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Abstract
Since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began, the U.S. military has sent millions of troops into battlefield operations—some without proper training, some without rigorous preservice mental health checks, and many without experience. Many were given waivers that allowed them to skirt previously rigorous recruiting standards to bolster troop numbers. A significant amount of returning soldiers have been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and associated benefits and lifelong payouts for these soldiers have and will continue to cost the military hundreds of millions of dollars each year. The military has been accused of purposely changing PTSD diagnoses or instead issuing diagnoses of personality disorders—which the military considers a preexisting condition—for dodging these costs and as a mechanism for forcing soldiers out of service. This article explores how and why these diagnoses, or changes to existing diagnoses, are (allegedly) made, what purpose they serve the military, and the implications of each diagnosis for veterans and active duty soldiers. After reviewing this information, the question of whether or not the military should be ethically responsible for the continued mental health care of those soldiers after service, despite their condition, is addressed.