The Army is locked in a delicate conflict between treating PTSD and dealing with soldiers accused of "malingering" - feigning a mental lapse or derangement or purposely injuring oneself to avoid deployment. Since the invasion of Iraq, twenty-one soldiers have been punitively discharged since 2003 after being convicted of malingering. (chicagotribune.com)

Nine U.S. Soldiers who fell ill guarding a part of Iraq's oil infrastructure are accusing defense contractor KBR of knowingly exposing them to a potentially deadly carcinogen. The DoD believes that about 250 soldiers came into contact with sodium dichromate, the same substance best known as the one that poisoned California residents in the the film "Erin Brockovich". (boston.com)

Over the past 3 years, a small number of PTSD sufferers have been treated in "Virtual Iraq", a virtual reality video game where the latest video game technology, combined with a vibration platform and a smell machine helps jog soldiers' memories of combat back to the service where they can, according to proponents of the treatment, talk about their memories more clearly with therapists. Only 50 soldiers have undergone the treatment, not a large enough sample size to be considered conclusive evidence of the treatment's effectiveness. Doctor's administering the treatment, however, have found it remarkably effective. (baltimoresun.com)

Veterans of America is proud to sponsor the Our Troops Newsladder, a new tool to find the top news and articles in the progressive community by, about and for our troops.