Posted on 05/28/2009 8:10:22 AM PDT by xzins
FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky -- At Fort Campbell, an installation on the Kentucky-Tennessee line, at least 11 Soldiers have committed suicide this year - the most at any Army base. Commanders have set aside routine duties for three days to find and help Soldiers at risk of killing themselves as they struggle with the stress of war.
From January to March, the base averaged one suicide per week, Brig. Gen. Stephen Townsend said Wednesday,....
"But last week we had two. Two in a week," Townsend said. "This is not a place where Fort Campbell and the 101st Airborne Division want to be. "We don't want to lead the Army in this statistic." ...
Frequent deployments by the division since 2001 have contributed to the stress Soldiers feel at Fort Campbell, said Col. Ken Brown, the head of chaplains for the base.
(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...
We used to worry about “copy cat” tendencies. Perhaps the best way to handle suicides is by a clampdown on that information.
Overly demonstrating compassion for the life story of the deceased suicide might feed into a copycat syndrome.
The entire psychological autopsy procedure of the military when a suicide takes place feeds into the over demonstration of sympathy.
Even this standdown feeds into it.
I’m not trying to be insensitive, but if one were to treat one military unit suicide by saying,
“I’d really like to kick the SOB’s a$$ for leaving us shorthanded in the XYZ platoon.”
and treat another military unit suicide by saying, “Isn’t it awful how sad the life of Sgt X was.”
would we see a difference in future suicide rate?
The military teaches them pride. The American people honor them. There's something out there that has eaten away at their souls, and I believed they carried it to the military with them.
The left feeds off negative vibes. The more negative the world becomes, the stronger they get. The more souls they can destroy, the happier they are.
These poor people had "indoctrinated" problems before they got there. The youth of today seems to think death is better than life. Political Correctness denies a persons innermost desire for freedom. No man wants his body, thoughts, and beliefs controlled. It creates anger. Anger creates violence. Violence creates war - physically, mentally, and spiritually.
This is very sad, my prayers for our military that they may have the strength they need to deal with their challenges.
I have noticed a product of our liberal schools- they are passing on the liberal trait of not being able to look at the big picture- or look down the road to see that things can get better, things can be dealt with and overcome in trying times. I see some of this in my own children- even though I drill it into their heads to see the whole picture when things are tough, and to do what they can to change their situation- look forward, plan foreward, work hard to overcome their problems. I see so many young people that only see what is in front of them and cannot imagine or plan for solutions to their problems and possible better times ahead. They have been taught to live for now, not long term planning- no patience, must have it all now attitude.
Suicide is a serious issue and in some cases a result of mental issues, but many times I think it is hopelessness of a situation that the person cannot see their way out of. Life is a series of tough challenges- I was taught to meet those challenges head on, tough my way through them and keep moving forward to better times. I was raised by adults that went through the depression and WWII, they did not teach me that life would be easy- quite the opposite. I try to do my best to preach that to all young people I am around- but it is so hard for them, it is like it is a new concept.
These are tough times for our military, many are 18-20 year olds that are dealing with many adult issues at once that they are not prepared for- relationships, financial- major life issues and at the same time they have made a committment to the military in a time of war- one more major adult issue. Many feel overwhelmed by life. I know some young soldiers- many of their stories are the same- they made a major commitment to the military and then get married too soon, which brings more issues for them to deal with while they are still in the process of growing up. It is hard, but I think it is even harder than in the past because parents and schools have not expected too much of them, and taught them that their problems will be solved by others. The Army does try to help the soldiers and their families- but it is hard to overcome the way they have been raised and educated.
and treat another military unit suicide by saying, “Isn’t it awful how sad the life of Sgt X was.”
would we see a difference in future suicide rate?
Never reinforce an undesirable behavior. Even negative attention is better then no attention at all. Both reinforce the behavior.
Evil remains invisible until until it's given a name. Once it's given a name, it has a face.
“Despite that, why would it affect Ft Campbell more than any other highly deployed installation?”
Leadership or lack there of.
Leadership definitely comes to mind.
military.com = Gannett = USAToday
My former First Sergeant is now a CSM at one of the units at Bragg, and he has always gone out of his way to take care of his troops.
“yeah, I’m here at Campbell. I’m not buying the ‘101st has deployed so much’ line. 40% were done by soldiers who have not deployed or a family member of a soldier who’s not been deployed.”
I read an article on army.mil/news where 35% of the suicides Army wide was by someone who was never deployed.
I tend to agree with your view that the soldier’s background plays a major role in his/her success in accommodating life’s challenges.
I am familiar with Ft Bliss, and the suicides (and threats of suicide)there are mostly those that have not deployed and family members as you said is the case at Ft. Campbell. At Bliss it is often soldiers still living in barracks and the last few have been still in training not deployment time yet. A couple of attempts or threats have been soldiers with deployment orders, but few are those that have already deployed.
Thank You for your service!!
I agree wholeheartedly you have isolated 'the cause'. I also believe firmly that 'acting out' is a modern day thing...(you and I were raised on 'sticks and stones...etc'). a la 'road rage', BDS, Columbine, etc. Whether that then is Ritilin induced, or other-caused is the question. The Ft. Campbell concentration is 'interestin' and perhaps significant or not (ie, is there a concentration of muslims at Campbell, for instance). KY certainly couldn't be a 'liberal stronghold'....but bottom line, you nailed it!
Does that mean there is a large Mosque on base???
A Truism of the highest order! great point
How many Imams report to the good chaplain....just a thought, have they all been properly vetted!
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