Major Nidal Hasan's Army Supervisor Expressed Concern in 2007

by Amy Judd | November 19, 2009 at 12:19 pm

380 views | 32 Recommendations | 16 comments

According to new documents obtained by NPR, Major Nidal Malik Hasan's army supervisor at the Walter Reed Medical Center put some concerns in writing that he had about Hasan in 2007, describing what he saw as incompetence and reckless behaviour from Hasan.

This is the first evaluation to come to light from Hasan's file, and this report came the first year that Hasan was stationed at Walter Reed Medical Center.

Despite concerns raised, Hasan was still asked to work with some very troubled and vulnerable soldiers. It was on May 17, 2007 that Hasan's supervisor sent this to the Walter Reed credentials committee:

It reads, "Memorandum for: Credentials Committee. Subject: CPT Nidal Hasan." More than a page long, the document warns that: "The Faculty has serious concerns about CPT Hasan's professionalism and work ethic. ... He demonstrates a pattern of poor judgment and a lack of professionalism." It is signed by the chief of psychiatric residents at Walter Reed, Maj. Scott Moran.

Two psychiatrists outside the army said that something like that could end the career of a psychiatrist outside of the Army system.

"Even if we were desperate for a psychiatrist, we would not even get him to the point where we would invite him for an interview," says Dr. Steven Sharfstein, who runs Sheppard Pratt's psychiatric medical center, based just outside Baltimore.

Dr. Sharfstein said that he would avoid an applicant 'like the plague' with this on his reputation.

The memo also mentions that Hasan blew off an important exam, was overheard proselytizing to his patients, only saw 30 patients in 38 weeks, when most see at least 10 times that much, and did not answer his phone when called for emergencies.

The memo reads that Hasan was

somebody who could potentially put patients in danger."

Dr. Sharfstein said that in all his time as a psychiatrist, he has only seen about six evaluations that were this bad, and he did refer to the memo as containing many warning signs.

It does have some positive points however about Hasan, such as the fact that he was able to self-correct and his supervisor did not say he was not competent to graduate.

However, statments such as the last one, suggest that once Hasan was under supervision for his behavior he would improve just enough to pass to the next level or to be told he 'was capable of doing better'. It is unfortunate that with the constraints on the medical system, no one has the resources to monitor any doctor that closely and this is what is thought happened to Hasan.

"I would never, ever hire a physician with this kind of a record," says Judith Broder, who runs the Soldiers Project, an award-winning private therapy program for troops in Southern California.

When soldiers are being treated for trauma they need to know they can rely on their psychiatrist says Broder, not someone who doesn't answer their phone during emergencies.

"This kind of behavior could, in fact, set off a stress reaction" in a patient, she says. "It could be a trigger to a post-traumatic stress reaction."

It has been reported that when Hasan moved from Walter Reed Medical Center to Fort Hood, this report was sent with him, so officials at Fort Hood should have known about this. They have so far declined to comment.

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 12:37 on November 19th, 2009

This begs the question, what the follow up to these reports were and how did this guy get promoted to Major when he should have been on his way out of he army. Hopefully the review ordered by Robert Gates today will shed some light.

I doubt very much that Hasan would have survived in the the Canadian military.

Joseph Reilly (not verified)

at 17:48 on November 19th, 2009

Dear Cowpoke,I am curious as to your exact meaning when you say"I doubt very much that Hasan would have survived in the Canadian military."Of course, the meaning of the words is clear enough; I know what the words mean and what the statement means , on the surface.The question I wish to put to you is: Why do you feel that Hasan would not have survived in the Canadian military? Is it that he could not have lived through the winter? Or, is it the case that you think he would have been weeded out before enlisting or at some point during his process of qualification as a psychiatrist in a pickle suit?If the latter, are you claiming that the military in Canada is not populated by toadying, careerist fools, as in the USA? Are you claiming that Canada is currently less under the thrall of political correctness than the USA is? And, last, but not least, are you implying that incompetence and stupidity do not exist in the military establishment in Canada?Enquiring minds want to know.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 18:18 on November 19th, 2009

Joseph Reilly what I'm referring to is really his performance after he enlisted. Based on reports of his superiors I believe he would have been placed on a Report of Shortcomings. This is a six month counseling process with periodic reviews.

When an officer is placed on a Report of Shortcomings this has to be reported to Defence Headquarters. Each periodic review is also forwarded. At conclusion or even if there is no improvement prior to that, the Commanding Officer of the individual forwards a recommendadtion as to the disposal of the officer.

Political Correctness would not prevent anyone from reporting on an officer or enlisted man for job deficiencies. If you're really worried about it find a Muslim, in this case, and have him sit in on the interview. It is done all the time. A male superior would protect himself by having a female officer sit in the interview with him, etc.

I actually saw political correctness in the US Army in the 70s needed the statement that this officer or NCO support the U.S. Army racial policy. I don.t know if such a statement still exists on US Army Peformance Reports.

Careerism is fueled by Performance Reports that require Officers and NCOs to get rated outstanding in each category. People are afraid to make mistakes.

I have been out of the army for almost ten years now and I doubt that the way counseling operates in the Canadian Forces hasn't changed much.

I also hope that your description of the military establishment did not apply to each and every soldier, because that sort of judgment would be misplaced.

Rhialto

at 22:01 on November 21st, 2009

Dear Cowpoke,

You are probably correct that not every soldier should be regarded as incompetent, toadying, and stupid. However, I spent 7 years in the pickle suit in the USA. My experience was that, the higher up the command ladder one went, the more of his soul and his intellect got left behind. Thus, at the level of platoon commander, most of the officers were still functioning humans. At the company command level, it was maybe 40% still holding their faculties. Above that, it was rapidly downhill.

Granted, I am, by temperament and from experience, a cynic. However, that was what I thought 20 years ago, when I left the army. Given the general decline of quality of life and decline in standards, especially in public life, since then I think it is fairly safe to assume things have not improved.

As to the monitoring of personnel in the services, I must confess that I don't really know how that operates today. When I left the service there was, at least annually, an evaluation of each soldier. This was the EER or OER, Enlisted or Officer efficiency rating. There were also counseling forms galore and other garbage.

But, aside from the above, the chain of command closely monitored the profile of each commander. Any commander who originated complaints, especially of an HREO, human resource equal opportunity, or that could be construed as HREO, such as a complaint against a black soldier, was in deep kaka. Originating a court martial, especially for a disciplinary issue, would probably doom a career. Not all of this was in the regulations, but, it was all true. You can guess how things worked.

Live long and prosper,

Joseph Reilly

crm2 (not verified)

at 07:01 on January 13th, 2010

The medical system and personnel in the CF are more constrained and in at least as bad of shape as the USAF. The CF has around 400 nurses total in its military. Not sure how many are in the US military but I am quite sure there are more nurses at Wilford Hall in San Antonio alone. You would be surprised with the quality of personnel here. Some good some average and a number that are terrible. Nurses that would not even be in the military are welcomed in the CF. Some on numerous psyche meds.

smkovalinsky

at 12:55 on November 19th, 2009

Well, even without seeing him as dangerous, they ought to have seen him as a slob. This just makes me angry, as I had been envisioning him as this upright, hard-working professional, who may have "snapped" from internal conflict. Now, I think he simply should have been thrown out even before he showed signs of being dangerous. :(

Hugh Askew

at 12:59 on November 19th, 2009

PC rules. Sad, deadly, true.

marianmo

at 15:16 on November 19th, 2009

this whole series of events leading up to the shootings disturbs me............he should have been dealt with before...having said that. i wonder how personal files are being made public...isnt this against the law

thank you for this story, however may i make a suggestion...when using initials please explain wfat they mean or who they are...i have no idea what/who npr is

thanks

Joseph Reilly (not verified)

at 17:55 on November 19th, 2009

Dear marianmo,NPR is simply the abbreviation of National Public Radio, in the USA.

Roy C

at 18:38 on November 19th, 2009

Obviously PC mindedness stopped the whole procedure.

If only he had threatened Obama first, then he would have been dealt with.

marianmo

at 19:07 on November 19th, 2009

ty mr reilly,who runs that radio station./system......thanks...havent heard of it before

Rhialto

at 22:09 on November 21st, 2009

Dear Marianmo,

NPR is run by a publicly funded foundation which is fairly well insulated from political interference. The headquarters is in Washington. The larger portion of the money to run the foundation, pay people, buy equipment and other necessaries is raised by the foundation itself and by the individual stations which are parts of the NPR network, through auctions and telethons.

Joseph Reilly

caj1

at 20:02 on November 19th, 2009

I'm relieved that this story quotes at least a couple of doctors who said that they would not have ever hired a doctor such as Maj. Hasan, based on the quality of the references that they probably would have obtained.

Dr. Tracy M. Baker (not verified)

at 06:11 on November 20th, 2009

I have been in the military(not as a physician, have become one since)and cannot comprehend the lack of common sense involved in this situation. I do realize that the military and common sense often do not coincide, but this situation is "over the top" with lack of common sense, or any sense for that matter. Think about this, the Army had a KNOWN Muslim JIhadist Psychiatrist counseling and treating soldiers who had been KILLING Muslim Jihadists. This screams profound stupidity! I sent an email to the Army hierarchy pointing this out and have not received a reply-I don't expect one is forthcoming. A physician has to have some empathy for his patients, but Maj. Hasan was bound by his faith to have animosity, nay, hate for those he was treating. The Army not only knew this, but promoted him in spite of it. Soldiers returning from the war traumatized by it were getting the worst possible help. Is this the way our country treats its heroes? Certainly the Army couldn't have been that hard up for Psychiatrists. No treatment would have been better than this. I don't understand it.

Dr. Tracy M. Baker (not verified)

at 06:36 on November 20th, 2009

As a physician, I have to say that Maj. Hasan's superiors all have a serious medical problem. They all have terminal cases of Cerebral Gluteosis. Don't look that up in a medical textbook, it means they were all "Butt Brains".

Dr. Tracy M. Baker (not verified)

at 06:16 on November 20th, 2009

I do have a medical diagnosis for the "leaders" who allowed this stupidity to happen. I have to say they all have terminal cases of Cerebral Gluteosis. Don't look that up in a medical textbook, you won't find it. In the vernacular, it means they were all "Butt Brains".