WASHINGTON, May 8, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- More than 43,000 U.S. troops found
medically unfit were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan anyway, yet another sign of
stress on the military, advocacy groups said.
The number of medically unfit soldiers was based on health assessment forms
completed by medical personnel before the service personnel were deployment, USA
Today reported Thursday.
"It is a consequence of the consistent churning of our troops," said Bobby
Muller, president of Veterans For America."They are repeatedly exposed to
high-intensity combat with insufficient time at home to rest and heal before
redeploying."
Pentagon records don't list conditions or whether they were rectified before
deployment, said Michael Kilpatrick of the Pentagon's Force Health Protection
and Readiness Programs.
Pentagon employees examined 10,000 health records in 2007 to determine reasons
for the non-deployment decisions, Kilpatrick said, listing a need for
eyeglasses, dental work or allergy medicine, and some mental health cases as
some of the reasons.
Unit commanders make the final decision about whether a solder is deployed to a
combat zone, although doctors can recommend against deployment because of a
medical issue, Army spokeswoman Kim Waldron told USA Today.
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Copyright 2008 by United Press International