Military deployment question

[gabosaurus]

I know there are a lot of past and present military on this board, so maybe someone can answer this question.
When soldiers are set for deployment to combat zones, is their physical and metal health checked? Or are they just called up and set out?
I was wondering because of results that the behavior of the gunman in the Fort Hood shootings had been very erratic and menacing, but apparently not enough to raise any red flags about his deployment overseas.
Also, it has been stated that one-third to one-half of all military suicides are in soldiers who are getting ready to be deployed or just returned from combat zones.

[Kathianne]

I know there are a lot of past and present military on this board, so maybe someone can answer this question.
When soldiers are set for deployment to combat zones, is their physical and metal health checked? Or are they just called up and set out?
I was wondering because of results that the behavior of the gunman in the Fort Hood shootings had been very erratic and menacing, but apparently not enough to raise any red flags about his deployment overseas.
Also, it has been stated that one-third to one-half of all military suicides are in soldiers who are getting ready to be deployed or just returned from combat zones.

I've not a clue, but would question along with you. Do you have a link to what you are referencing with the bolded?

[CSM]

There is indeed a screening process (though there was a time when that was not the case). The screening includes physical and pschological parameters. There is also a screening when they return.

[Gaffer]

Back when I was in the army The deployment center was in SF, CA. They check your shot record, give you a physical and make sure all the blocks are checked on your paper work. A military passport was then issued. Also work assignments like KP were handed out. Anyone acting "strange" would have been snatched up.

We didn't have Vietnamese in our ranks either.

The count goes overboard as usual. But in one sense he's right. We are at war with an ideology and very few people, especially our government leaders, realize that. Those that follow that ideology have to be scrutinized.

[sgtdmski]

When I deployed for Saudi for Desert Shield/Storm, before leaving we went through a deployment day in which we had our records checked, shots updated, met with lawyers if we needed to make wills or power of attorneys. We also met briefly with a mental health specialist who asked a few questions, if the specialist had any concerns, the individual in question would later be asked to come back for additional assessment. I know this because I was a squad leader and one of my squad members had to go through this.

This is how they did it in the 82nd, as far as other units I am not sure. The 82nd was the countries mobile response so we were use to deploying and had the process down to an art.

dmk

[AFbombloader]

When I was in the AF, we were on constant alert for possible deployments. As a supervisor it was my responsibility to look for warning signs in my Airmen, but we also had medical exams. When we go the call up for Desert Shield/Storm we had a few days of prep before we actually left, but most of that was taken up by getting the aircraft ready to go.

On a scheduled rotation, which is what these soldiers were doing, you have months of even a year of time before you go. So there is plenty of time to access the mental status of the deploying people. You also get financial, family planning, wills, etc. The military really does look after the deploying Soldier/Airman/Sailor/Marine.

AF:salute: