Bipolar GI taken from hospital, sent to Kuwait

[unhappycamper]

Bipolar GI taken from hospital, sent to Kuwait
By Erin Emery - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Feb 11, 2008 19:37:34 EST

FORT CARSON, Colo. — A Fort Carson soldier who says he was in treatment at Cedar Springs Hospital for bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse was released early and ordered to deploy to the Middle East with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

The 28-year-old specialist spent 31 days in Kuwait and was returned to Fort Carson on Dec. 31 after health care professionals in Kuwait concurred that his symptoms met criteria for bipolar disorder and “some paranoia and possible homicidal tendencies,” according to e-mails obtained by The Denver Post.

The soldier, who asked not to be identified because of the stigma surrounding mental illness and because he will seek employment when he leaves the Army, said he checked himself into Cedar Springs on Nov. 9 or Nov. 10 after he attempted suicide while under the influence of alcohol. He said his treatment was supposed to end Dec. 10 but his commanding officers showed up at the hospital Nov. 29 and ordered him to leave.

“I was pulled out to deploy,” said the soldier, who has three years in the Army and has served a tour in Iraq.

Soldiers from Fort Carson and across the country have complained they were sent to combat zones despite medical conditions that should have prevented their deployment.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_bipolar_080211/

[provis99]

1. what the hell is wrong with the Pentagon?

This soldier is an extreme threat to his fellow soldiers if he's forced to deploy. Bipolars are prone to paranoia and uncontrollable fits of violence in normal society; putting him in a possible combat situation is a tragedy waiting to happen...

[fed-up]

2. NOT TRUE-"bipolars are prone to paranoia and ...violence"-please back up your statement nt