MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH

While military prosecutors in California were charging five Marines with murder in the killing of Iraqi civilians last year, Pentagon officials were holding a hearing on mental health services after reports that soldiers at Fort Carson, Colo., were not receiving adequate treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. The murder charges, while extreme, are an example of how the uncertainty, daily violence and frustration of the Iraq war can cause soldiers to act in reprehensible ways. It also shows why mental health services are vital and that soldiers should not be punished for using them.

On Nov. 19, 2005, a roadside bomb exploded as a convoy was passing through the village of Haditha. One Marine was killed. Twenty-four villagers died that day. The Marines initially said the death came from roadside bombs and a firefight between villagers and U.S. troops. After Time magazine reported that village residents said innocent civilians were killed by U.S. forces, the military launched an investigation.

It found that two Marines killed a taxi driver and five military-aged men near the site of the bombing of the Humvee and later killed numerous civilians in three homes.

Recently, four Marines were charged with murder and four officers were charged with dereliction of duty in the Haditha case.

It is not surprising that soldiers returning from Iraq have nightmares, trouble dealing with their spouses and friends, often explode in rage or feel an overwhelming sense of guilt. For some soldiers, the experience is too much to handle on their own, but as soldiers from Fort Carson told a Pentagon panel last week, seeking help resulted in humiliation, punishment or even dismissal from the Army.

When they sought help from the base’s medical center, many were mocked by supervisors and threatened with discipline. Some were told they would have to wait months for medical help. A Government Accountability Office review found that 80 percent of soldiers who showed signs of PTSD were not referred for mental health treatment, a finding disputed by the Pentagon.

After being asked by Sens. Barbara Boxer, Barack Obama and Christopher Bond, the Pentagon has begun investigating the situation. This is an important first step. It is likely to find the military must do much more to help soldiers deal with the horrors of war. Just as commanders must stress that seeking help is appropriate, the Pentagon must ensure that help is available.