Fort Drum: A Great Burden, Inadequate Assistance,” Report by Veterans for America

June 2009

Of all U.S. Army divisions, the 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, New York, has been most affected by our country’s recent deployment cycle. A recent Veteran for America report—Trends in Treatment of America’s Wounded Warriors—revealed a military mental health treatment system that is under severe stress.

Since September 11, 2001, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) is the most deployed brigade in the Army, having recently completed its fourth tour. In total, the 2nd BCT has been deployed for more than 40 months since 9/11. Compounding the difficulties is the Army-wide issue of inadequate dwell time, the time between deployments to readjust, rest, retrain, reconstitute, visit family, friends, and integrate new unit members. VFA has visited every major military facility in and out of the United States. Leaders of the military mental health treatment system have taken steps in recent years to alert Department of Defense leadership of the magnitude of the crisis that is brewing in this area, as well as steps that need to be taken to manage this crisis. The VFA report concludes with several recommendations for addressing the mental health needs of Ft. Drum and all Army soldiers and veterans. The US Army, as well as entities such as the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, has taken steps to address the gap in mental health needs in the Fort Drum region.

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