Catch 22, take 2

The US Army managed to discharge Private First Class Steven D. Green a month or so before he was indicted for murder and rape. The discharge was honorable, even though the reason was "severe personality disorder", which approximates to sociopath, a person with a "disregard for the consequences of their actions, and their lack of empathy with the suffering of others". Why wasn't this a dishonorable discharge? Wouldn't you think that the Army might warn people that something wasn't quite right with their former soldier? It looks disturbingly like the Army just wanted to move the problem along, ship him back home and out of the Army.

Catch 22 is the title of Heller's novel, which has become shorthand for the absurdity of any sanity tests in the Army. Briefly, anyone who could recognize their own craziness was sane enough to remain in the Army. With an all-volunteer force, the question is who would want to remain in the Army? Those who aren't on the front line, exposed to kill-or-be-killed conditions, might rationalize their re-enlistment. But how about those carrying guns through hostile neighborhoods? It's a situation custom made for "severe personality disorders" and to drive the borderline into full blown cases.

This issue threatens the public support for our soldiers more than anything else. Americans do not hold soldiers responsible for the dismal failures of politicians and diplomats. As in Vietnam, the reputation of the entire Army is at risk due to the actions of a few soldiers and the failure of their superiors to punish them and impose discipline. The Army reports that it is ahead of schedule in recruiting, in part because it has reduced its requirements. Fortunately for the Army recruiters, an estimated 3% of men have some sort of anti-social behavior.