Mental Health Tops List of Reasons Troops Were Hospitalized in 2023, New Reports Find
Mental health disorders were the top reason that active-duty U.S. military personnel were hospitalized in 2023, a trend that began in 2009 but has shown signs of easing in the past three years, according to two new reports from the Defense Health Agency. Musculoskeletal injuries remain the No. 1 reason service members visit a medical […]
Army Doctor Tells Lewiston Shooting Commission that Oversight of Mental Health Differs for Reservists
A U.S. Army mental health expert told Lewiston shooting commission members Thursday that reservists in charge of Robert Card did not have to follow the same protocol for follow-up care as those who supervise active-duty military personnel. But Col. Mark Ochoa, a doctor stationed at Fort Liberty in North Carolina (formerly Fort Bragg) involved in […]
Army Quickly Expanding Holistic Health and Fitness Teams Following Promising Early Results
The Army is fast-tracking the expansion of its Holistic Health and Fitness, or H2F, program as early results show soldiers in brigades recover faster, shoot better and have higher performance on critical fitness tests with the assistance. The service began fielding roughly 20-person H2F teams to brigades in 2021, providing 28 brigades with coaches and […]
VIP Health System for Top US Officials Risked Jeopardizing Care for Soldiers
Top U.S. officials in the Washington area have received preferential treatment from a little-known health care program run by the military, potentially jeopardizing care for other patients including active-duty service members, according to Pentagon investigators. White House officials, senior military and other national security leaders, retired military officers, and family members have all benefited. The […]
Maine Mass Killing Suspect Had Mental Health Issues, Purchased Guns Legally, Authorities Say
LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Police missed two clear opportunities to end a dragnet that locked down and terrified Maine’s second-largest city after a gunman killed 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar following a recent spiral into paranoia. The body of Robert Card was found Friday in a trailer at a recycling center […]
The Army Is Working Toward Better Physical Training and Mental Health Care for Its Dogs
The Army revamped its health and wellness program for soldiers in 2020, dubbing it “Holistic Health and Fitness,” or H2F. There, the service got into doctrine on how soldiers should take care of themselves, including proper sleep, nutrition, exercise and mental health. Now, the Army is doing the same for its working dogs, a force […]
After Delays, Army Secretary Signs ‘Brandon Act’ Policy on Self-Referrals for Mental Health Evaluations
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth signed new instructions for soldiers this week that are intended to improve access to mental health treatment by allowing them to request an immediate referral for an evaluation from a supervisor or commander. Following a months-long delay in implementing a Defense Department policy announced in May, Wormuth issued a memorandum to […]
