Senators seek answers on Army mental health discharges
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A group of Democratic senators asked the Army on Wednesday to investigate allegations that the service has discharged more than 22,000 soldiers for misconduct following diagnosis of a mental health issue.
Led by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., the letter to Army leaders asks for a full Army Inspector General investigation into the questions raised by recent media reports about whether the Army was discharging these soldiers to avoid dealing with their medical issues.
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"Soldiers who deploy are at an increased risk for mental health issues and the forceful separation of servicemembers post-deployment only further denies treatment and support at a critical moment in any soldier's life," the letter said. "Additionally, fear of dismissal may discourage servicemembers from seeking the medical treatment they require."