Posted on 03/31/2020 9:42:34 AM PDT by Bruiser 10
The Air Force Academy is redoubling efforts to offer mental health care to students after the deaths of two senior cadets on the campus in less than a week.
The deaths, in incidents on Thursday and Saturday, are thought to be suicides, several people familiar with them told The Gazette, asking that their names not be used because they were not authorized to reveal that information. The academy confirmed the seniors died weeks before graduation amid a campus-wide lockdown, and neither was caused by coronavirus or foul play.
“These tragedies have caused incredible shock and pain throughout our USAFA family,” academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria said in a statement. “Right now we are all focused on taking care of the cadet's families and each other — our cadets, our faculty, our staff — as we grieve this loss. We ask for everyone’s patience and respect for the families’ privacy at this time.”
(Excerpt) Read more at gazette.com ...
WTF has happened to this country?
I’ve said it before - ALL of America is now one giant safe space.
WTF has happened to this country?
*****************
It morphed into an altogether different country. Not to be confused with the original America we once knew.
While unfortunate, these two suicides indicate that while on Active Duty the stress would have been too much for them as well and they may have put those under their command at risk.
I’ve seen where Officers and higher Enlisted folks actually drive those under their command to extreme stress because of the ‘shit rolls downhill,’ mentality.
Sadness would be reserved for families of those two students. :(
Suicide is really high - I don’t understand why it happens so much.
You’d be surprised at how poorly the USAFA operates. It’s practically impossible to flunk out.
Question: Did these two cadets know each other?
The article does not say. Inquiring minds want to know.
Could well be schizophrenia. They are the right age for it to present. Typical age of onset in males is late teens, early 20s.
Fortunately these two found a way before they were given a position of authority.
My advice is to put GOD and PRAYER back into their curriculum.
I would be interested in knowing that as well. Not from the perspective of a relationship, but because of some kind of honor code or legal violation.
I did not go to one of the four academies. But I did go to the oldest private military colleges in the country. I can assure you that two months before graduation the pressure on a senior is way, way off.
In the corps the selections and transition of leadership posts have already started.
In the AF part of this, their command has been assigned and your commission date is set. If you are going to miss that date due to academics, you already know that.
From an education perspective, you have already run the difficult courses. The final semester is hardly ever anything more than perfunctory—you know whether you will graduate—class ranking is the only question.
So...if it was suicide I am thinking it was an honor violation or some sort of legal trouble outside. These could result in dismissal from the Corps. I recall seeing a second semester Senior get walked out of our school for literally stealing a tube of toothpaste from the school store. There was a zero tolerance for theft—and he was off the campus in an hour. 40 years later and it is clear as if it happened yesterday.
Being gay is not that big a deal any more. I really doubt that anyone with the ego and confidence to get through 4 years would be that upset about being outed or going through a break up.
Just two cents from someone who has been in a similar situation.
The Air Force academy only had seniors for the past two weeks. They sent everyone else home. Not sure what happened here. But the seniors and some staff were the only ones. And they were not given any leave for spring break.
The US military is recruiting and accepting ‘woke’ types that don’t belong in the military. We may have reached a point where they have no choice.
It got Diversity. We are not the United States any longer. All for one and one for all is done for.
Instead of encouraging and celebrating our common goals and character we encouraged the celebration of our diversity and pitted one group against another. After that we just opened the gates to let anyone in without conditions for joining the club.
Thats why AF is the armed forces branch with more p8ssies.
I was discussing suicide rates in PA veterans and active duty.
The one common thread was that it was men from the 18 to 25 age group.
Rank, pay grade, marital status and tour of duty overseas did not have a major affect.
The youth of today are consumed with social media and “feelings”.
Why would you think that?
Personal knowledge from contact with USAFA professors, and personal knowledge working with cadets. You’d be surprised at how many students have C averages walking around that place. I used to think the USAFA was the Best & Brightest. I don’t anymore.
“My advice is to put GOD and PRAYER back into their curriculum.”
They put the childish little girl fantasy of Wicca in their academy. I kid you not.
It’s gone! Never to return.
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