Bully Behavior from Fort Sill...or It's Not Over
I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. For my son, who just last week finally made his exit from Fort Sill’s PTRP (Physical Training and Rehabilitation program), to his first duty station, it’s not over. After 8 months at Fort Sill, and more than ½ of that time in Fort Sill’s PTRP environment (for stress fractures in his ankle), my son, amidst support from his Command Sgt Major, passed his alternate PT test.
Now someone in the chain of command at Fort Sill has apparently decided that revenge is required. On this day, his second day of actual duty at his first duty station, my son was advised that an email had been sent from the chain of command at Fort Sill, about his problem. Yes, he was a “problem”, and in good company. He and some of his peers cared more about their fellow injured soldiers than you did. He and they cared more about the truth than they did about their own hides. He and they saw the pack mentality of those that were over them, and refused to let their fears paralyze them. They refused to become institutionalized. They did not develop Stockholm Syndrome or anything else like that. Instead, they took their Army values seriously and stood up for themselves and each other. A gimpy Band of Brothers in a no-win situation.
Let’s just quickly review those values, in case you don't know them or have forgotten:
Loyalty
Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. constitution, the Army, and other soldiers.
Be loyal to the nation and its heritage.
Duty
Fulfill your obligations.
Accept responsibility for your own actions and those entrusted to your care.
Find opportunities to improve oneself for the good of the group.
Respect
Rely upon the golden rule.
How we consider others reflects upon each of us, both personally and as a professional organization.
Selfless Service
Put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own.
Selfless service leads to organizational teamwork and encompasses discipline, self-control and faith in the system.
Honor
Live up to all the Army values
Personal Courage
Our ability to face fear, danger, or adversity, both physical and moral courage.
Obviously, some of you at Fort Sill have forgotten these, or you never believed them. So why am I surprised that you continue your bully tactics now?
Your own actions or inaction (some of which were unethical at best and illegal at worst) have caused your own consequences. Revenge is a two-edged sword that can slice your hand as easily as your intended mark.
I was planning to leave the Fort Sill events in the capable and ethical hands of a major newspaper writer and editor. I was envisioning a gradual return to normalcy, of eventually leaving my self-imposed part-time job studying Army regulations in general and Fort Sill in particular. I’m told that disciplinary actions have been taken with some of those in charge of Fort Sill's PTRP. I’m told that the investigation continues from multiple levels, including the Inspector General’s office, but I don’t know. I’ve been persona non grata for a while now.
Maybe the cadre at Fort Sill missed reading my blog? Well, miss me no longer, because here I am. I was just taking a break, and hoping to broaden my scope a little. Perhaps those in the chain of command might think about the sequence of events and the context that allowed those events to happen -- the verbal abuse, punishing and potentially injurious physical activities, assault -- and the tragic death of Mathew Scarano last month.
Now, so that no one at Fort Sill misses me too much, here’s a blog comment that was left on one of my posts here on 4/21/06, by the parents of an injured soldiers who spent some quality time in Fort Sill’s PTRP:
“Well the inadequate health care still continues. My son during physical therapy had a 50 lbs weight dropped on his head ended up luckily with only 8 staples in his scalp. No further tests were done on this and since has been suffering with crippling headaches which drop him to his knees. They are refusing to do a cat scan as they want a Doctor to prescribe it and as they are putting him in a 3 week limit to pass his run he is now longer receiving physical therapy (though still needed) and doesn't have a "doctor" to authorize a CAT scan. My son has opted for the transfer for the PT test so as to finally be out of 95th one way or the other. Of course if he is discharged he will very likely have no medical back up for his injuries either. The depression has gotten out of hand as has the verbal and psychological abuse causing it . I have written to all the representatives, congress and the president and not one has responded either verbally or in writing. Obviously the Government has no desire to take care of thier own."
Original comment here
Now someone in the chain of command at Fort Sill has apparently decided that revenge is required. On this day, his second day of actual duty at his first duty station, my son was advised that an email had been sent from the chain of command at Fort Sill, about his problem. Yes, he was a “problem”, and in good company. He and some of his peers cared more about their fellow injured soldiers than you did. He and they cared more about the truth than they did about their own hides. He and they saw the pack mentality of those that were over them, and refused to let their fears paralyze them. They refused to become institutionalized. They did not develop Stockholm Syndrome or anything else like that. Instead, they took their Army values seriously and stood up for themselves and each other. A gimpy Band of Brothers in a no-win situation.
Let’s just quickly review those values, in case you don't know them or have forgotten:
Loyalty
Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. constitution, the Army, and other soldiers.
Be loyal to the nation and its heritage.
Duty
Fulfill your obligations.
Accept responsibility for your own actions and those entrusted to your care.
Find opportunities to improve oneself for the good of the group.
Respect
Rely upon the golden rule.
How we consider others reflects upon each of us, both personally and as a professional organization.
Selfless Service
Put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own.
Selfless service leads to organizational teamwork and encompasses discipline, self-control and faith in the system.
Honor
Live up to all the Army values
Personal Courage
Our ability to face fear, danger, or adversity, both physical and moral courage.
Obviously, some of you at Fort Sill have forgotten these, or you never believed them. So why am I surprised that you continue your bully tactics now?
Your own actions or inaction (some of which were unethical at best and illegal at worst) have caused your own consequences. Revenge is a two-edged sword that can slice your hand as easily as your intended mark.
I was planning to leave the Fort Sill events in the capable and ethical hands of a major newspaper writer and editor. I was envisioning a gradual return to normalcy, of eventually leaving my self-imposed part-time job studying Army regulations in general and Fort Sill in particular. I’m told that disciplinary actions have been taken with some of those in charge of Fort Sill's PTRP. I’m told that the investigation continues from multiple levels, including the Inspector General’s office, but I don’t know. I’ve been persona non grata for a while now.
Maybe the cadre at Fort Sill missed reading my blog? Well, miss me no longer, because here I am. I was just taking a break, and hoping to broaden my scope a little. Perhaps those in the chain of command might think about the sequence of events and the context that allowed those events to happen -- the verbal abuse, punishing and potentially injurious physical activities, assault -- and the tragic death of Mathew Scarano last month.
Now, so that no one at Fort Sill misses me too much, here’s a blog comment that was left on one of my posts here on 4/21/06, by the parents of an injured soldiers who spent some quality time in Fort Sill’s PTRP:
“Well the inadequate health care still continues. My son during physical therapy had a 50 lbs weight dropped on his head ended up luckily with only 8 staples in his scalp. No further tests were done on this and since has been suffering with crippling headaches which drop him to his knees. They are refusing to do a cat scan as they want a Doctor to prescribe it and as they are putting him in a 3 week limit to pass his run he is now longer receiving physical therapy (though still needed) and doesn't have a "doctor" to authorize a CAT scan. My son has opted for the transfer for the PT test so as to finally be out of 95th one way or the other. Of course if he is discharged he will very likely have no medical back up for his injuries either. The depression has gotten out of hand as has the verbal and psychological abuse causing it . I have written to all the representatives, congress and the president and not one has responded either verbally or in writing. Obviously the Government has no desire to take care of thier own."
Original comment here
posted by Pat deV at 6:58 PM
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