Photo By Staff Sgt. Melissa Bright | In this image released by the Texas Army National Guard, Sgt. 1st Class Stacey Moore,...... read more read more
BAGHDAD - As numbers go, 344 doesn't seem that bad until it is set at the front of the following sentence; "military service members committed suicide in 2009."
Behind this number, 344, are the names and faces of countless others affected by a permanent solution to a temporary problem; families, friends, unit leaders and professional colleagues.
Whether they were pushed to their decision by the stresses of increased deployment cycles, decreased down time or a deadly combination of both factors, all levels of our American military forces have committed to reducing the numbers for 2010.
"Army leaders are fully aware that repeated deployments have led to increased distress and anxiety for both soldiers and their families," former Secretary of the Army Pete Geren said. "This stress on the force is validated by recent studies of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans reporting symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression."
Fighting this tragic situation calls for using all the weapons in the Army's arsenal; thinking outside the box to reach out and display true caring to those most vulnerable.
This means creating new and relatable public service announcements for TV and radio. Developing training programs to help soldiers recognize the signs in their friends and co-workers as well as presenting ways to help diffuse dangerous situations and removing the stigma associated with depression counseling and promoting its benefits.
In addition, Army leadership has encouraged the development of programs specifically designed to enhance social interaction among the troops. These programs and events are being used as a way to reduce the sense of loneliness that can develop when separated from family and friends.
One such program, dubbed "Where's Your Buddy At?" by its developers, recently hosted a big spring event for the men and women that live and work within the IZ on Camp Prosperity.
WYBA was conceived by an ambitious group of soldiers with the 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, currently serving as the Joint Area Support Group in Baghdad, as a way to get people out of their containerized housing units and talking to one another.
They rose to the occasion after Prosperity lost one of its soldiers to an incident that is still under investigation earlier in the year, highlighting the fact that it can happen anywhere, to anyone.
Program developers include Houston natives, Staff Sgt. Marcus Taylor, billeting non-commissioned officer in charge, Spc. Gabriela Vaca, help desk technician, and Master Sgt. Norris Bryant, directorate of information management NCOIC.
"This event is the first of its kind since the arrival of the 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team members in December."
"Of course it has a number of purposes. One of the most important to our leadership and meaningful to our soldiers is to provide an opportunity for interaction between those men and women just arriving and those who have been here long enough to stop caring about what happens around them," said Taylor.
Studies have shown a significant decrease in the feelings of depression and hopelessness when individuals are provided opportunities to connect with others in similar situations.
By all accounts, the March event was successful. Between the early afternoon volleyball and late-night karaoke, new relationships were formed and old ones rediscovered and cemented.
Occasionally, service-members would bump into team-mates from previous deployments. For San Antonio native, Capt. Edward Perez, JASG security directorate, that was Maj. Thomas Nagel, stationed in Baghdad in 2003 and in 2007.
"We were reminiscing about then and how much better it is now. We were also saying how glad we are for the progress made by the Iraqis because, you got to understand, in 03-07 bombs, mortars and rockets were the norm. Now they are the exception. And the program is invaluable. I have seen the price of not getting involved in a routine or letting the mission get you so far down you forget about everything else."
"There is an old saying 'Combat is 99% boredom and 1% Terror.' To many times the soldiers let the boredom or mission monotony take over their thought process. So they are complacent when it comes time to be attentive because of the monotony. This program gets them not only to relax, but to also connect with others and see that soldiers all around are facing the same problems," said Perez, a unit commander for the 72nd IBCT back in the U.S.
Vaca, the most junior member of the WYBA team, is also on her first deployment. "I was asked a couple weeks ago and am excited to create something for us by us."
"When times are hard, and you are miles and miles away from home, all anyone wants is to have an exciting event where everyone can come together and have an enjoyable time. It's as simple as that," said Vaca.
"In the end, it is up to us to take care of one another. Our flesh and blood family may be back in the states, but the people we meet and the friends we make here, our unit families, are just as important," said Vaca.
| Date Taken: | 03.20.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 03.29.2010 15:51 |
| Story ID: | 47407 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 158 |
| Downloads: | 134 |
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