Pause for the Cause

Photo By Terrance Bell | Capt. Maureen Bannon, commander of Whiskey Company, 244th Quartermaster Battalion, and 1st Lt. Ryan Allen, company executive officer, call on Soldiers and discuss responses during a trivia challenge that was among their battalion’s Suicide Awareness Day activities Sept. 16.  

UNITED STATES

09.22.2016

Story by Patrick Buffett 

Fort Gregg-Adams

FORT LEE, Va. (Sept. 22, 2016) -- The 244th Quartermaster Battalion took a break from its routine advanced individual training regimen Friday and used the time to raise awareness about suicide in the Army and how every member of the organization can play an important role in helping their battle buddies when they’re overwhelmed by personal problems and the stresses of military life.


The Suicide Awareness Day activities included learning stations, sports competitions and an outdoor evening movie. Making it fun as well as informative was the No. 1 goal, according to Lt. Col. Stephen Collins, battalion commander.


“For these Soldiers, the Army experience thus far has been mostly classroom and field training, so we wanted to show them there’s so much more to it (wearing the Army uniform) than that,” Collins said. “The bigger picture is what it means to serve and how fellow Soldiers can become friends and even family. If they care about that part of it, they’re more likely to take care of each other. It shows them a different side of the cadre also; that we really care about their well-being. Nobody in this battalion should feel alone and unable to talk to anyone.”

Papa and Golf companies earned bragging rights from the event after winning single-elimination kickball and soccer tournaments, respectively. Family and MWR and the USO contributed to the final portion of the evening, providing equipment and refreshments for the movie, “Captain America.”

• Date Taken: 09.22.2016
• Date Posted: 09.22.2016 14:18
• Story ID: 210288
• Location: US