,
Director,
VETWOW