Defense Secretary Encourages Treatment

Defense Secretary Encourages Treatment
May 05, 2008
Armed Forces Press Service|by Donna Miles

FORT BLISS, Texas - The Defense Department is working to reduce stress on the force and improve quality of life for the troops, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told Soldiers at the Army Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss Friday.

As part of that effort, Gates announced earlier Friday that the Defense Department will no longer require people who have received treatment for combat-related stress to report it on Standard Form 86, the government security-clearance form.

"Mental health treatment in and of itself will not be a reason to revoke or deny a clearance," Gates told the senior NCOs at the academy. "We hope this will encourage more men and women in uniform to seek help."

Gates asked the senior leaders' help in getting troops who need it to seek combat-related mental health care.

"Our country, in recent years, has asked a tremendous amount of you and those who serve with and under you, and everyone has risen to the occasion," Gates told the senior noncommissioned officers, all attending the Army's top NCO school and bound for sergeant major and command sergeant major jobs in the force.


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