Hasan's superiors examined behavior

Before sending Hasan to Fort Hood, doctors expressed concern about his performance and views.

By NEWS SERVICES

Last update: November 12, 2009 - 12:33 AM

WASHINGTON - A group of doctors overseeing Nidal Malik Hasan's medical training discussed concerns about his zealous religious views and strange behavior months before the Army major was accused of opening fire on soldiers and civilians at Fort Hood, Texas.

Doctors and staff overseeing Hasan's training viewed him at times as belligerent, defensive and argumentative in his frequent discussions of his Muslim faith, said a military official familiar with discussions about Hasan.

As a psychiatrist in training, Hasan was characterized as a mediocre student and lazy worker, a matter of concern among the doctors and staff at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences military medical school, the official said.

The concerns about Hasan's performance and religious views were shared with other military officials considering his assignment after he finished his medical training, and the consensus was to send him to Fort Hood, the official said. Fort Hood was considered the best assignment for Hasan because other doctors could handle the workload if he continued to perform poorly and his superiors could document any continued behavior problems, the official said. The group saw no evidence that Hasan, 39, was violent or a threat.

And despite the concerns about his performance, Hasan underwent an Army promotion board in the spring of 2008. It called his performance as an officer patriotic and elevated him from the rank of captain to major, a promotion that took place in May, an official said. The Army faces a severe shortage of officers who hold the rank of major, as Hasan does, and that shortage is particularly acute in some medical branches.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has found no evidence that Hasan formally sought release from the Army as a conscientious objector or for any other reason, two senior military officials said. It is unclear whether he made informal efforts to leave through contacts with his immediate superiors.

Even if Hasan had sought to quit over his opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as his aunt said he did, the Army almost certainly would have denied any such request, Army officials said. Hasan had a continuing obligation because the Army had provided him with medical training. Plus Hasan was being deployed to Afghanistan and it is extremely rare for officers to be allowed to leave immediately prior to a deployment, said Maj. Gen. Gina Farrisee, the Army's personnel chief.

It would be "very very unusual" said Paul Aswell, an Army personnel official. "I can't think of any in recent years."

The Washington Post and Associated Press contributed to this report.