How do we recognize the danger that may stem from mental illness that efffects how we live on bases today in the military?

SSgt Eric B. Cole — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 22:22:15 -0400

With the many tragic events that happen due to gun violence in all branches of service, how do we address it and stop it before it happens within our bases? Should all soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines have their arms readily at-hand or should a select few be assigned to reactionary teams during certain hours of the 24-hour cycle for different sectors of the command or base? Or is it a training awareness issue?

Response by MSG Jose Colon made Apr 8 at 2014 10:52 PM

MSG Jose Colon — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 22:52:19 -0400

Playing devil's advocate, I could say that it is not easy, maybe almost impossible to detect mental illness among our ranks because we are used to see it, and consider it normal.

Sometimes we see our Soldiers acting crazy, shake our heads, and go about our business. We try to be s gung ho and mission oriented that we disregard the human side of soldiering.

This guy who killed those people in Hood, he was given 1 day to go to her mother's funeral. Later, they extended it to two days.

I am not trying to blame anyone, but sometimes we have no clue about what we are doing. Being Puerto Rican, like the guy that did the massacre in Fort Hood, I can tell you that I told my supervisor and my S1 in 1997 to get ready to declare me AWOL because my mother had suffered a heart attack on Saturday, it was Tuesday, and my leave had not being approved. I was a SFC at the time, and she died on my way to see her.

Was it PTSD, or mental illness? Or was it lousy leadership? We might never know.

But my thoughts to you are:

1. Be aware of your surroundings.

2. Being aware of your surroundings also include being aware of your troops emotions.

3. Being emotional is not a mental illness and it is not being a coward.

4. Consider that people experience tragedy in different ways.

5. How you deal with tragedy when you are in combat, s totally different of how you deal with it in Garrison. There is no reason to give 1 day leave in Garrison to someone who is grieving. If you are so worried about him returning, send someone with him, If he is that indispensable, you are doing something wrong as a leader.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2014 11:45 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 23:45:40 -0400

What irks me the most is that not only are they unpredictable, but they have no concern for others. I haven't heard much, but it sounds like the situation in Camp Lejeune is one that these were the people that would have been armed anyway.

There is not always tell-tell signs. Sometimes it is the ones you least expected. How can be sure its not those ones on the teams that would go berserk? Just for the record, I am all for being able to carry, as often times bystanders have been able to quickly deescalate the situation. Though more people would have more access to more weapons, it would more than likely balance itself out. Those looking to harm many probably see our bases as lined with sitting ducks. If those ducks were armed, they may either think twice or maybe get away with hitting one or two before they go down.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2014 7:23 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 07:23:00 -0400

It can be very tough. I don't consider myself mentally ill, but I do have anxiety, sleep issues (who doesn't?) and have barely started to see behavioral health for them because it was always drilled in that you don't show your weaknesses. I'm only 35 days from my ETS and barely starting to get things checked out. I keep everything hidden inside and I know a lot of people who do the exact same thing, unfortunately.