I’m holding judgment on this. I read today that he was discharged during basic training from the Coast Guard on mental health grounds and should probably never have been allowed to enlist in the Army.
How did the Army not know this ?
I don’t see any way around desertion since he wasn’t where he was supposed to be AND he sent his possessions home prior to the desertion AND he snuck out rather than doing it in broad daylight.
What that means is that he (1) knew it was wrong (2) planned for it, and (3) did it anyway.
Arguing mental defect requires not being aware of right and wrong.
In my active duty time, I did have 2 soldiers have total psychotic breaks. They were institutionalized, treated, and eventually discharged to the loving care of the Veterans Administration.
I can think of a couple of ways that a basic training mental defect discharge from one service could then be re-enlisted in another service. (1) An all clear from doctors, (2) Claim of a defect that wasn’t itself officially considered harmful...homosexuality comes to mind coupled with a claim of persecution or abuse (3) lowering of Army standards to accept Cat 4/defectives due to low enlistment rates,
Source???
If that is the case, I’m apologize to my friends in the Army, but damn...
You guys could not be that hard up for personnel??? Right???
All the ranting and raving over Bergdahl is a waste. He will (or won't) be dealt with in due time. The focus needs to be on the ongoing clear and present danger - Obama.