Posted on Oct 24, 2016
silent-stalker-killing-our-veterans-brian-codd-cissp-itil
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https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/silent-stalker-killing-our-veterans-brian-codd-cissp-itil?trk=hp-feed-article-title-share
RP Members and Connections get this out to your connections, your troops, and veteran friends -
Important to keep on top of this daily! WE CAN ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE! I posted the entire article below!
Same goes for me - if you can't get a hold of someone on the Crisis Line - Call Me [login to see] Colonel Mikel J. Burroughs, Sponsor a Vet Life
The Silent Stalker Killing Our Veterans
By
Brian Codd, CISSP, ITIL
Customer Support Manager at Dematic Reddwerks Corporation
Military veterans are special. There are no other people like us. We are our own culture, completely unique. The stress that we come under is nothing like anything a civilian would ever experience in the course of just "doing their job". We take the ragged dirty coal that volunteers to serve and we put them into pressure cookers until they become diamonds. We are the best our society has to offer.
But sometimes those diamonds can crack under the pressure. Tiny micro-fractures that are naked to the bare eye, but they are there. Causing us to lose our strength, marring our luster, breaking us down.
Less than 28% of Americans have what it takes to qualify for military service. Less than 8% of Americans have actually served. Less than that survive the rigors of combat and service...
...and every day, 22 veterans commit suicide and make that number even smaller.
Over the course of my career I had several of my troops talk about suicide, and had one that attempted it. I was always able to be there for them and help them... get them the professional help they needed, and was there for them when they just needed someone to talk to.
Today, I found out one of my former troops took his own life. I remember when he first joined the military. I was one of his first supervisors. He was a quiet kid, kept to himself, but very bright. I hand picked him for the security work center I was rebuilding, and he did not disappoint. As time went on, this "kid" became a confident man, good at his job, and eventually a NCO. He wasn't sure if he was going to stay in the military, but I knew whatever he chose to do he was going to do well.
I PCS'd, then retired. We lost touch. It has probably been at least 11 years since I talked to him. When I found out he had taken his own life, it was like a punch in the gut. Didn't matter that we hadn't seen each other in 12 years, he was my troop... I had failed.
I've said it before, and I will say it again now... if ANY of my brothers or sisters in arms ever feels like reality is slipping away... if the nightmares are too much... if even the slightest glimmer of hope is lost.
Call for help. The Veteran's Crisis Line number is above. Don't want to talk to someone you don't know? Call me.
If you don't already have my phone number, PM me and I will send it to you. I will answer the phone on any day, at any hour. If I absolutely can't answer it right then, hold on... use all of the strength that you have ever had to hold on, and I will call you as soon as I can.
Keep these numbers. Share these number with the others we have served with. Print them and keep it in your wallet, save them in your phone. Write that shit on your forehead with a sharpie if you need to. These number will get you someone who understands, someone who has been there... someone who will not judge, but will listen. Someone who will be there for you even if you feel like no one else will.
I am Master Sergeant Brian Codd. "Crash", "Preacher", "Sheriff". However you knew me while we served, I am here for you.
So, please... if you ever have the need. Call.
That is all I have to say.
RP Members and Connections get this out to your connections, your troops, and veteran friends -
Important to keep on top of this daily! WE CAN ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE! I posted the entire article below!
Same goes for me - if you can't get a hold of someone on the Crisis Line - Call Me [login to see] Colonel Mikel J. Burroughs, Sponsor a Vet Life
The Silent Stalker Killing Our Veterans
By
Brian Codd, CISSP, ITIL
Customer Support Manager at Dematic Reddwerks Corporation
Military veterans are special. There are no other people like us. We are our own culture, completely unique. The stress that we come under is nothing like anything a civilian would ever experience in the course of just "doing their job". We take the ragged dirty coal that volunteers to serve and we put them into pressure cookers until they become diamonds. We are the best our society has to offer.
But sometimes those diamonds can crack under the pressure. Tiny micro-fractures that are naked to the bare eye, but they are there. Causing us to lose our strength, marring our luster, breaking us down.
Less than 28% of Americans have what it takes to qualify for military service. Less than 8% of Americans have actually served. Less than that survive the rigors of combat and service...
...and every day, 22 veterans commit suicide and make that number even smaller.
Over the course of my career I had several of my troops talk about suicide, and had one that attempted it. I was always able to be there for them and help them... get them the professional help they needed, and was there for them when they just needed someone to talk to.
Today, I found out one of my former troops took his own life. I remember when he first joined the military. I was one of his first supervisors. He was a quiet kid, kept to himself, but very bright. I hand picked him for the security work center I was rebuilding, and he did not disappoint. As time went on, this "kid" became a confident man, good at his job, and eventually a NCO. He wasn't sure if he was going to stay in the military, but I knew whatever he chose to do he was going to do well.
I PCS'd, then retired. We lost touch. It has probably been at least 11 years since I talked to him. When I found out he had taken his own life, it was like a punch in the gut. Didn't matter that we hadn't seen each other in 12 years, he was my troop... I had failed.
I've said it before, and I will say it again now... if ANY of my brothers or sisters in arms ever feels like reality is slipping away... if the nightmares are too much... if even the slightest glimmer of hope is lost.
Call for help. The Veteran's Crisis Line number is above. Don't want to talk to someone you don't know? Call me.
If you don't already have my phone number, PM me and I will send it to you. I will answer the phone on any day, at any hour. If I absolutely can't answer it right then, hold on... use all of the strength that you have ever had to hold on, and I will call you as soon as I can.
Keep these numbers. Share these number with the others we have served with. Print them and keep it in your wallet, save them in your phone. Write that shit on your forehead with a sharpie if you need to. These number will get you someone who understands, someone who has been there... someone who will not judge, but will listen. Someone who will be there for you even if you feel like no one else will.
I am Master Sergeant Brian Codd. "Crash", "Preacher", "Sheriff". However you knew me while we served, I am here for you.
So, please... if you ever have the need. Call.
That is all I have to say.
Suicide
Support
What Would You Do
Help
Victory for Veterans (VFV)
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 18
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[login to see] And I'll even invite you to dinner if you are ever in my neck of the woods. Happy to have visitors to my house of chaos (kids).
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Sometimes it is like people care and then they don't. If there is suicidal ideation and the operator feels like or projects that feeling, the situation will escalate to the point, that the Veteran will stop calling. The net effect is the veteran will NOT call. If they are patient, then they can actually make a difference.
(7)
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