{"id":45757,"date":"2019-05-14T19:29:17","date_gmt":"2019-05-14T19:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/05\/14\/were-army-trainees-discouraged-from-seeking-treatment-during-fort-bennings-strep-outbreak\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:47:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:47:47","slug":"were-army-trainees-discouraged-from-seeking-treatment-during-fort-bennings-strep-outbreak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2019\/05\/14\/were-army-trainees-discouraged-from-seeking-treatment-during-fort-bennings-strep-outbreak\/","title":{"rendered":"Were Army trainees discouraged from seeking treatment during Fort Benning\u2019s strep outbreak?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Three months after a cluster of bacterial infections<\/a> tore through Fort Benning, Georgia<\/a>\u2019s one-station unit training<\/a> brigades, resulting in a life-threatening flesh-eating disease for 21-year-old Pfc. Dez Del Barba, a command investigation has concluded that drill sergeants didn\u2019t prevent trainees from seeing doctors or pressure them to push through their illnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While drill sergeants with B Company, 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry Regiment, 194th Armored Brigade, acted mostly appropriately, according to a report summary provided to Army Times, the procedures for getting medical treatment need a review, and two personnel could face discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe investigation revealed that none of Pfc. Del Barba\u2019s drill sergeants or training cadre impeded his access to medical care,\u201d Fort Benning spokesman Ben Garrett told Army Times in a statement Monday. \u201cThe investigation did reveal that the protocols for reviewing and receiving Initial Entry Training Soldiers who present themselves for sick-call treatment needs to be improved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The investigation began on March 19, more than a month after Pfc. Dez Del Barba was rushed to an on-post emergency room after collapsing in the barracks with necrotizing fasciitis, a particularly harrowing form of Group A Streptococcus infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His family specifically asked that the investigating officer travel to Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, to interview him while he recovered from a leg amputation and multiple skin grafts, according to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of May 5, Del Barba is close to discharge from the U.S. Institute of Surgical Research, according to a Facebook group maintained by his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe commanding general and Fort Benning\u2019s leaders express our deepest sympathy to Pvt. 1st Class Dez Del Barba and his family,\u201d Garrett said in the statement. \u201cWe understand that this has been a very difficult time for all involved. We remain fully committed to supporting Pvt. 1st Class Del Barba throughout his recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Del Barba did not respond to a request for comment by Army Times, but confirmed that he had received the 15-6 and was reviewing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The investigating officer also interviewed his drill sergeants and other soldiers who had been in his unit at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeveral trainees testified during interviews that Pfc. Del Barba was admired by his peers, described as physically fit, and the model soldier,\u201d the investigator wrote. \u201cDrill sergeants testified in sworn statements that Pfc. Del Barba was motivated, willing to train, and a hard worker who pushed members of the team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201coverwhelming majority\u201d of the then-trainees also said in sworn statements that they were never denied medical treatment, according to the report, including Del Barba. In one instance, a drill sergeant told him to go on bed rest, though it hadn\u2019t been ordered, he told the investigating officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fort Benning\u2019s first record of Del Barba\u2019s condition is a Feb. 4 sick call slip to visit a physical therapist for leg pain, which was never completed, according to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A group of trainees had been turned away that day by the Maneuver Tactical Athlete Care program \u2015 which handles illness and injury treatment and rehabilitation for trainees \u2015 because their sick-call slips were not properly submitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne trainee testified that [a physical therapist] even told the group to \u2018go the fuck away\u2019,\u201d the investigator wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following day, Del Barba was put on profile, preventing him from lower body exercise, running or ruck marching, and scheduled for a Feb. 8 follow-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He visited sick call again on Feb. 6 and again on the 7th, where he requested pain medication for his ankle and a physician assistant directed him to gargle with warm salt water to soothe a sore throat, according to the investigation, but there was \u201cno follow-up required.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, according to family member who spoke to Army Times in March, medical records show the PA swabbed his throat and recorded a positive strep culture that day, a Thursday, and made a note to follow up on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And on Sunday, Feb. 10, Del Barba and another private went to the on-post emergency room feeling feverish. with trouble breathing, talking, eating and drinking, the report found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were told their sore throats would be gone in a few days and sent back to the barracks with cold medicine, a trainee who accompanied them to the hospital told the investigator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe further stated that Pfc. Del Barba \u2018stressed to us about his bruise on his leg and how the doctors brushed it off that day,’ ” according to his sworn statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next day, another sick call form shows that Del Barba\u2019s legs were swollen, with a burning sensation. That night, he was rushed back to the ER, then sent to a private hospital in nearby Columbus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At that point, though trainees had presented with symptoms related to strep infection, there had been no official screenings or diagnoses. Those didn\u2019t come until several days later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In total, 61 soldiers were symptomatic and tested positive for strep. As a precaution, another 10,000 trainees and cadre members took antibiotics to treat or prevent further infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next steps <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite having access to medical care, the investigation found, the privates did feel as though their cadre did not want them to take time out to address illness or injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt least seven trainees testified in sworn statements that they and\/or Pfc. Del Barba were discouraged by drill sergeants to attend sick call and\/or were consistently reminded that missing training would subject them to being recycled,\u201d the investigator found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That tactic \u2015 reminding trainees that if they miss too much of a phase, they\u2019ll have to start over \u2015 is common at basic training, the investigator wrote, to prevent unmotivated soldiers from slacking off. But \u201cit may have discouraged Pfc. Del Barba to speak up concerning the severity of his health.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was one drill sergeant, though, who the investigator concluded had acted inappropriately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne trainee testified that Drill Sergeant [redacted] \u2018insulted Pvt. Del Barba in front of the whole platoon in our bay after he was taken out of the bay permanently\u2019.”<\/p>\n\n\n\t