fort campbell Tag Archives — Court-Martial Trial Practice Blog

Military suicides

January 16, 2010 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

Statistics are starting to be released about suicides, primarily within the Army, showing increases in the numbers. I think it’s reasonably safe to assume that attempts as well as “gestures” have risen during that period of time.

Eight years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq have etched indelible scars on the psyches of many of the nation’s service members, and the U.S. military is losing a battle to stem an epidemic of suicides in its ranks.

Despite calls by top Pentagon officials for a sea change in attitudes about mental health, millions of dollars in new suicide-prevention programming and thousands of hours spent helping soldiers suffering from what often are euphemistically dubbed “invisible wounds,” the military is losing ground.

More “incidents”

November 20, 2009 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

I just commented on two incidents involving suspicious actions by soldiers; one at Fort Campbell and one near Fort Leonard Wood.

Army Times now reports:

A box of hollow-point bullets and an anonymous note threatening an incident like the one at Fort Hood, Texas, were discovered Thursday at Fort Benning, Ga., sparking a criminal investigation and greater police presence, a witness told Army Times.According to a witness at the scene, a box of 20 hollow-point shells and a handwritten note were found in the motor pool area between 1st Battalion and 2nd Battalion, 29th Infantry, under the 197th Infantry Training Brigade.“The note said ‘tell the commanding general to call off all charges or there will be a re-enactment of Fort Hood,’ ” the witness told Army Times. He spoke on condition he wouldn’t be identified.

UP: News roundup

November 20, 2009 | The Law Office of Philip D. Cave

Army Times reports that Major Hasan has had or is about to have a pretrial confinement hearing at Fort Hood. A hearing is required within certain time periods under R.C.M. 305. R.C.M. 305 is a regulation in the manual for courts-martial that implements due process for someone detained for a crime. The military does not have bail. The person is either detained or released into restriction to base or personal recognizance during the time of the court-martial. It is unlikely that Major Hasan will be released onto Fort Hood. The issue appears to be whether he is physically fit for confinement as certified by a medical doctor.

Army Times and AP report that an AWOL soldier wins stay of Canadian deportation.

Canada’s Federal Court says the country’s refugee board must reconsider the case of a lesbian who deserted the U.S. Army.