It's just that reporting on "Journos Gone Bonkers" doesn't fit the MSM's agenda.
Posted on 01/27/2009 10:22:43 AM PST by smokingfrog
Secretary of the Army has ordered a rare one-day stand down next month of all recruiting efforts in order to focus on leadership training, suicide prevention and recruiter wellness.
Low morale, stress among factors in Army recruiter suicides By LINDSAY WISE Houston Chronicle
An Army investigation into a string of suicides among Houston-based recruiters has found that poor leadership, job-related stress, personal matters and medical problems all contributed to the deaths, the Houston Chronicle has learned today.
As a result of the findings, Secretary of the Army Pete Geren ordered a rare one-day stand-down next month of all Army recruiting efforts in order to focus on leadership training, suicide prevention and recruiter wellness.
"This is a significant action," said Brig. Gen. Dell Turner, who conducted the investigation. "It's rarely implemented, and typically only after some significant event. It's a day for the unit to stop what its doing on the mission side and review policies and practices."
(Excerpt) Read more at vawatchdog.org ...
Good point.
Not to be snarky, but wouldn't these things also be factors in any suicide?
Low morale caused by Dems, not Republicans. The Dems are not supporting what they are doing and have basically said they are losing from the get go.
NO, but they do pressure recruiters with unrealistic expectations and DEMANDS, like an auto salesman but worse. Excuse me, but soldiers are not out-of-control wackos, I wish people would get a grip on that.
PTSD can factor in with COMBAT soliders and yes, there are recruiters that are combat Infantry vets but more realistically are the demands for higher numbers of recruits.
Like my generation of Vietnam vets claiming PTSD and acting whacky having never served a day in a combat ZONE, much less a unit within a combat zone. Some never made it through basic training, the military is pretty darn good about weeding this kind of soldier/Marine out.
Now, they are taking more pains and screening for true PTSD much better and are able to help soldiers having problems transitioning back into “the world” after dealing with ambushes and IEDs for a year to 1 1/2 yr. deployments sometimes three such deployments.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!
SENTINEL = USMC Desert Storm Vet
Other than actual combat, it’s probably the most stressful job in the Army. Having to meet quotas is difficult in any environment.
There probably needs to be some reform in the Army’s recruiting system. The current system, frankly, encourages recruiters to behave like used car salesmen, and that’s just the wrong approach for something as serious as this. There needs to be a lot more focus on getting quality, motivated recruits who have made an informed decision rather than just stuffing MEPS with as many warm bodies as possible. It would not only lead to a higher-quality volunteer force, but it would probably make recruiting a much less stressful and more fulfilling assignment.
Now, I should qualify this by saying that my knowledge of Army recruiting practices may be a few years out of date. However, knowing how the Army is as an institution, I rather doubt many drastic changes have been made since then.
Now, I haven’t studies this enough to give a lot of specific suggestions, but I do think that less money spent on goofy commercials and more on pay incentives for soldiers would be a nice start.
Well, ruining the economy does tend to help military recruiting.....
All suicides are tragic. But are military suicide rates really that much higher than civilians in similar high stress jobs?
Right. I’ve never been a recruiter, but I’ve seen and heard enough from friends of mine who have to know that it’s pretty much CAREER suicide if you happen to get assigned to a bad area or happen to be a better soldier than a salesman.
Sometimes I wonder how many quality NCOs haven’t gotten a platoon sergeant slot because they missed some quotas as a recruiter. If that does happen, it’s just criminal.
It's just that reporting on "Journos Gone Bonkers" doesn't fit the MSM's agenda.
Probably not. I used to hear about how many suicides happened at Fort Greely, but it was never really a higher percentage than exists anywhere else around the Arctic Circle.
Now, I wouldn’t be surprised if suicide rates at Basic were higher than the civilian population, but that probably has a lot more to do with what was going on in the recruit’s life before they got there than with anything that goes on during their training. After all, a lot of people do join the Army for the wrong reasons, unfortunately.
The Left who claim to also “Support The Troops” will mistreat recruiters in a heartbeat. Recruiters have been called liars and “child preadtors” by those bastards.
They go into recruiting offices and trash the place, throw paint on the building and even vadalize their cars.
But don’t question The Left’s patriotism.
I don’t. I know they are traitors.
You are right on. I’ve gotten to know quite a few soldiers of my son’s generation, both soldiers and officers. I love ‘em all and we have hashed over recruiting demands many, many times. Some great NCOs out there recruiting, really outstanding.
Message to others, when you see a recruiter, especially a soldier/Marine, be sure and thank them, encourage them, let them know that we’re here for them, you’d be surprised how that lifts their day. This goes for everyone serving of course but please realize what our recruiters are up against.
Based on all the other "bad news" that the media hypes about the troops, I'd bet no.
Even with the stress of deployment, combat and family separation, suicides in the military is less than society as a whole.
Likewise all the stories where the media and the left wished to portray our returning troops as murderers, that they were ticking timebombs.
It's the same rhetoric and belief system they used to destroy the Vietnam generation of vets.
Well stated Sentinel. You recall of course, two of the most important questions that a soldier/Marine needs answering:
1.) Is this war justified?
2.) Do I have my country’s support?
Remember those? Now, let us think, we were attacked so I have to problem with this war but have our loyal, self-sacrificing, dedicated troops had their country’s SUPPORT? Oh sure, from parents, loved ones, friends and fellow vets primarily but not what I’ve been hearing for several years in Congress to their everlasting SHAME!
God bless our troops, hear our prayers Lord...
Right, and how many great NCOs out there are just bad recruiters? It takes a certain kind of person to do that kind of work, and generally those aren’t the sort who sign up to put the uniform on.
I really wish we could find a way to take Madison Avenue and the used car lot out of recruiting and go to something a little more serious and a little more appropriate to the very important decision these NCOs are being asked to help young men and women make. It’s just undignified to ask these honest, hard-working men, most of whom have already sacrificed a great deal for their country, to make a hard sell to whoever walks in the door just to meet a quota.
It’s a tough issue, though, and there are no easy answers, because we do need a lot of people to fill the ranks. But I think we owe it to our soldiers to come up with something.
deid recruitment numbers drop dramatically after November?
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