Colo. senators want Ft. Carson in alcohol program

DENVER — Colorado’s senators urged the Army Tuesday to include Fort Carson in a pilot alcohol abuse program, responding to a military study of soldiers at the base accused of several killings in the region.

The report found that trauma of fierce combat in Iraq and then the soldiers’ refusal to seek mental health aid because of a stigma, may have helped drive them toward violence after returning home.

The pilot program planned currently for Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Fort Richardson, Alaska; and Fort Lewis, Wash., removes a requirement that soldiers getting help notify commanders.

It is designed to reduce the stigma soldiers face if they ask for treatment.

Democratic Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet made their request following the study’s release last week, showing a possible tie between combat and 11 separate slayings from 2005 to 2008, allegedly committed by soldiers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

The report also found that soldiers in the unit seeking substance abuse or mental health treatment face ridicule and accusations from fellow soldiers that they were faking it.

“There is a need to do more at Fort Carson — and across the Army — to help soldiers transition from battle to the routines of daily life,” said Udall, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “I’m concerned that more and more service members suffering from psychological wounds are self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.”

Of 14 soldiers accused in the slayings, attempted homicides, or aggravated assault, nine had previously been charged with alcohol or drug related crimes. Five of those soldiers had sought help through the Army’s Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program (ASAP), which requires soldiers to notify their commanders.

Soldiers interviewed by Army medical investigators said part of the stigma at Fort Carson includes the announcement of behavioral health appointments in front of other soldiers during roll call.

During news briefings last week following the release of the Army medical study, top Army commanders said they’re examining ways to reduce stigma.

The Army is rolling out other programs, including a Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program to help with soldier physical, mental, and spiritual health.

The 4th Brigade Combat Team, currently deployed in Afghanistan, has sustained three combat deaths since May. During two deployments in Iraq from August 2004 to August 2005, and from October 2006 to January 2008, the unit suffered 113 combat deaths.

Pentagon-based spokesman George Wright said it’s unclear whether the Army will add Fort Carson to the pilot program, known as the Confidential Alcohol Treatment and Education Pilot (CATEP).

The program will be put in place this month and next at the three other posts and will continue until January.

Paul Sullivan, executive director of Washington-based Veterans for Common Sense, said the military’s efforts do little to help soldiers seek help. His group is calling for universal evaluations before and after deployments to remove the stigma.

“The military has painted themselves into a corner on this issue and put people in the situation of raising their hand in formation to seek care or trying to go off post and sneak around to get medical care,” Sullivan said.