The investigation into the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, in October 2023, carried out by Army Reserve soldier Robert Card II, revealed several factors that led to the Army’s failure to address his deteriorating mental health. These factors included procedural errors, mistakes by commanding officers, and limitations on military authority over reserve soldiers when they are not in uniform.
Despite the lapses in handling Mr. Card’s mental health issues, the report concluded that there was no direct connection between his mental health problems and his work as a grenade instructor, where he was regularly exposed to explosions on the practice range. Over the course of eight years, Mr. Card taught cadets at the U.S. Military Academy heavy weapon operation, including machine guns and anti-tank guns. Additionally, he spent five years working on the grenade range, where he was exposed to approximately 2,400 explosions in a two-week period, leading to significant hearing loss by the age of 40.
In July of the previous year, Mr. Card was scheduled to conduct machine-gun training for cadets, despite having missed mandatory training earlier that spring. However, his behavior became increasingly erratic, prompting his Army Reserve commander to have him hospitalized at a civilian psychiatric facility in New York. During his time at the hospital, it was discovered that Mr. Card was experiencing psychosis, homicidal thoughts, and had compiled a “hit list.” Despite efforts to involuntarily commit him for treatment, the hospital released Mr. Card after 19 days under questionable circumstances.
While the investigation highlighted the failures in addressing Mr. Card’s mental health issues, it did not find a direct correlation between his exposure to explosions during his military service and his violent actions. The findings of the report shed light on the challenges faced by the military in identifying and addressing mental health issues among its personnel, particularly reservists who may not always be under direct military supervision.
Moving forward, it is essential for the military to review its procedures for monitoring and addressing mental health concerns among all service members, including reservists. By implementing more robust protocols for identifying and treating mental health issues, the military can work towards preventing similar tragedies in the future.
