The following correction to this story was posted March 23:Fort Drum is the only Army post where the base newspaper run such photos. The Fort Bliss Monitor carries a roundup of all courts-martial judgments, but does not publish offenders’ photos.
ARLINGTON, Va. — On the eve of the 10th Mountain Division’s deployment to Iraq, its commander defended his decision to put photos of soldiers charged with drunken driving in the base newspaper.
“I don’t do it to humiliate these soldiers,” Maj. Gen. Michael Oates told reporters during a Pentagon roundtable Thursday. “I do it to raise awareness that this behavior is not acceptable.”
On March 6, The Fort Drum (N.Y.) Blizzard began a weekly roundup on 10th Mountain soldiers charged with driving while intoxicated.
Soldiers who flunk their random drug screening will get the same treatment, Oates said. Each month, 10 percent to 15 percent of the post’s 17,500 soldiers get tested for illegal substances.
Fort Drum is the only Army post where the base newspaper runs such photos. The Fort Bliss Monitor carries a round-up of all courts-martial judgements, but does not publish offenders' photos.
Oates’ decision to publicize drug and alcohol offenders prompted a firestorm of criticism, which Oates said he expected.
“I didn’t take this step lightly,” he said. “I knew some people would be unhappy.”
Some of Oates’ critics have accused him of being insensitive to troops who may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and are drinking to relieve their pain, he said.
“I have heard from a couple of people that I’m being difficult with these veterans who are suffering stress,” he said.
But while stress may not be within a soldier’s control, the response to it is, Oates said.
“And the decision to self-medicate with alcohol, and then climb behind the wheel of a car and drive … I won’t tolerate,” he said.
Oates said the shame factor is making Fort Drum soldiers think twice about drinking and driving.
“When they can’t see me, I’ve heard some soldiers saying, ‘Oh, hell no, I don’t want my picture in the paper,’” Oates said.
If fear of being publicly shamed prevents one accident — particularly one death — caused by a drunken soldier, it is worth the all the controversy, Oates said.
The 10th Mountain is scheduled to leave for Iraq in May, where it will take over for the 3rd Infantry Division and be headquartered at Camp Victory in Baghdad.
Oates said he has told his troops to expect a 15-month deployment.
