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July 12, 2007

Obama, Bond, Boxer, Mccaskill, Murray, Senators Introduce Amendment to Temporarily Cease Military Personality Disorder Discharges

U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL), Christopher Bond (R-MO), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and Patty Murray (D-WA) today introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would temporarily suspend the Pentagon's use of personality disorder discharges for those service members who have served in combat until there is a comprehensive review of the current procedures and an establishment of an independent discharge review board.

Recent reports suggest the Department of Defense (DOD) has inappropriately and inconsistently used personality disorder discharges to swiftly discharge members of the armed forces with service-connected injuries such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs). Such discharges can result in the loss of needed healthcare benefits from the VA as well as the repayment of enlistment bonuses, which can send injured service members and their families into ddebilitating debt.

"Abuse of personality disorder discharges is inexcusable. This amendment will put a stop to these discharges until we can fix the system," said Senator Bond. "The men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our freedom have earned a debt of gratitude from all Americans that we will never be able to pay in full. The very least we can do is take care of their battle wounds, whether physical or mental, and ensure they receive the treatment and benefits they deserve."

This amendment mandates a temporary moratorium on personality disorder discharges until the Department of Defense conducts a proper review and revision of its current policies and procedures related to this diagnosis. It also gives the DOD flexibility by granting an exception to the moratorium in those cases in which a service member provides false or misleading information, or omits information about past criminal behavior during the recruitment or enlistment process. The moratorium would be lifted after the DOD reviews its current policies, ensures it is following standard clinical diagnostic practices, and has established an independent review board to ensure that service members who have received this diagnosis may seek a review.

On June 21, 2007, Senators Bond, Boxer, Obama, Lieberman, McCaskill, Murray, and twenty-five other Democratic and Republican senators wrote to Secretary Gates to express concern over continuing reports that personality disorder discharges were being implemented improperly. Over the last six years, Defense Department records indicate that over 22,500 personality disorder discharges have been processed; or on average 10 service members have been discharged per day, every day in that time.

Read about the letter the Senators sent to Secretary Gates.

Read about the Senators' investigation into treatment of soldiers at Ft. Carson.

Read about the GAO investigation the Senators requested.