Asking the military for Help

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 08:52:14 -0500

I have been at AT since the 1 March 2015 in WV. A couple days after arriving I had flashbacks of my sexual assault from 2012. I was frustrated and went to the gym and let loose on a punching bag. I then asked to speak to a chaplain, but I was told there is no chaplain on this post. I was then told I would be taken to the VA to speak to a chaplain. The next day when I woke up I was stripped of my pens, belts, gerbers, and all my pockets were searched. When I arrived at the VA I was put into a padded room and forced to talk to a psychiatrist for 3 hours. I was traumatized and never got to see a chaplain. The unit says they were following SOP. Do you think it was right what they did? Do you think the military blows stuff out of proportion and that is why service members don't seek help?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2015 8:57 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 08:57:05 -0500

If you showed any signs at all of suicidal thoughts or ideations then it was perfectly reasonable. Better to err on the side of caution . I have personally witnessed more than one person try to take there own life and stopped more than one. Prevention can help.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2015 9:34 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 09:34:14 -0500

I did not show or have suicidal or homicidal thoughts or actions

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2015 9:44 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 09:44:55 -0500

SPC Cody, please google this link: http://www.soldiersangels.org hope this helps you.

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Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Mar 7 at 2015 9:48 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 09:48:25 -0500

What they did was what they thought was right given the situation. If I was you I would bring something like that up to an actual SAPR/SARC office, I would have more trust and comfort in speaking with them than any mental health official. A Chaplain would work too, I am surprised they don't have one on post but if you request to speak with one I don't think they can say no.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2015 9:49 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 09:49:18 -0500

Or you can also try armyonesource.com

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 21 at 2015 12:17 AM

COL Charles Williams — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 00:17:58 -0400

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member Based on what you provided, I don't think your situation was handled correctly. In 2012, there was(is) a very specific process for reporting and dealing with sexual assaults, for both restricted and unrestricted reports. That of course depends on what you told who... If a military chaplain was not available, a victim advocate or SARC/SHARP should have been.

The decision as to whether a/the health care professional thinks someone is possibly suicidal, is their call, that is why we defer to the experts.

I do not think the military blows things out of proportion. This is huge issue.

I do think the way we handle sexual assaults has a huge impact of on whether Soldiers report and seek help. We all have a duty to eliminate this problem from our ranks.

The whole paradigm for handling sexual assaults shifted between 2009 and 2012, and continues to improve to this day.