We Must Stop Compounding The Wounds Of Our Wars

When our men and women in uniform return home at the end of a tour of duty, it is critical that our nation's obligation to them not end as well.

Over the past few years, staff from Veterans for America have visited every major demobilization site in the United States. What we found is inexcusable and tragic. We can say with confidence that inadequate dwell time for our men and women in uniform is compounding the wounds of war. We are not giving our men and women the support, the medical treatment, and the care they need and deserve as they re-adjust to life after serving in war.

We have heard from hundreds of service members who have served multiple deployments. These brave men and women report that inadequate dwell time exacerbates their service-connected injuries. These men and women who gave their all for their country need their country to answer their call for help.

The more I think about it, the more I believe that our current deployment policies amount to abuse plain and simple. Our shortchanging of our returning servicemen and women today also creates a far greater challenge down the road -- an imposing mental health crisis for which our military and country are not prepared.

Fortunately, some military leaders are beginning to admit the magnitude of these problems. The Department of Defense's Mental Health Task Force recently reported that inadequate time between deployments is a major factor contributing to the great rise in mental health problems amongst our service members. Senators Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel also recognize the magnitude of these issues -- and they are answering the call by working to add their Webb-Hagel Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. This amendment calls for dwell times to be increased so that their wounds of war are not compounded.

I support this Amendment. Veterans For America supports it. And I hope you will as well. Let's not wait for another Walter Reed moment. Let's get our men and women the help they need, when they need it -- right now.

Veterans for America (www.veteransforamerica.org) is dedicated to serving our men and women in uniform and our veterans.