Thunderbolt Suicide Awareness and Prevention training

Photo By Staff Sgt. Quanesha Barnett | Soldiers with the 17th Field Artillery Brigade built trust and cohesion for physical training (PT) during the Thunderbolt Suicide Awareness and Prevention training.  

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

09.23.2015

Story by Sgt. Quanesha Barnett 

17th Field Artillery Brigade

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Soldiers with the 17th Field Artillery Brigade built trust and cohesion for physical training (PT) during the Thunderbolt Suicide Awareness and Prevention training. The event’s purpose was to train, educate and raise awareness about suicide prevention in the brigade.

Pfc. Robert Stewart, wheeled vehicle mechanic specialist, 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery, enjoyed the training. “I learned a lot about suicide prevention, such as resiliency, warning signs and related stigma. The training was about teamwork and not leaving anyone behind.”

The 17th FA Brigade wanted to build leaders’ and Soldiers’ awareness of suicide prevention to inform them on the key concepts and available programs across the military.

“As a noncommissioned officer, I learned more ways to help my Soldiers when they are going through financial problems, marriage problems and other problems,” said Sfc. Vilgar Williams, air and missile defense (AMD) crew member, 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery. “I enjoyed the training, it really helped me see things differently.”

During the training, Soldiers had to complete four stations that were 30 minutes each. They received a briefing on community resources, resiliency, risk factors, postvention and warning signs from each instructor who led physical activities to complete the station. The physical activities included a Tug-O-War, situps, pullups, pushups, one and a half-mile run, and litter carry at each section. Soldiers had to complete the activities as a team to move to the next station.

“I really enjoyed the suicide prevention during PT because Soldiers got a lot of the training,” said Capt. Craig Poole, chaplain, 308th Brigade Support Battalion. “As an instructor, I asked Soldiers questions while reading a scenario of a Soldier with marriage problems and they identified problems. We also wanted to let Soldiers know that we are here to support each other and to help build strength when we are weak. As the Thunderbolt team, we wanted to let them know we care about their lives as leadership.”

• Date Taken: 09.23.2015
• Date Posted: 09.23.2015 20:16
• Story ID: 177026
• Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US