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From the story: "Rebrook said he tried to get a battalion commander to sign a waiver on the battle armor, but the officer declined." So after eight months at Fort Hood, he gathered up his gear and started the “long process” to leave the Army for good. Things went smoothly until officers asked him for his “OTV,” his “outer tactical vest,” or body armor, which was missing. A battalion supply officer had failed to document the loss of the vest in Iraq.

If he is a 1st Lt. he has probably served as a Exec. Officer and knows full well what is required for processing. He had 8 months to correct the problem. He has probably processed people himself. A 1st Lt. can get things move pretty quick. Are we suppose to believed that a West Point graduate is not aware of army procedure. A Battalion Commander is not going to sign a waver for anyone without know the facts unless he is bucking for a court marshal. The Lt was trying to short cut procedure based on rank. Why did he have to scrounge money? A 1st Lt. makes good money. $80,000 a year tax free while in Irap.

We'll there's procedures, instructions and forms...but everything is waiverable. How the hell is a guy abruptly medevaced off the battlefield and seperated from his unit supposed to track down a DD-200 which may never have been completed in a war zone? Over a year has passed since he was with his unit..PCS transfers, Change of Command, return to the US..I don't see why the bean counters couldn't write this off locally. I guess they will find a way when the angry JCS one-way phonecall comes.

"Are we suppose to believed that a West Point graduate is not aware of army procedure.

It wasn't his responsibility to fill out the paperwork in Iraq. That was someone elses' job. It should have been there when he reached for it. It wasn't.

" A Battalion Commander is not going to sign a waver for anyone without know the facts unless he is bucking for a court marshal.

This isn't about weapons systems. this is about a friggin' vest an associated equipment he was wearing when he got blown up. If the moron lt col couldn't figure that out, he should take a easier position that doesn't require so much mental agility.

" The Lt was trying to short cut procedure based on rank."

All injured soldiers deserve to be treated with common decency and respect. Rank ain't a consideration here. If the commander doesn't have the decency to see that all his men are equally relieved of such chicken shit pettiness, then he doesn't deserve to hold the rank.