Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl could return to active duty after he completes medical treatment for being held captive for five years by the Taliban, Army officials said Friday.
“The goal of reintegration is to return a soldier to duty,” said Colonel Bradley Poppen, a psychologist who will be treating the 28-year-old Idaho native at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
Bergdahl returned to the US early Friday after spending 12 days in Germany as part of his recovery process. He was captured by the Taliban in 2009 and released May 31 in a swap that freed five high-level Taliban terrorists from Guantanamo Bay.
The former prisoner of war has chosen not speak to his parents since his release, officials said.
“It is a returnee’s choice to make that determination when, where and who they want to” reconnect with, said Poppen. “ I believe the family understands that process at this time.”
He said the family is not in Texas to welcome his son.
The army officials also said they’re “pleased” with Bergdahl’s physical state and that they’ll be working with him daily during the “reintegration process.”
They said Bergdahl hasn’t had any exposure to the mounting controversy surrounding his release and that they’ll introduce those aspects little by little.
Major General Joseph DiSalvo said he greeted Bergdahl at around 1:40 a.m. Friday as he got off the plane from Germany. Bergdahl was in uniform and saluted the general.
“He appeared just like any sergeant would when they see a two-starred general – a little bit nervous but he looked good and saluted and had good deportment,” said DiSalvo.