Disposable soldiers

This story came to my attention because of this year’s Molly [Ivins] Award for journalism. Joshua Kors won his award for his story in The Nation, Disposable Soldiers. It’s analogous to Bradley Manning’s story in that the U.S. military confined him without trial and subjected to forced medications, noise, sleep deprivation — in a word, torture — in his case, because he would not confess to “personality disorder”.

This use of the “personality disorder” separation (“Chapter 5-13”, after the section in AR 635-200), used against personnel with severe physical injuries, is a longstanding abuse that The Nation, among others, has covered repeatedly. A “personality disorder” separation, among other things, leaves the soldier ineligible for military or VA medical benefits. One good summary of this practice is from David Coombs, Manning’s attorney.

DoD has made some attempts to change the practice, but the military is dragging its heels, it seems, according to the GAO.

Such are the dividends of patriotism.

— posted by Coram Nobis