Sailors assigned to Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) are taking one step at a time towards in-service and Builder’s Trials, but the new tempo can overwhelm Sailors. New responsibilities, overnight duty, and transitioning from a ship permanently moored to being underway is a large change for many at the command. For months, John F. Kennedy has expanded efforts to strengthen mental health awareness and peer support. One of those avenues is through Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).
Led by the Command Religious Ministries Department (CRMD), ASIST is a proactive program designed to empower Sailors with the skills to recognize the signs of suicidal ideation and respond with confidence and compassion.
“ASIST trains people to be alert and to raise the red flag when they notice someone around them may be thinking about or planning suicide,” said Lt. Joel Almeida, a chaplain aboard John F. Kennedy. “It equips Sailors to be that first line of support for each other.”
As the crew has reached the milestone of living aboard the ship full time, Almeida emphasized the importance of programs like ASIST in building a resilient and interconnected crew.
“Life on a ship can be incredibly stressful,” he said. “We’re confined to a small space, far from home, and we have to become a family out here. That means we all look out for one another—because you never know when someone just needs someone to listen.”
The program aligns with the Navy’s broader suicide prevention efforts but also highlights the value of community-led intervention.
“We don’t just need chaplains and mental health professionals watching out for everyone—we need everyone watching out for each other,” said Almeida. “Often, a Sailor will open up more easily to a peer or roommate than they would to a chaplain. That’s where the real impact begins.”
The two-day course, held aboard the ship for the first time in October, encourages Sailors to attend in civilian attire to foster a sense of personal comfort and openness.
“This is a heavy topic,” said Almeida. “We want Sailors to feel like they can be fully themselves during training, without the added formality of military uniform. The goal is to create a safe space for real conversations.”
The program has seen overwhelmingly positive feedback from Sailors who voluntarily sign up, often driven by personal experiences or a strong desire to support others.
“Most of the people who come to ASIST do so because they’ve either helped someone before or been affected by suicide in some way,” Almeida said. “They want to be better prepared to help—and they leave knowing they can make a difference.”
For families and Sailors unfamiliar with ASIST, Almeida had one final message:
“This goes beyond the military,” he said. “This is about creating a safe and caring community—for our shipmates, our families, our children. ASIST gives you the tools to detect signs of struggle and truly help someone through it. Whether it’s a bad day or a serious crisis, you’ll know what to do. And that kind of readiness can save a life.”
ASIST training will continue to be offered throughout the pre-commissioning phase as part of John F. Kennedy’s commitment to mental health, resilience and operational readiness.
| Date Taken: | 10.23.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.20.2025 09:04 |
| Story ID: | 551873 |
| Location: | NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 14 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, JFK Sailors ASIST Their Shipmates, by PO1 Jacob Milham, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
