A ‘decompression’ process for Bowe Bergdahl before he heads home
BY ANNE GEARAN June 4 at 7:22 PM
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the longest-serving American prisoner of war since Vietnam, is undergoing a staged decompression and reintroduction to the outside world that is akin to the slow ascent of a deep-sea diver, according to U.S. officials.
His medical and psychological needs are a priority, but he will also be questioned about the circumstances of his imprisonment or any other details that might yield helpful intelligence about his Taliban captors, the officials said.
Bergdahl began the long process of reintegration it could take weeks or months immediately after he was handed over to U.S. Special Operations forces in Afghanistan on Saturday.
The first 24 hours of a captives return are devoted to emergency medical care and an assessment of what else he or she needs, according to a step-by-step playbook developed by the Pentagon.
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