In a recent Army report, it was revealed that three Army Reserve officers were disciplined for dereliction of duty following a tragic rampage in Maine, where a reservist killed 18 people. The report, released on Tuesday, pointed out various shortcomings, including communication failures within the chain of command and between military and civilian hospitals. Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, chief of the Army Reserves, stated that the report exposed "a series of failures by unit leadership" and that administrative actions have been taken against the officers to prevent further military advancement. The officers involved were not identified.

The attack that occurred in October 2023 has faced heavy criticism from survivors and victims' family members who believe that missed opportunities could have prevented the tragedy. Concerns about the gunman's delusional and paranoid behavior were raised by family members and fellow reservists in the months leading up to the incident.

According to the report, the gunman, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Card, had previously fallen from a ladder, potentially causing head injuries that were discovered during a post-mortem examination. However, Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels emphasized that there was no connection between Card's brain injury and his military service, even though the defense department is investigating the potential for damage caused by repeated blasts.

The investigation revealed that Card, who was experiencing a spiraling mental health crisis, made alarming statements and exhibited warning signs before the shooting. He had even compiled a "hit list" and had boastfully claimed he could kill 100 people with a rifle scope he had purchased. He also confessed to a health care provider that he decided to quit his job "before he ended up killing someone."

The Army report, along with an independent commission established by Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, shed light on the systemic failures that allowed the tragedy to occur. The report recommended procedural changes and new policies to better manage reservists' mental health. It also called for a review of the U.S. Army Reserve's behavioral health force structure and comprehensive behavioral health retraining across the entire U.S. Army Reserves, which comprises nearly 190,000 soldiers.

The Army's Inspector General, Lt. Gen. Donna Martin, concluded that her office did not need to conduct an independent investigation as the Army report was thorough. The inspector general's report, however, placed the blame for the tragedy squarely on Card, stating that even flawless execution by Army personnel would likely not have prevented the events.

Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Angus King pledged to ensure that the military has access to state crisis intervention programs while protecting the Second Amendment rights of military personnel.

The shooting took place on October 25, 2023, at a bowling alley and a bar and grill in Lewiston. Alongside the 18 deaths, 13 individuals survived gunshot wounds, and 20 others sustained non-shooting injuries. Card died by suicide two days after the incident, with his body being found later.

The Army report serves as a significant step in understanding the failures that led to the tragedy and paves the way for possible reforms in the management of reservists' mental health. The findings will be taken into consideration by the independent commission, whose report is expected to be completed later this summer.