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Pattern of misconduct

The Pentagon and the services have come far in fixing the many flaws in the disability review process for combat-injured troops. But Congress often has had to push them — sometimes hard — to do the right thing.

And the job is hardly done. Anecdotal reports continue to come in from bases around the country indicating that some services and local commands are still creatively interpreting the rules, to the detriment of troops.

For example, some combat troops with previously clean records who return from war with post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury are being administratively discharged for a “pattern of misconduct” — even though the military acknowledges that PTSD and TBI can heavily contribute to such adverse behavioral changes.

worse yet, some of these troops are being booted out before their disability reviews are completed.

Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., whose district includes sprawling Marine Corps Base Camp Lejuene and is near Pope Air Force Base and the Army’s Fort Bragg, has introduced legislation to directly address this problem.

His bill, HR 1701, would:

å Create a special Defense Department board that would allow service members with PTSD or TBI who are less-than-honorably discharged to seek review if they thought their condition was not taken into consideration.

å Require a complete physical examination board review before administrative separation of any active-duty member diagnosed with PTSD or TBI.

Several major military advocacy groups support Jones on this, and for good reason — his bill would be an important new piece of the still-evolving safety net for the many troops returning from war with mental health issues.

Congress should approve HR 1701 as soon as possible.