Gen. Admits Flaws In Soldier Care Units

In The Wake Of Walter Reed Scandal, Wounded Warriers Program Not Working As Planned

(CBS)  The government came under fire last year over the treatment of America's wounded warriors, when shoddy conditions were exposed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Since then, the Army has overhauled its outpatient program.

But, as CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports, many soldiers still aren't getting the medical treatment they were promised.

In the wake of the Walter Reed scandal, 35 so-called "Warrior Transition Units" were set up at bases around the world. They were supposed to be places where soldiers could be cared for until they either returned to duty or were discharged.

But the general in charge of the program admits it hasn't been working the way it was supposed to. Here's why.

"How many soldiers in these units were actually wounded in combat?" Martin asked.

"About 12 percent were wounded in either Iraq or Afghanistan," Brig. Gen. Gary Cheek said.

"Only 12 percent?" Martin said.

"Only 12 percent," Cheek said.

If you include those whose injuries could be called combat-related - a stressed-out soldier in a car accident after returning from Iraq, for instance - the percentage goes up to 48 percent.

The rest have injuries or illnesses which have nothing to do with combat. As a result, the number of soldiers in Warrior Transition Units exploded from 6,000 to 12,000 - even as casualties in Iraq were going down.

"We were putting soldiers into the Warrior Transition Unit that really didn't need that complex, managed care," Cheek said.

"So did somebody say, 'Hey, this isn't how it was supposed to work?'" Martin asked.

"I would say yes," Cheek said.

With the number of soldiers in transition units increasing by about 600 a month, the Army can't hire health care workers fast enough.

"By the time we got the ratio up to where it needed to be, we were probably 30-to-60 days behind what the population had already grown to," Cheek said.

Last week the Army tightened the medical conditions that qualify a solider for a Warrior Transition Unit. And a new order requires all units to be fully staffed by Monday, but some aren't going to make it.

[toolmangler-2009]

We use to call it going for a ''section eight'' Hmmmmm times are a changing.

[ramos937]

As best my poor old memory can remember it:

"God and the soldier, all men adore
In time of danger and not before
When the danger is passed, and all things righted
God is forgotten, and the soldier slighted"

Source: Incription before WW1 in a bunker in Gibralter by an unknown Brittish soldier.

This is an international disgrace and limitted to the USA.

[ramos937]

Sorry, meant to say not limited to the USA.

[sgtrds10-4]

The Bush administration is running this war like a business (which of course makes sense considering it was started by them for pure profit) and when a soldier is wounded beyond the ability to go back and be cannon fodder again, then to them that soldier becomes a liability. An expense to be written off as cheaply as possible and to hell with the morality of it. They do not see the troops as human beings, just assets. They do not care.

[mjvw2]

This is the same quality of medical care we will all be entitled to under universal health care. Can''t wait!

[cbsblogger]

There is no money for vet care and no money for boots on the ground. All the money goes to the greedy and scum bag Cheney friendly corporations that profiteer over war.

[cbsblogger]

We all deserve the same nationalized healthcare that Congress and the President gets.

[wogerwabbit]

This is the same quality of medical care we will all be entitled to under universal health care. Can''''t wait!

Posted by mjvw2 at 08:13 PM

WRONG! This is what happens with poor planning. This is what happens when you go to war expecting to be greeted as liberators instead of invaders. This is what happens when you go to war with leaders who are corporate ****** who value profits over life (oh, how the Christian right has been bamboozled). This is the product of the neglect of the uncaring and unknowing chickenhawks who''ve succeded in their pledge to drown our government in the bathtub. Yes, too much government really blows, but no government is anarchy. The corporation''s minions now run virtually our entire government... CEO''s, lobbyists, friends of friends and pioneer donors wayward children run everything by doing nothing... that hurts the bottom line, profits... and selling out their country and their souls as well.

[mcvet]

This is the same quality of medical care we will all be entitled to under universal health care. Can''''t wait!

Posted by mjvw2 at 08:13 PM : Jul 11, 2008
+ report abuse

You know this HOW?? The VA has for a very long time given Veteran''s high quality care and taken care of them when no one else would. That is UNTIL the Republican''s of 2000 came along. Now Veterans have few if ANY programs that actually work anymore... I KNOW, I''m a Disabled Veteran. To have someone simply ignore or try to make this MASSIVE failure go away by making this kind of statement.. well lets just say the Swastika is showing!! We can and should debate the WORST Health Care System in the industrialized World, costing American''s MORE and getting less than any other but to throw our VA System in with that debate... even for a Nazi''s it''s beneath human dignity. Sieg Heil Bush

[mh4cbs1]

ALALABAD, Afghanistan (AFP) - Official investigations have found that US-led air strikes a week ago killed 64 people, most of them women and children, the heads of separate investigation teams said Friday.

WHEN WILL THE ENDLESS DEATH AND DESTRUCTION BY THE US STOP !!

Lied into Needless War

Hundreds of Thousands shot or blown to bits

HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of Dollars WASTED

FIVE MILES of US Troop flag-draped COFFINS

War Profiteers, Haliburton, Blackwater, Abu Gharib, Secret Renditions....

Tax Cuts for the Rich! $4/gal gas for the rest of us

Good jobs exported overseas

Corporate Welfare in the BILLIONS

Corporate Lobbyists writing our Laws

Deregulate Banking -- GHousing Foreclosure MESS



WANT MORE OF THE SAME? VOTE FOR JOHN McCAIN

[wogerwabbit]

I worked in the recreation department of a VA Hospital in 1975 as part of the VA work study program while going to college (hey, MCVET, do I know you?). Although a nightmare of a job for my psyche, it was inspiration to the young man I was then to see the selfless dedication of the people who worked there... that they cared so much... and shed tears over old cantankerous soldiers with gnarled nicotined stained fingers passing who''d been there since WWI. I however, reserved my tears for the guys my age... flipped out... lost... destroyed by war... alive but dead and uncounted. To fail our warriors like this as this administration has, is to me, their biggest war crime. Neocons beware, we don''t want accountability, we want retribution for your crimes. Sucks to be you, heh?

[mrs_b1]

You all, including the reporter, have no idea what you''re talking about. You hear percentages and statistics, but you do not know the reality of the situation with WTU''s, or as the reported called them, "so called" Warrior Transition Units. The Soldiers and Civilians that are responsible for implementing this program work harder than anyone I know. My husband is a Soldier, a Physician and a hospital Administrator. He and the people that work with him have dedicated a huge amount of time and effort into the planning and running of WTU''s. In addition to that, they run an Army Community Hospital that provides all kinds of physical and mental health care for many thousands of soldiers, family members, veterans and retirees. Try walking in their shoes for even a day. They love our soldiers, and are striving to provide for their every need. Instead of flapping your jaws, try supporting our troops.

[wardoglrs]

You think Obama care''s? Do you think any of them care?
The Dem''s and the Repub''s dont. They have had there way and you still vote them in at the expense of your children and future. Dr Paul was and still is your best hope I suggest you listen before you lose it all.

[wogerwabbit]

Posted by Mrs_B1 at 09:48 PM

Wouldn''t it be a better world if your husband had no patients and was laid off? I''m not disputing your rant, but supporting the troops does not include sending them off repeatedly to potential death. Any gambler knows the odds narrow over time and eventually... boom, your dead... or maimed, or witless. Your husband has an investment in this tradegy, and God bless him and you for answering the call as the patriots you are as I did before you, but... the criminals that got us here should and will (eventually) be hanged. I really want live long enough to see if Bush can out man Saddam on the gallows. That should be real interesting.

[mrs_b1]

I was responding to the subject of the article, which was WTU''s and soldier health care. Not the state of the war or the Bush Administration. You think I don''t hate war? It directly touches my family every day of our lives.

[soshljustic]

"To fail our warriors like this as this administration has, is to me, their biggest war crime. Neocons beware, we don''''t want accountability, we want retribution for your crimes. Sucks to be you, heh?"...says woggerwabbit-I say it is not a group of politicians that has failed the soldiers---it is the people of the republic for which the politicians stand that has failed the soldiers and their families by not bearing responsibility for the failure---politicians are only figureheads and backed by an apathetic public having given up any responsibility at the voting booth,if not previous to the voting booth. How many have called their representatives and demanded better care for soldiers and their families? How many petitions signed to insist upon it?

[demwatcher]

"What does the Commander In Chief have to say about this, and what is HE going to DO?????

Posted by cav_03 at 09:52 PM : Jul 11, 2008"

He needs to tell the Democrat Congress to DO THEIR JOB!

Where is the oversight that Congress promised after Walter Reed? Hmmm?

The DO NOTHING Congress strikes again. They are more concerned about their dog-and-pony shows (steroids, Rove, Big Oil, etc) than actually performing their responsibilities.

[demwatcher]

"Posted by soshljustic at 10:31 PM : Jul 11, 2008"

Get an education. Congress is the LEGISLATIVE branch. They are the ones that make the laws and perform oversight. President Bush can only work with what Congress provides.

Point you finger where it belongs, at Nancy Pelosi.

[sgtrds10-4]

Get an education. Congress is the LEGISLATIVE branch. They are the ones that make the laws and perform oversight. President Bush can only work with what Congress provides.

Posted by DemWatcher at 10:35 PM : Jul 11, 2008

Bullsh*it. The White House sends Bills to Congress all of the time. They''re submitted via members of their own party who are Congressmen and Senators. To say they only work with what Congress offer is a load of cr*ap.

[soshljustic]

Dem watcher-read my comment again-the public is at fault- politicians are only figureheads-this government is a government of the people and does nothing without the silent agreement or apathy of the republic for which it stands! Whether neocon or neolib does not matter if the public leaves all responsibility and caring for their fellow at the voting booth. When that happens, they have not casted a ballot, they have casted responsibility from self! When the citizenry wants better for soldiers and their families, they will have it--if they pursue it through asking and calling for it! Phone,write and email to demand nothing less--if you do not, expect the same for self in national health care. After all, it is what the public has "asked for" for deserving others.The rules are written by the people--the VA can and does use private health industry providers. Amp it up!!!Useless democratic Government can only operate in a vaccum of public apathy,its most favoured supporter.

[randynason]

These unreported statistics are most likely the reason the military chose to REDEFINE what constitutes post-traumatic stress syndrone. The "cook the books" ideology is what this administration is best at doing and why it will forever be remembered as the most vile and corrupt administration in our nation''s history.

[sgtrds10-4]

I support John Murtha for House Speaker.

Posted by BajaJohn1 at 11:06 PM : Jul 11, 2008

I support him for Secretary of Defense. Either him or Max Cleland.

[fedupwarmy]

Another aspect of this story should be how the soldiers are treated once they are in the WTB''s
(Warriors Treated Badly). Many of them have been stuck in the units for more than a year after medical treatments are completed because the paperwork process is bogged down. Then the chains of command accuse the soldiers of malingering or make up other charges and bust them.
Our soldiers deserve better!

[poopus123]

Message to the %u201CDummy Liberal%u201D%u2026

The USA has almost single handedly defeated Al-Qada in Iraq. It%u2019s not even debatable. But, you won%u2019t hear the NY Times and other left wing news sources mention it.

Your wish for Iraq to become a %u201CVietnam%u201D type quagmire was a pipe dream. Your retransmitted message and counterfeit concern about 4000 troops that died for nothing channeled to you by the dummy democratic left, is now but a whisper in the wind.

The last semblance of hope that you have to feed your narcissistic anti-Bush thought processes are the continued Taliban attacks in Afghanistan which will likely continue because Pakistan shelters them.

One would have to think that if the Taliban operated only from within Afghanistan and had no safe haven to run to, they would have been defeated along time ago.

But, as the Afghan Army continues to build and soon be able to defend itself, your left wing narcissism, as demonstrated by you during the Iraq conflict, will soon fade away as well.

So, you %u201CCode Pink%u201D commies out there continue to waste your energy and waste your votes. You will likely accomplish nothing but wasted effort%u2026

[fixhist]

Great article, always convinced that CBS is by far the best media to bring forward the plight of serving men & women in Uniform.
I give my full solute with Pinky-Folded (Daa! its Boy Scout style).

talking about the plight of bodily & emotionally injured solders,which have contact phone numbers and addressed to be able to receive mail are blessed individuals.
Homeless or Shelter less warriors don''t count.

And we are talking about the Great Country & Nation of America.

I wonder, How many Statesmen it takes to represent One State in America?
Question might appear Silly, but just think about it.
You are welcome to participate in POLL,

ask500people (dot) com/questions/how-many-statesmen-it-needs-to-represent-one-state-in-united-states#votes

[floydzepp2]

Posted by poopus123 at 06:53 AM : Jul 12, 2008
-------

No it hasn''t. The days of "I say it, it must be true" are way over. You are yesterday''s news poop.

[ddaymichael]

Posted by poopus123

Well...I see you''ve learned a new word recently (narcissistic) but certainly nothing else of any value.

Can you really be stupid enough to believe that nonsense you post or are you just doing what you''re being paid to do?

[mcvet]

So, you %u201CCode Pink%u201D commies out there continue to waste your energy and waste your votes. You will likely accomplish nothing but wasted effort%u2026

Posted by poopus123 at 06:53 AM : Jul 12, 2008

Who say''s Joe McCarthy is dead!! SIEG HEIL Joe!!

[riptide213]

A classic, standard, first class US military, one each, pick your personal favorite to describe.

FUBAR. F*cked Up Beyond All Repair/Recognition
FUBB. F*cked Up Beyond Belief
FUMTU. F*cked Up More Than Usual
TARFU. Things Are Really F*cked Up
SNAFU. Situation Normal: All F*cked Up
SNAFUBAR. Situation Normal: All F*cked Up Beyond All Repair/Recognition
FUBAB. F*cked Up Beyond All Belief

Now infamous CINC speech alluding to so called Mission Accomplished.

Lessons learned from Southeast Asia conflict era veteran treatment; none.

Lessons learned from Southwest Asia conflict veteran treatment; none.

Shamefully, great US of Aid is so quick to toss away billons on top of billions of dollars of our hard earned, must give up by law US tax money every year to subsidize world endeavors in far flung corners for political agenda feel good or corporate bolstering boondoggles yet we still enough arrogance left to boldface, in your face neglect our own nation, our own citizens, our own warriors.

Continued saga of disappointing DOD and VA warrior care disconnects, appalling Hurricane Katrina aftermath disaster no relief mess (FEMA fiasco), failing US national infrastructure, insecure US borders, rampant crime and corruption on US streets.

Fix the home front, defend ourselves, take of our defenders.

Sorry its time, US tax money charity funding should begin and stay at home. No more SNAFU.

[randynason]

So, what is the Pentagon going to do about it? More smoke up our proverbial but*s is not the answer, at this point of the game. How about a little transparency and honesty for all the soldiers who have risked life and limb to carry out the administration''s war for oil profit! -Talk about PATRIOTISM-

[barbaraf4]

So Cheney, who had his annual checkup today, has a relatively clean bill of health. The list of procedures he has received goes on and on. If it were you or me, we would have been dead long ago from the very heart problems they keep fixing or patching for him.

I find it amazing that we cannot furnish similar medical care to our men and women serving in Iraq.

[deacon20081]

When our economy totally collapses thanks to Bush and those Veterans with PTSD are on the streets without adequate medical care, the Bush administration will become a target.
Just a thought.

[liberalme]

Flaws???

If you include those whose injuries could be called combat-related - a stressed-out soldier in a car accident after returning from Iraq, for instance - the percentage goes up to 48 percent.

12% wounded in Iraq or Afganistan---and "If you include those whose injuries could be called combat-related"----What the heII is that? What is the diagnosis of "combat wounded"?

These guys think we''re all stupid! They twist our troops injuries to match up with the numbers that make them "look good".

This government and military leaders are a disgusting bunch of poor excused for anything near human.

[sweetlucy110]

Bush opened his blog at a free interracial dating club intimatemingle.com .there are many pics of him ,such as when he was 8 years old with a girl