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CNN Live Saturday
Army Surgeon Recommends Shortening Duration Of Wounded At Fort, Stewart
Aired October 25, 2003 - 12:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: But we begin first at Fort Stewart, where the secretary of the Army is investigating that situation in person. Kris, has he arrived there yet?
KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, he has. Good morning to you, Andrea.
Well, it could very safely be called a power contingent. The acting secretary of the Army, Les Brownlee, along with Lieutenant General James Peake, who is the Army surgeon general, and a host of additional high-ranking military officials are here on post today, they are touring the barracks, those that received criticism. They're touring the medical facilities and they're also meeting with soldiers, many of whom are soon to deploy to both Iraq and Kosovo.
Not long from now, Andrea, the secretary, Brownlee, is expected to address the findings of the assessment report, that key team that came down here, spent several days looking into the complaints and the criticisms here on post.
CNN has obtained a copy of their assessment report. It both outlines its findings and then lists a set of recommendations. We have some of them here for you. They include: Sending more physical therapists here, to Fort. Stewart. Shortening the use of those temporary barracks, of course, which were the source of so much controversy. Also, they've asked that the Army review the medical screening process, and in addition to that, evaluate the plans for troops returning.
Now, Andrea, of course, so much of this was focused on simply the large numbers of what have they call "Demobes," demobilizing forces coming back from Iraq and other deployments, coming here as a central location, creating this medical hold situation we've heard so much about. About this, Senator Leahy, a democrat from Vermont, a co-chair of the Senate National Caucus on issues related to the National Guard, gave a response to the president's radio address. He's been very critical of the situation here, saying he does not want any soldiers in, what he called, medical limbo. He weighed in on the issue.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D), VERMONT: These reservists should be sent to other facilities closer to their families to receive medical attention to wait their reviews. Let's not leave any of those who are serving our country and in the Guard or the Reserves out in the cold.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
OSBORN: Now, Senator Leahy referred to the need for immediate action. I can tell you, Andrea, that officials here on post explained that 50 of the roughly 600 or so soldiers on, what they call, medical hold are being returned to Fort Gordon, that is in Georgia, nearby here. Also, there are 25 of them will be cleared to leave and they're receiving eight new case managers to help speed soldiers through the process -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Kris Osborn for us there in Fort. Stewart, Georgia. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Fort, Stewart>
Aired October 25, 2003 - 12:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: But we begin first at Fort Stewart, where the secretary of the Army is investigating that situation in person. Kris, has he arrived there yet?
KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, he has. Good morning to you, Andrea.
Well, it could very safely be called a power contingent. The acting secretary of the Army, Les Brownlee, along with Lieutenant General James Peake, who is the Army surgeon general, and a host of additional high-ranking military officials are here on post today, they are touring the barracks, those that received criticism. They're touring the medical facilities and they're also meeting with soldiers, many of whom are soon to deploy to both Iraq and Kosovo.
Not long from now, Andrea, the secretary, Brownlee, is expected to address the findings of the assessment report, that key team that came down here, spent several days looking into the complaints and the criticisms here on post.
CNN has obtained a copy of their assessment report. It both outlines its findings and then lists a set of recommendations. We have some of them here for you. They include: Sending more physical therapists here, to Fort. Stewart. Shortening the use of those temporary barracks, of course, which were the source of so much controversy. Also, they've asked that the Army review the medical screening process, and in addition to that, evaluate the plans for troops returning.
Now, Andrea, of course, so much of this was focused on simply the large numbers of what have they call "Demobes," demobilizing forces coming back from Iraq and other deployments, coming here as a central location, creating this medical hold situation we've heard so much about. About this, Senator Leahy, a democrat from Vermont, a co-chair of the Senate National Caucus on issues related to the National Guard, gave a response to the president's radio address. He's been very critical of the situation here, saying he does not want any soldiers in, what he called, medical limbo. He weighed in on the issue.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D), VERMONT: These reservists should be sent to other facilities closer to their families to receive medical attention to wait their reviews. Let's not leave any of those who are serving our country and in the Guard or the Reserves out in the cold.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
OSBORN: Now, Senator Leahy referred to the need for immediate action. I can tell you, Andrea, that officials here on post explained that 50 of the roughly 600 or so soldiers on, what they call, medical hold are being returned to Fort Gordon, that is in Georgia, nearby here. Also, there are 25 of them will be cleared to leave and they're receiving eight new case managers to help speed soldiers through the process -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Kris Osborn for us there in Fort. Stewart, Georgia. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Fort, Stewart>
