The active-duty Army is facing a record suicide rate. Leaders have no idea how to fix it

[rangerrebew]

The active-duty Army is facing a record suicide rate. Leaders have no idea how to fix it

“Is there something we’re missing?”

By Haley Britzky | Updated Oct 14, 2021 1:25 PM

 
Army leaders continue to struggle to find a way to address suicide in the ranks as the problem worsens, with 2020 marking the highest rate of suicides among active-duty soldiers in years.

Army leaders say they are looking to try just about anything to better respond to and prevent suicides. In the Army Reserve, that includes giving commanders the ability to put a soldier on paid, active duty status to respond to a teammate in crisis.

“f one of our junior noncommissioned officers or officers become aware that somebody’s reaching out for help, our commanders have the ability to say ‘You’re on active duty right now, if you’re within a reasonable commuting distance go escort that soldier to get some help at a community care center,’” Army Reserve Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew Lombardo said on Tuesday at the annual Association of the U.S. Army conference.

The policy Lombardo was referencing was made official in November 2020, though it has received little public attention since it was enacted. The policy directs leaders and soldiers to take “rapid action to ensure care of soldiers who express suicidal ideations.” It’s one of many tools Army leaders are hoping will reverse a devastating trend of suicides in the service. And as the numbers continue to rise, the Army is focused on getting ahead of the problem and ahead of the crisis, in the hopes that policies like the one Lombardo referenced would never need to be used in the first place.

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-suicide-rate-2020/

[rangerrebew]

You don't suppose Critical Race Theory and white rage, both favorites of Gen. Milley, has anything to do with it, do you, because it envisions separation of the races?  I wouldn't imagine knowing you are being vetted 24/7 means anything.  If you are white knowing the military is out to get you while ignoring left wing terrorists in the military would piss me off.  How about the "successful" withdrawal from Afghanistan and the worldwide condemnation of the US military because of it?  That probably doesn't mean much, either.  Having a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs who is more interested in PC than training likely has no significance.  Planning on using electric vehicles to help stop "global warming" that doesn't exist may have a bit of meaning.  The fact that leading AI  experts saying our AI is like kindergarten level compared to Russia and China and subsequently resign their positions at the Pentagon has some meaning.  Aircraft carriers built without weapons elevators is a bit unusual.  Navy ships decommissioned when they are less than 15 years old because they're no good might be problematic.  A Military stand down to investigate "white people as domestic terrorists" might be disconcerting to some.

[EdinVA]

It may be that breaking away from helicopter parents is harder than they thought and once they sign on the dotted line with "no way out" may be more than they can handle.... I don't know but I hope we fix it soon.

[sneakypete]

Maybe they should start raising their recruiting standards instead of allowing anyone that wants a green card to enlist,and that is the ONLY reason they are enlisting?

[skeeter]

The active-duty Army is facing a record suicide rate. Leaders have no idea how to fix it.

If, by leaders, they mean the ones who hang out in DC they could start by considering suicide themselves.

[SZonian]

"Leaders"...they keep using that word, but I don't think they have damned clue what it means to actually be one.

Most kids these days have no coping skills, so when faced with situations they're not ready for, they crumble.  The military now finds itself having to "raise" kids.

So leadership training and development needs to adapt and train their NCO's and Jr. Officers on how to handle this better.

https://www.dspo.mil/Portals/113/Documents/CY20%20Suicide%20Report/CY%202020%20Annual%20Suicide%20Report.pdf?ver=0OwlvDd-PJuA-igow5fBFA%3d%3d

[GtHawk]

"Leaders"...they keep using that word, but I don't think they have damned clue what it means to actually be one.

Most kids these days have no coping skills, so when faced with situations they're not ready for, they crumble.  The military now finds itself having to "raise" kids.

So leadership training and development needs to adapt and train their NCO's and Jr. Officers on how to handle this better.

https://www.dspo.mil/Portals/113/Documents/CY20%20Suicide%20Report/CY%202020%20Annual%20Suicide%20Report.pdf?ver=0OwlvDd-PJuA-igow5fBFA%3d%3d

All true, I had a grand nephew that took ROTC through high school(not Officer material) he enlisted in Army but they said good buy when it was obvious he was damaged goods. And then there was my SIL's boy from a previous relationship, all gung ho to be infantry, decided early in boot camp that there is real work and commitment in the Army and your fellow soldiers so he faked a panic attack and sat out the remainder of boot camp in the mental ward playing games until they booted his ass out. Needless to say I have no respect for these two young men and if they are representative of a large pool for the military to draw from we are screwed. Also how much extra pressure is being put on our soldiers with this social justice woke crap and the concern your fellow soldiers may be stabbing you in the back because they don't think you are liberal enough? I haven't served by I fully get the concept that your fellow soldiers are a family you have to have absolute trust in, but the left is intent on destroying all tight family units even the military.