Top Stories Relating to Our Servicemembers This Week on the Our Troops Newsladder

by: Jason Forrester - Veterans For America

Sun May 11, 2008 at 18:56

USA Today found that the Pentagon knowingly sent 43,000 troops to Iraq and Afghanistan that were determined to be medically unfit for combat in the weeks prior to their deployment, another sign of the unprecedented stress on our military. (usatoday.com)

After last week's announcement that it would seek to assist wounded veterans with voting and voter registration, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it would not allow voter registration drives in VA facilities, citing provisions in the Hatch Act and worries that it would cause disruptions in the facilities. Veterans' advocates called the action "despicable". (alternet.org)

The number of Army stop-loss orders are up dramatically since last year. Critics say the involuntary extensions of soldiers' enlistment terms amount to a backdoor draft. (latimes.com)

Lastly, the military is rolling out programs around the country to treat TBI (Traumatic Brain Injuries), which a recent study by the Rand Corporation says affects one in five troops that have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. (signonsandiego.com)

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