WASHINGTON (Aug. 20, 2010) -- Pentagon officials today released the Defense Department's final review of recommendations issued by an independent panel in the wake of the Nov. 5, 2009, shooting spree on Fort Hood, Texas.
Among the department's top priorities, as outlined in the review, are boosting on-base emergency response capabilities, improving law enforcement and force protection information sharing with partner agencies, and integrating force protection policy, a Defense Department news release said.
In a memorandum signed Aug. 18, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he carefully considered the panel's recommendations -- detailed in the report titled, "Protecting the Force: Lessons Learned from Fort Hood" -- and is directing the department to take "appropriate action" to address the initiatives detailed in the follow-on review.
"I expect department leaders to place great priority on implementing these recommendations," Gates said. All actions are aimed at contributing to the safety and health of military forces, the release said.
Maj. Nidal Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, allegedly opened fire at a Fort Hood facility where Soldiers were processing for overseas deployments. He has been charged with 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of attempted murder.
"The tragic shooting of U.S. military personnel at Fort Hood ... underscored the need for the [Defense Department] to thoroughly review its approach to force protection and to broaden its force protection policies, programs and procedures to go beyond their traditional focus on hostile external threats," Gates said.
Earlier this year, an investigative panel detailed 79 recommendations in its report centered on improving force protection and tightening gaps in personnel policies, emergency response mass casualty preparedness and support to Defense Department health care providers. In April, Gates directed the Defense Department to immediately implement 26 of the 79 recommendations while a review of the remaining 53 recommendations continued.
The final review's initiatives "will significantly improve the department's ability to mitigate internal threats, ensure force protection, enable emergency response and provide care for victims and families," Gates said.
The review puts forth "concrete actions" for the majority of the recommendations, Gates said. In some cases, however, further study will be required before the department can take additional steps. U.S. Army
