Tompkins County Against War & Occupation

From: CitizenSoldier1@aol.com
Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:29:59 EST
Subject: Ft Drum Soldiers Encouraged to File Art 135 Complaint

More info: Tod Ensign, (212) 679-2250 (or) citizensoldier1@aol.com

Different Drummer Cafe to Assist Ft Drum Soldiers in Seeking Court of Inquiry over Army’s New Ban on Assistance with Disability Claims

An Army “Tiger Team” recently visited Ft Drum and ordered VA workers to stop helping injured soldiers prepare their final disability claims. Injured soldiers are given a 10 day period in which to comment on proposed disability rulings before they become final.

According to National Public Radio (1/29/08) one VA official recently told a classroom of injured soldiers at Ft Drum; “we can (no longer) help you review the narrative summaries of your medical problems.” He explained that after the Army noticed that Ft Drum soldiers were receiving higher disability ratings than soldiers at other bases, it ordered that VA workers stop helping them review their applications.

Tod Ensign, attorney for the Different Drummer internet cafe near Ft Drum, N Y (www.differentdrummercafe.org) is currently discussing this unlawful policy with 10th Mountain soldiers and will assist them in filing a formal request for an official Court of Inquiry under Article 135 of the UCMJ. Once enpanelled, such a court can conduct a wide ranging investigation into the Army’s policy of forbidding the VA from assisting injured soldiers with their claims.

“Once again, we witness a military command which is more concerned with saving money than with providing adequate compensation for injured veterans. The Pentagon fears a ‘tsunami’ of medical claims as these two wars drag on. If a soldier receives a disability rating of less than 30%, he or she receives only a lump sum payment instead of a monthly disability,” Ensign commented.

The Different Drummer attorneys expect that Ft Drum soldiers will file their request for a Court of Inquiry in the next weeks.