Army base shuts down for anti-suicide event

[47of74]

Source: CNN

Fort Campbell, home of the Army's 101st Airborne Division, is holding a three-day "suicide stand-down training event" starting Wednesday -- the second one it has held this year, a base spokeswoman told CNN.

At least 11 deaths of Fort Campbell soldiers this year are confirmed or suspected suicides, spokeswoman Kelly Tyler said. That's out of 64 confirmed or suspected suicides in the entire Army, according to official statistics.

The base commander, Brig. Gen. Stephen Townsend, addressed all 19,000 soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division on Wednesday, Tyler said.

"His intent was to be able to look them in the eye and make them aware that everyone cares about the issue, and make sure they know -- corporal to general -- what help is available," she said. "To make sure that people know we want them to keep living."

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/27/kentucky.army.suicide/index.html

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If it prevents even one soldier from taking his or her life it's worth it. Hopefully the military will start doing a lot more to help soldiers with these difficulties now.

[MADem]

1. Whenever "shit happens," it's always followed by a "stand down." It's a military rule.

Too many aircraft accidents? Stand down. Sexual harassment in a Big Way, generating unwanted publicity? Stand down. Too many motor vehicle and motorcycle fatalities? Stand down. Rambunctious, out-of-control junior personnel behaving badly in an overseas environment? Stand down.

This shit needs to happen not "just once," for the cameras, but instead be part of pre and post deployment briefings, as well as annual training, military physicals, career counselling, and varying other opportunities for senior-subordinate, as well as peer group, interaction. A kneejerk stand-down isn't going to solve the problem--there needs to be an ongoing process, not a great fat bandaid slapped on just once in a big way that doesn't begin to cover the wound. Sure sounds good to be able to tell "the media" that they're working on it, though, I suppose...

[southernyankeebelle]

2. THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE A STAND DOWN -

THEY HAVE THIS BUDDY SYSTEM. I THINK THAT IS TO MUCH TO PUT ON A YOUNG SOLDIER WHO IF HIS BUDDY IS GOING TO KILL HIMSELF HE IS GOING TO DO IT. HIS BUDDY MIGHT HELP BUT SOONER OR LATELY IF A YOUNG MAN IS IN ALOT OF PAIN HE'LL DO IT.

[Javaman]

4. caps. we can "hear" you just fine. nt

[ThirdWorldJohn]

3. Fort Campbell has the highest suicide rate among soldiers in the Army. So it is CYA Time.

And this is the second stand down at Fort Campbell this year. Look at how the Army acts to a stressed soldier - not how they talk to the stressed soldier. If you want to see how military counseling works, go ask John Russell. He is the one that killed his counselors in Iraq. He is the one whose family says was a hard working military soldier who was broken by his officers. Are you going to believe what the military says or what you see? Wasn't John Russell getting help from the Army? And then last year there was the suicides in East Texas by 4 army recruiters because they were put under so much pressure to get the numbers by their superiors. And back in his office this General is probably cussing these soldiers that have committed suicide for ruining his fine military career.

"His intent was to be able to look them in the eye and make them aware that everyone cares about the issue, and make sure they know -- corporal to general -- what help is available," she said. "To make sure that people know we want them to keep living."

Even that statement seems shallow and un-caring. It is obvious from that statement that the military cares about the "ISSUE."

[Downwinder]

7. Have to address the causes, not the effect. n/t

[Vidar]

5. Operation STOP LOSS at work.

[Rebubula]

6. Sometimes...

...there is no help for the constant nightmare of war.

War kills the enemy on the battlefield and the soldier for the rest of his life

My father died still hurting from the Vietnam war - 30 years later...