Head of Military's Wounded Warrior Program Forced Out

3 years ago

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The civilian official in charge of overseeing the care of U.S. troops injured in combat said he has been asked to resign, as the military overhauls its wounded warrior program.

In an e-mail to The Associated Press, Noel Koch said he was asked to step down after 11 months as the deputy undersecretary of defense for wounded warrior care and transition policy.

Koch said he quit "under duress" after his bosses told him they had no confidence in him.

"No explanation was given, although I pressed for one," Koch wrote. "No prior indication of dissatisfaction with the work of this office was cited."

The Pentagon had no comment about the resignation. A military spokesman told the AP that the Defense Department was in the middle of a full review of its personnel and readiness office and more changes were likely.

The nature of the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq has forced the military to change the way it deals with troops returning with severe injuries and post-traumatic stress issues.

The Pentagon has set up transition units to help wounded soldiers recover, but the flood of patients and the complexities of their injuries have often overwhelmed the system, according to the AP.

Filed Under: Iraq, Afghanistan, Military

Tagged: Daily Guidance, DailyGuidance, defense department, DefenseDepartment, military, Noel Koch, NoelKoch, Pentagon

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