Because the Division of Protection continues to disregard the plight of many service members injured within the line of obligation, the Home Armed Providers Committee shamefully ignores repeated requires accountability and compliance with federal regulation.
The Gateway Pundit spoke to Main (ret.) Jeremy “Weed” Sorenson, a former F-16 and A-10 fighter pilot who was deployed to fight on a number of events all through his profession. Right this moment, Sorenson serves as Director of Guard and Reserve Affairs for Uniformed Providers Justice & Advocacy Group (USJAG).
He shared {that a} whistleblower grievance was obtained on January 31, 2023, by the Home of Representatives Committee on Authorities Oversight and Accountability concerning “widespread, systemic mistreatment of injured U.S. navy Service Members.” In depth data and proof of widespread misconduct was offered to the writer.
After reviewing the documentation, it was confirmed that the grievance recognized particular widespread violations of regulation and rules in opposition to service members, primarily the intentional denial of navy pay, medical care, and incapacity advantages for service members who’re injured within the line of obligation (LOD).
Allegations included the next:
- Denial of due course of all through the LOD willpower course of
- Illegal Not within the Line of Obligation determinations, opposite to proof
- Illegal termination of medical care, pay, advantages following damage, sickness, and illness
- Unfair Incapacity Analysis System (DES) processing
- Illegal denial of navy incapacity advantages
Moreover, allegations have been made {that a} key Nationwide Guard Bureau (NGB) official concerned in unlawfully denying advantages, was concurrently serving on energetic obligation whereas additionally employed as a Division of Protection (DOD) contractor.
Sorenson stated the Oversight Committee didn’t deal with the grievance however referred it to the Home Armed Providers Committee (HASC) in April 2023. “On April 24, 2023,” he stated, “[A HASC staffer] reached out to the whistleblower for data, and the whistleblower discovered that the Oversight Committee had didn’t ahead any data on the grievance to the HASC.”
After the whistleblower offered HASC “in depth data on the widespread misconduct and illegal exercise throughout the DOD,” Sorenson identified, “5 extra whistleblowers additionally got here ahead and offered in depth private data and compounding proof to HASC.”
Six months later, he famous the whistleblowers had not been known as by any HASC official or staffer. “They by no means even spoke with the 5 whistleblowers,” he added. Throughout this time, the Chairman of the HASC Subcommittee on Navy Personnel, Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) was additionally contacted a number of instances, however the requires assist have been ignored.
On December 1, 2023, Sorenson stated, HASC workers knowledgeable three of the whistleblowers that the issues have been “exterior of our jurisdiction” and closed their complaints regardless of HASC management being offered particular particulars and proof of alleged misconduct.
Because of the lack of consideration by the staffers, HASC and Senate Committee on Armed Providers (SASC) chairmen and rating members have been contacted by USJAG on December 1, 2023. One week later, USJAG obtained a response from a HASC analysis assistant. She stated, “The Committee…will think about the person circumstances closed.”
One other HASC staffer then adopted as much as state: “I needed to foot stomp a few of the factors…Particularly, that we reviewed and analyzed every particular person case that was introduced earlier than us, discovered that there was no systemic hyperlink between the circumstances, and due to this fact was not in HASC jurisdictions…”
For the USJAG Director of Guard and Reserve Affairs, White’s tone was clear. “HASC didn’t care and blatantly refused to handle the matter any additional,” he defined.
And in keeping with Sorenson, “It was clear the HASC had not completely investigated the matter, however had as an alternative simply offered the last word congressional cover-up for the DOD’s misconduct.” Curiously, he disclosed that “on the identical time HASC was finalizing their cover-up, the Inspector Basic (IG) of the U.S. Air Drive, Lt. Gen. Stephen Davis, directed SAF/IGS (the senior investigative factor within the USAF) to conduct a significant inquiry into the quite a few allegations of systemic misconduct.”
“Greater than a dozen whistleblowers got here ahead, and the IG inquiry now has the direct consideration of the senior management of the USAF and DOD,” Sorenson stated, including that “aside from Lt. Gen Davis, nevertheless, the senior management of the U.S. Air Drive and Nationwide Guard have refused to reply to any communications from particular person service members and advocates. “It’s clear the Air Drive and Nationwide Guard management’s solely aim is to cowl up the egregious, systemic misconduct inside their ranks,” in keeping with Sorenson.
Six months after the HASC closed the entire complaints, on Might 5, 2024, HASC staffers despatched further closure letters to 5 of the six unique whistleblowers, tacitly admitting that they had beforehand offered false details about completely investigating and discovering “no systemic hyperlink between the circumstances.” Curiously, they’re now stating, “We’re actively in search of, by way of legislative means, a approach to enhance transparency and effectivity surrounding this space.”
“Sadly, it seems that NGB and DOD management had misled HASC, and because of this, HASC ignored the matter,” in keeping with Sorenson. “However HASC ought to and does know higher,” he argued. “Similar to the DOD IG, it seems HASC is simply one other fox watching the henhouse, a corporation that selectively disregards their oversight duties.”
In response to an inquiry from the writer, a HASC spokesperson stated:
The Home Armed Providers Committee labored intently with people who sought assist from the Committee with challenges they have been experiencing with the Nationwide Guard. Whereas aiding these people, the Committee recognized excessive delays in navy data processing. Because the Committee appeared nearer on the situation, the Committee discovered that the workplace throughout the Nationwide Guard Bureau that handles FOIA requests is understaffed, leading to prolonged wait instances to meet FOIA requests. To handle the problems the committee discovered and restore public confidence within the Nationwide Guard Bureau’s FOIA course of, the FY25 NDAA would require the Comptroller Basic of the US to conduct a examine on the staffing wants of the Nationwide Guard Bureau to manage its duties associated to FOIA requests in order that Congress can deal with these points within the close to future. As well as, the committee workers knowledgeable impacted people of their choices to attraction, in addition to inspired them to have interaction with their congressional representatives.
To that, Sorenson argued that the HASC response is “a daring face lie and easily extra deflection away from the precise complaints introduced ahead.” He famous, “The HASC didn’t even communicate to the whistleblowers, not to mention work intently with them.” For that reason, he stated, “This deceptive response addresses FOIA, not the precise complaints of mistreated injured service members and the rampant violations of regulation.” He known as it “disgusting, however not shocking.”
For Nic Grey, USJAG CEO and Military veteran, “That is all one other instance of politicians doing simply sufficient to make it seem like they care about an issue.” In keeping with him, “It’s a stall tactic, shopping for them time and discovering a approach to bury the issue fairly than addressing and fixing it.” He considers HASC and SASC to be “compromised,” explaining, “they don’t need to chunk the hand that feeds them, aka protection contractors.” He proposed, “Comply with the cash and also you’ll discover the motive.”
USJAG continues to signify many injured service members, like Military Grasp Sergeant James Buckley, for instance, who was deserted by the Air Drive after being injured within the line of obligation.
