Our first formation was just before the sun crested above the horizon on Saturday morning, it was an eye opener especially since I only got four hours of sleep the night before. My drive up to central Florida was about two hours but the traffic isn't bad that early in the morning probably from to peoples partying on Friday night.
Immediately following O' dark thirty formation, we had our record Army physical fitness test (APFT) for the new fiscal year. After four hours of sleep and my ass hurting from a two hour car ride, I was hoping these factors wouldn't affect my score or to use them as an excuse. Our APFT consist of push-ups, sit-ups and a two mile run. The push-up and sit-up portion are timed events in which you have two minutes to complete as many as you can do accurately. Not a big deal. The two mile run test your ability to complete the two miles after both preceding events in your best time possible. The Army has a score table with your age and gender which is where you get your points calculation. You must score at least 60 points in each event and can get a total of 300 points. I scored 284 out of the 300 so I need to improve my score a little bit more for a perfect APFT.
After the APFT followed by a hot shower and rewarding Burger King breakfast, I knew was a long day of "death by power point" slides. Our Saturday was going to consist of mandatory Suicide Prevention Training. You might ask yourself why we would need this training? There has actually been an increase in suicides over the past years in the military, especially the Army. The chart below will show this:
The Army, and military in general, does have a program; however, it just doesn't seem to be working. I believe some of the video and reenactments are good but think some soldiers don't take it seriously. If leaders preach to their soldiers the importance of suicide prevention, it will promote a healthy relationship with their soldiers and make them more open if a situation may arouse. To be more open, it will be easier for soldiers to ask for help when they are at an all time low. Also, this may help lower enlisted soldiers become better leaders relaying the information thus making the chain of suicides decrease. If soldiers are able to be open and honest with each other without a feeling of backlash, soldiers will have less fear when crying out for help.
On to the next set of task, Sunday was a busy day as well prepping for November's drill conducting defensive operations training. I was able to sit down with my soldiers and go over what we will be implementing in November. After going over some Ops, I was taking part in a Soldier of the Year board in the later afternoon. A selected amount of soldiers were notified the previous month that they were going to this board. The board consist of questions ranging from uniforms, fitness, weapons and military history for example. Overall, it went alright but you could tell a few who only studied the night before.
Well, with APFT, Suicide Prevention, defensive ops, and Soldier of the Year board we barely had enough time to clean up and get out of there at a decent time Sunday. I still had to take a soldier home which would add a half hour to my 2 hour trip. I made it home safe around 7:30 pm as did my soldiers; mission complete.
Sounds busy as hell.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think there are more suicides in the Army particularly? It's a terrible situation but intriguing in the fact that it seems consistent with the negative effects that have happened to soldiers in previous wars. By the way, I'm glad you survived the near death experience of a day of powerpoints.
ReplyDeleteI believe the main reason it is higher, is that there is a greater population in the Army than any other branch. Two, I think that some soldiers are not treated fairly and their leadership as possibly failed them. There are always the soldiers who are to afraid to ask for help because they think they might get in trouble. Lastly, you have a small percentage of the ones that you will never be able to get to them fast enough before they comment suicide. It is a shame but some will just think they are alone and never ask for the help they need.
DeleteThere is a hugely negative stereotype associated with asking for help in general, let alone in an environment such as the Army. The greater population makes sense. Leadership failure makes sense as well, I'm sure there is probably no direct route to therapy?
ReplyDeleteAmong the ranks as well, there has to be a stigma attached to the guy that goes and talks to the shrink. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with talking to someone, I'm just assuming some of the others might?