At least Sergeant Major of the Army.
Posted on 06/13/2014 8:31:51 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
A military aircraft carrying Bergdahl touched down in Texas shortly before 2 a.m. Friday, hours after Washington said Bergdahl will not receive the automatic Army promotion that would have taken effect this month if he were still in captivity.
Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl arrived in San Antonio, Texas early Friday to begin the “next phase of his reintegration process” that could last for weeks, while questions remain over his standing in the military.
His parents are overjoyed at his return to the U.S., a spokesman said, adding the couple does not plan to publicize any possible plans to travel to Texas.
Officials have no timeline for Bergdahl’s treatment in Texas, expecting a reunion with his family will only come at the conclusion of the process, according to the New York Times.
A military aircraft carrying Bergdahl touched down at Lackland Air Force Base shortly before 2 a.m. Friday. Several passengers walked off the plane and entered waiting vehicles, including a military police car, black van and ambulance, that drove them to Brooke Army Medical Center.
The 28-year-old former Taliban captive has been undergoing treatment at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany since June 1, the day after his release, though medical personnel at the San Antonio Military Medical Center having been training for Bergdahl’s care from the day of his release, local news reports.
Bergdahl has not yet been in contact with his parents, Bob and Jani Bergdahl, and the Army expects the couple will be reunited with their son in San Antonio at some point.
The Idaho native was captured in Afghanistan in June 2009 and released by the Taliban on May 31 in a controversial deal struck by the Obama administration. Five senior Taliban officials were released from detention at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. in exchange for Bergdahl, but Congress was not alerted to the release of the prisoners, despite the 30-day required notification laid out in the 2014 Defense Authorization Act.
Questions remain over the circumstances of Bergdahl’s disappearance, with many former Army colleagues calling Bergdahl a deserter.
The Army said Friday it will review the events that led to Bergdahl’s capture after his reintegration but there is no timeline yet for how long his treatment will last.
Washington said Thursday that Bergdahl will not receive the automatic Army promotion that would have taken effect this month if he were still in captivity.
A formal review will determine whether Bergdahl would receive more than $300,000 in back pay owed to him since he disappeared. If he was determined to have been a prisoner of war, he also could receive roughly another $300,000 or more, if recommended and approved by Army leaders.
In letters reportedly written from Bergdahl during his captivity, he tells his family not to judge him too harshly for his disappearance.
“If this letter makes it to the U.S.A., tell those involved in the investigation that there are more sides to the cittuwation...please tell D.C. to wait for all evadince to come in,” he wrote in a letter to his parents on March 23, 2013, according to the Daily Beast.
(DOCUMENT-AT-LINK)
“Leadership was lacking, if not non-existent. The conditions were bad and looked to be getting worse for the men that where actuly the ones risking thier lives from attack,” he adds.
Bergdahl was able to send two letters to his parents during his nearly five years in captivity and the correspondence was delivered by the International Red Cross from the Taliban to Bergdahl’s family in Idaho.
Officials have confirmed to the website that the letters given to the Daily Beast are copies of the notes delivered by the international group.
His next step should be a few paces in front of a firing squad.
They need the visiting schedule for Leavenworth for the next 30 years.
I am wondering hiow this guy was able to join the Army after being kicked out of the Coast Guard as Psychologically Unfit. Obviously, he concealed that information and the Army never picked up on it after he joined. That tells me the sharing of data between the Defense Department and Homeland Security is pretty shabby. This guy should never been allowed in the Army and even after he managed to get in, his past should have been discovered through a background check and he would have been kicked out.
2nd LT? With his record he should be made chief of staff.
At least Sergeant Major of the Army.
People have been sneaking into the Army (too young, gay before it was okay, neo-Nazis, female when it was forbidden, etc.) for hundreds of years, as you know...
What does this mean?
I agree with you. If I remember rightly, it was or is a felony to misrepresent or to hide a disqualifying medical condition when filling out the forms for enlistment. It appears obvious Bergdahl omitted informing the Army he had been discharged from the CG for mental issues. He may not have even mentioned he had been in the CG.
Given the politics of this and based on everything I have read, I am predicting this guy will be declared mentally impaired and given a Medical Discharge with all the Vet. rights.
Sadly, you may be right but I hold a smidgen of hope that he will have to face a court martial.
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