A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators has asked Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to launch a full review of the 'personality disorder discharge' process currently being used all across our Armed Forces.

The Senators, who have been examining the mental health care treatment of service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, recently became alarmed over reports about the inappropriate use of this type of  discharge.

For our veterans, it can result in a loss of disability benefits and medical care from the Veterans Administration, and it can even lead to service members having to repay thousands of dollars in re-enlistment bonuses.

These senators, many veteran advocates, and now, a musician by the name of Dave Mathews, have all expressed concern with a process that is diagnosing thousands of our service members holding long and honorable military careers with “pre-existing” personality disorders that have only emerged after combat service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Recent reports about the abuse of personality disorder discharges are inexcusable. It is critical we act now and work to restore the confidence of our service members,” said Senator Kit Bond.

“The men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our nation – and our freedoms – deserve the highest quality care.”

Sen. Boxer said, “It appears as if the military is using ‘personality disorder discharges’ to avoid covering the healthcare needs of our service members, many of whom are suffering from PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury as a result of their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is immoral and has to stop.”

“We have an obligation to ensure that our service members are accurately diagnosed and treated for their psychological wounds,” Senator Lieberman said. “We cannot afford to do anything less. I urge the Department of Defense to review its policies to ensure that service members are not being inappropriately discharged.”

“Reports that the Department of Defense is abusing its personality discharge procedures are especially troubling given the thousands of American service members we know to be suffering from less visible, service-related psychological injuries,” said Senator Obama. “The Department of Defense must conduct a comprehensive review of its personality disorder discharge procedures and its mental health care system, to ensure that service members who have risked everything and now suffer from a mental health condition receive the treatment, care, and benefits they deserve.”

Since personality disorder discharges are considered “pre-existing,” personnel discharged under these provisions cannot collect disability benefits and may not receive medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs for these “pre-existing” illnesses.

To make matters worse, military personnel given a personality disorder discharge who have not fulfilled their service contracts can find themselves forced to repay thousands of dollars in re-enlistment bonuses back to the federal government. This can result in debilitating debt for military personnel and their families—many of whom supported our forces over many years of service and endured significant strain as a result of frequent and protracted combat deployments.

Defense Department records indicate that over 22,500 personality disorder discharges have been processed within the past six years. While this represents a small percentage of overall discharges, their inappropriate use and debilitating impact on personnel once discharged is cause for grave concern.

And I truly hope we all start listening.