Posted on Sep 5, 2019
MSG Chief Executive Officer (Ceo)
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Bottom line, this is a scenario-based leadership study I am conducting to determine how different Senior Leaders handle tough situations.

Let's say you receive a call from a mental health professional who cites that a patient of theirs, a Soldier under your charge, made a threat against another Soldier under your charge. What is your immediate reaction and what actions do you take moving forward?

Please give me your best answer and try to back it with regulatory guidance. No knee jerk responses.
Posted in these groups: Leadership abstract 007 Leadership
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Responses: 8
Lt Col Jim Coe
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The severity and intensity of the threat would make some difference in how I would react. The mental health professional may be required to report the threat to law enforcement. If not, they are being very smart contacting me as the Soldiers' supervisor. Here generally what I'd do:
-Evaluate the need to contact law enforcement based on current regulations, the nature of the threat, and the intensity of the threat.
-Set up meetings with both Soldiers involved to gather more facts and provide counseling
-Meet with threatened soldier first. Explain situation.
Listen to- their story as to why Soldier would threaten them. Advise them to contact me immediately if they believe they are threatened by the Soldier.

Talk with the soldier who made the threat. Listen to their side of the story carefully. Advise them that threatening another Soldier is unacceptable. Contact the JAG Officer to check on soldier's right. Place them in a situation where encountering the threatened soldier is unlikely. Instruct intermediate and immediate supervisors on the actions they should take to let you know if any further threats are make.
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MSG Chief Executive Officer (Ceo)
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Sir, thank you for a great response! I appreciate the detail used and of course, I appreciate the time you took out of your day to type everything out. My gut is telling me you have experienced this under your watch a time or two.
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MSG Gary Eckert
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Edited >1 y ago
Although you didn't indicate the level of the threat, this is the book answer from HRC if it involves a threat to the other soldier's life.

The Human Resources Command (HRC) receives threat-to-life cases from Soldiers, commanders, third parties, and other government agencies for investigation and determination if a change of assignment is necessary.

The local installation commander will provide security for the Soldier. A LTC or above in the Soldier’s chain of command will provide written supporting documentation to HRC, Enlisted Personnel Management Directorate (EPMD), Special Actions Branch (SAB), who will review submitted documentation and make a final decision on reassignment. This is not a station of choice assignment. All requests will be submitted on a DA Form 4187 and must be signed by the Soldier and the first O-5 in the Soldier’s chain of command.

Telephonic coordination of all threat-to-life cases with HRC, EPMD, and SAB is authorized.
The point of contact is [login to see] at COMM: [login to see] or DSN: 983-5195. Please include grade, full name, SSN and MOS with all e-mail requests.
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MSG Chief Executive Officer (Ceo)
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Good stuff! This is a great answer. Thank you for your contribution!
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SFC Michael D.
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Because of HIPAA, a real Mentah Health Professonal wouldn't disclose that to you. The Soldier, depending on severity, would be detained on an emergency detention. Probably admitted to a Psych ward and treated. You probably wouldn't ever see that Soldier again.
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SFC Michael D.
SFC Michael D.
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SGT Javier Silva - Sorry, I just follow the rules of the State hospital where I work. We live by a different set of guidlines.
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SFC Michael D.
SFC Michael D.
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SGT Javier Silva - If they don't disclose anything further from that Soldiers file, that in it self shows that HIPAA does apply.
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SFC Michael D.
SFC Michael D.
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Now on a different note, we had a patient call the White House and threaten the Presidents life. Of course they didn't get to talk to him personally but two Secret Service agents came to have a little chat with the patient. That is only because he gave name and of course they can trace the phone call to us. These guys make threats everyday but they are sick. We don't go and call dad everytime the patients says he wants to kill his dad. "credible threats" is the key word here. A sick psych patient is not credible. That's why they are our guests.
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SGT Russell Chewning
SGT Russell Chewning
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SFC Michael D. Any threat from a service member who is not in a psych ward under lock and key should be considered creditable, though. I do see how your situation is different, as your pztients don't generally have the ability to execute on any threats.
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Scenario 1: How do you handle a Soldier who threatens another Soldier under your charge?
Maj John Bell
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Edited >1 y ago
I believe this one would fall outside the UCMJ. Most states have some form of involuntary commitment, based on the severity and imminence of the threat. The medical officer from your scenario and the Post JAG should probably consult.

While on duty that was part of the Personal Reliability Program, I had a LCpl who stated that if bad guys attempted to attack the facility we guarded, he'd fire the first magazine into the NCO's. He was immediately relieved from duty, denied access to the armory, denied access to any vehicles, and placed under 24 hour escort by two chasers. He was evaluated by a mental health official and placed in the mental ward of the nearest military Hospital. He was then treated for something like 30 days of inpatient therapy, then transferred to a less sensitive post at a different geographic location. My understanding is that he was then treated as an outpatient prior to being discharged wit a GOS discharge.

Read more at: https://mentalillnesspolicy.org/national-studies/state-standards-involuntary-treatment.html
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MSG Chief Executive Officer (Ceo)
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Sir, I appreciate you for sharing your personal experience. The link you provided is very helpful and I will ensure I save this information in my leader book! I agree that a viable threat should be handled immediately and effectively. People get hurt or killed when a threat is ignored.
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SSG(P) Dock Manager
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Grab information from the professional on their account of the situation. Then speak with which ever is available to discuss the situation first and ask any open ended question possible, maybe lead the conversation to steer towards the same answer from them and check for consistency. Then speak with the other with the same process. Any notes I have I throw onto a blank page and try to speculate what could have been issues or problems to cause the situation and what lead to the possible aggravation to grow within the individual. I would like to recap with them later on what happened and see how they are doing and if there was something missing, but then inform on the COA to take after discussion with my FLL. Discussion would be individually done and if there is still a little resentment or unclear for them, it would be a group discussion for them to speak and use their own words. Otherwise its through me and another outside individual as witness.

I've worked with this idea in management before in warehousing, all types of personalities and traits and conflicting all day...plenty of experience stopping fights and arguements but the main objective was to figure out why. Why they made the threat, why them, why towards the other person, etc. I've had soldiers make threats at one another and I split them apart and ran the questioning gambit. If they were worked up then I had them do barrel rolls to calm them down. But nothing with a soldier seeking mental help and making threats.
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MSG Chief Executive Officer (Ceo)
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Thanks for your contribution!
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WO1 Intel Nco
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Well if you know what/why they are in mental health for that could help understand what they are both going through.

Then If they are "adult" enough just sit them both down (separate at first to get sides and information and then together) and see if it cant be resolved and the lowest chain.

If it cant be I would check on moving them so they are in different companies etc and ensure they continue to get help with their underlying problems.
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CPT William Jones
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It is Docs problem. Ask him what he wants or needs you to do then do it
If Doc really thinks he is serious he is supposed to report it.
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MSG Chief Executive Officer (Ceo)
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Let's add another layer to this. Do you contact JAG if someone's threat against another person is a threat of life? Great responses thus far!
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