New York, New York

[Burning Petard]

He will not be denied the care. He will be denied any care paid for by the federal Defense department or Veteran Affairs.

snailgate.

[Econoline]

(Denial of means of payment) = (Denial of care)

That's the way healthcare works here in the land of the fee, home of the grave.

[ex-khobar Andy]

Does anyone know if there is a military equivalent of COBRA - the continuing medical insurance a company is required to give anyone who separates involuntarily? So if an employee is fired (AFAIK for any reason, even if for cause) they stay on the employer insurance plan (entirely at their own expense - no employer contribution) for 18 months.

[Joe Guy]

Is this helpful? I know nothing about it but I did a search and found it.

[Jarlaxle]

Well, he's 100% correct on that one.

Yes, once again he knows more than his colonels. There is an interesting item in today's NYT which points out that due to his dishonorable discharge, he will be denied the mental health care he so obviously needs.

The only thing he "needs" is a long drop at the end of a short rope.

[Burning Petard]

The US military has traditions of duty and honor and responsibility that go beyond Hollywood and John Wayne.

The Military Code of Justice is much less complex than civilian law. It is designed to operate within that military tradition and mostly without support or explanation from lawyers. Fairness is demanded of all participants. That demands a very honorable and constrained chain of command to let the court work with out any interference or 'guidance' from higher-ups.

The more outsiders shout 'he ought to be shot' or 'lock him up and throw away the key!'. The more the actual court has to go the other way to demonstrate they are not influenced by that pressure.

The military has a strong culture of responsibility in direct command--but even weaker than civilian organization responsibility for long term effects of decisions. When there is a clear fuck-up in the organization, the usual line is to get them transferred out so they become someone else's problem. The 'root cause' of many problems are never addressed. Just who decided Bowe Bergdahl would make a good soldier after he was discharged from the Coast Guard for mental health problems? Likewise, why was Chelsea/Bradley Manning given that security clearance or even enlisted in the first place?

snailgate