Freed American POW Bowe Bergdahl returns to active duty with US Army TODAY in 'desk job' ...and may receive $350,000 tax-free | Mail Online
- Sgt. Bergdahl will resume his military duties at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio
- Bergdahl will have 'an office job within the headquarters,' Col. Scott Bleichwehl said
- He will also have sponsor to help with assimilating
- Bergdahl may also receive $350,000 from the US government without paying taxes
- $200,000 worth of that money would be from wages earned during his captivity and $150,000 if he is found to have been a prisoner of war
- Bergdahl will continue to attend debriefing sessions with his superiors
- Comes days after photo of Bergdahl posing with Taliban official posted to Twitter
- Bergdahl posed with Badruddin Haqqani, who died in a drone strike in 2012
By James Nye and David Mccormack and Lydia Warren and Zoe Szathmary
Published: 01:05 EST, 14 July 2014 | Updated: 08:02 EST, 15 July 2014
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The US Army confirmed Monday that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is returning to active duty just four weeks on from his return to the United States after five years as a Taliban captive - and will be working behind a desk.
'To use a slang term, he will be working a desk job,' Col. Steve Warren, a spokesman for the Pentagon, told ABC News.
'Sgt. Bergdahl is not restricted in any way,' he said, noting Bergdahl will reside in noncommissioned barracks. 'He is a normal soldier now.'
Col. Scott Bleichwell offered a similar description in a phone interview with MailOnline.
'It's an office job within the headquarters - just general office work,' he said.
Bleichwehl explained that Bergdahl will also have a sponsor, which he described as 'a person who's designated, not only for him, but for every soldier in Army North [...] and assists with assimilating into the unit.'
The sponsor helps with 'very basic administrative functions,' Bleichwehl said, which include '[helping become] a part of the unit, processing records, becoming familiar with the day to day schedule.'
'We're always there for every soldier,' he said.
Bergdahl may also receive $350,000 from the US government without paying taxes: $200,000 would be for wages earned during his captivity and $150,000 if he in fact was a prisoner of war, according to Fox News.
Money earned while in a combat zone is excluded, per IRS regulations.
Return to duty: This is Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl six weeks ago at his handover by the Taliban to US forces. The US Army said Monday he will return to active duty
Responding to that report, Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Alayne Conway told MailOnline 'The Army's determination of Sgt. Bergdahl's eligibility for pay and benefits will be in accordance with the appropriate laws, regulations and policies. Pay is always linked to duty status.'
In a statement, the Army said that the soldier 'has completed the final phase of the reintegration process under the control of U.S. Army South and is currently being assigned to U.S. Army North, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston (JBSA).'
'He will now return to regular duty within the command where he can contribute to the mission. The Army investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the disappearance and capture of Bergdahl is still ongoing.'
According to the New York Times, Bergdahl was in therapy at Fort Sam Houston.
Since his return from Afghanistan, Sgt. Bergdahl has been involved in debriefings with his superiors, the paper said.
Just last week, a photo of Bergdahl, smiling and posing with a former senior Taliban official in Afghanistan was posted on Twitter.
The undated photo, likely taken during Bergdahl’s five years in captivity, was posted on the social media site on Wednesday by @khorasan3, an account associated with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Along with the image were the words ‘#US Solider #Bergdahl with Martyr #Taliban Leader Badar'udin Haqqani(RH) S/O Shaykh Jalaludin Haqqani(HA).’
This photo of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, smiling and posing with Taliban Commander Badruddin Haqqani, a senior member of the Haqqani network in Afghanistan, was posted on Twitter on Wednesday
The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) confirmed Bergdahl was photographed next to Taliban Commander Badruddin Haqqani, a senior member of the Haqqani network in Afghanistan.
The son of Haqqani head Jalaluddin Haqqani, he reportedly handled daily operations and was killed in a U.S. drone strike in August 2012, CNN said at the time.
Former POW Bergdahl was controversially released by the Taliban in May in exchange for five Guantanamo Bay detainees.
Last week it emerged that Bergdahl is being allowed to wander off the Texas base and while under supervision he has visited multiple stores and locations.
Bergdahl alternates between civilian and military clothing and shakes hands with passerby when they recognize him, an Army spokesperson told CNN.
The details have emerged as soldiers who served with Bergdahl before he left his post in Afghanistan in 2009 revealed to Fox News they have still not been contacted by military investigators.
The release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in Taliban prisoner swap
Questions: A new investigation has been launched to determine whether Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, pictured, deserted his post or went AWOL when he was reported missing in Afghanistan in 2009
The former soldiers told the news channel they believe the Army has already made up its mind about how Bergdahl ended up in the hands of the Taliban - and that they believe he deserted his post.
But when he was swapped for five Guantanamo Bay detainees on May 31, President Obama gave him a hero's welcome and said the switch had been prompted by Bergdahl's poor health.
'I think it's very clear he deserted his post,' Army Sgt. Evan Buetow told FoxNews.com. 'He thought about what he was doing, he mailed some things home, he walked away and we have witnesses who saw him walking away.
Left out: Former platoon leader and Army Sgt. Evan Buetow, pictured in a previous Fox interview, said he believes the investigators have already made up their mind about what happened
'And if you’re walking away in one of the worst, most dangerous areas of Afghanistan without your weapon and gear, I don’t believe you’re planning on coming back.'
'Investigators have already concluded what they want to be said. They know exactly what happened'
Former Army Sgt. Evan Buetow
Of the investigation, Buetow added: 'They've already concluded what they want to be said. They know exactly what happened.'
Former Army Sgt. Matt Vierkant also told Fox News said he had not been contacted by Army officials - but that here are probably still sworn statements by the unit's members made after he left the post.
'I have confidence that they're going to do what’s right,' Vierkant said. 'I just feel this should've happened a long time ago and it should've been public.'
Both Buetow and Vierkant told Fox they believe Bergdahl deserted his unit.
Speaking out: Former Army Sgt. Matt Vierkant, pictured in a previous interview on CNN, also said he had not been contacted by Army officials and believes that Bergdahl deserted the unit