U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, held by the Taliban as a prisoner of war for five years, has taken another step toward recovery.

On Sunday, the military announced that the 28-year-old soldier has been moved from inpatient to outpatient care at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston in Texas, CNN reported.

After being released from captivity in Afghanistan on May 31, Bergdahl was taken to and treated at the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. On June 13, he was flown to Texas, where he began the next phase of his rehabilitation and reintegration process at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, USA Today reported. Hospital staff started helping him reacclimate to society.

"His reintegration process continues with exposure to more people and a gradual increase of social interactions," the Army said in a statement, the LA Times reported. "Debriefings and counseling from Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) psychologists continue to ensure he progresses to the point where he can return to duty."

President Barack Obama has received a storm of backlash over his decision to get Bergdahl back in exchange for releasing five Taliban leaders being held at Guantanamo Bay. Obama and military leaders said Bergdahl's health was in jeopardy and they needed to get him home promptly. Critics say Bergdahl's release came at a high price that's risked American safety, and others have accused Bergdahl of desertion.

Furthermore, both congressional Democrats and Republicans have criticized the deal and noted that the Obama administration failed to notify Congress 30 days in advance, as required by law.

An Army investigation found that Bergdahl left his outpost deliberately of his own free will, according to an official briefed on the report. However, the Army has no definitive evidence that Bergdahl deserted because that would require knowing his intent. The military plans to investigate how and why Bergdahl left his platoon by questioning him after the reintegration team approves.