WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today applauded the U.S. Army’s announcement that it will conduct a thorough, multidisciplinary investigation into allegations that the Army has, since 2009, forcefully separated more than 22,000 soldiers for “misconduct” after they returned from deployment and were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) or traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Brown and his Senate colleagues wrote to now-Acting U.S. Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning and U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Mark A. Milley in November, calling for an investigation.
“The Army should not forcefully separate veterans with war-related injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, preventing them from receiving critical health care and other benefits,” Brown said. “I’m glad the Army is responding to the public outcry over these reports and taking action to investigate this issue. Any of our brave servicemembers unfairly separated deserve to have their benefits reinstated so they can have full access to treatment.”
Brown’s November letter expressed serious concern that the dismissed soldiers will not receive the critical retirement, health care, and employment benefits that those with an honorable discharge would receive. He also emphasized that the forceful separation of soldiers PTSD or TBI further denies these women and men of much-needed treatments, and may even discourage other servicemembers from seeking the medical treatment they require.
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