Army Guard enlisted leader stresses the 'New Norm'

Photo By Johnathon Orrell | Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Richard J. Burch briefs participants at the 2010 Association of the U.S. Army annual meeting and exposition in Washington D.C., Oct. 25, 2010. He issued a memorandum on Nov. 19, 2010 about the "New Norm," which makes asking for assistance a priority.  

ARLINGTON, VA, UNITED STATES

11.19.2010

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy 

National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. - Soldiers who faced mental health issues in the past may have been hesitant to ask for help, because of a fear of being stigmatized or suffering from other adverse effects, such as not being promoted or being blocked from leadership positions.

Soldiers in the Army National Guard now must adopt the “New Norm,” which makes asking for assistance a priority, Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Burch, the command sergeant major of the Army National Guard, said in a memorandum to first-line leaders dated Nov. 19.

“The New Norm is the expectation that our soldiers, families and employers speak up and ask for assistance when they face a challenge that they cannot resolve themselves,” he said.

The policy seeks to counteract negative stereotypes that some may have toward those who seek help.

“The failure to seek or provide assistance is unacceptable,” said Burch. “Seeking and providing it is what we expect and encourage.”

Burch likened it to having a flat tire on the highway. While most are able to change the flat tire for the spare tire on their own, he said, that is a temporary solution.

To fix the flat tire itself, the help of a professional is needed.

“Very few are able to fix the flat tire without assistance from a professional, the service department employee trained to patch and repair flat tires,” said Burch. “It is not a sign of weakness [to ask for that help]. We should know our limitations and seek assistance when we have exceeded our abilities.”

Burch also encouraged soldiers to use the Buddy-to-Buddy or Peer-to-Peer programs in addition to professional services.

The goal is that they ask for help rather than try and work through problems on their own.

“When reaching out to a buddy or peer and seeking out the professionals becomes the norm, we can proclaim success,” said Burch. “The ultimate goal is to find an acceptable solution before an issue becomes a problem.”

The “New Norm” policy is also something that ties in directly with the Army’s Warrior Ethos of mission first, never quitting or accepting defeat and helping other warriors when they need it, said Burch.

Embracing the policy as part of the Warrior Ethos is one of the ways leaders can ensure the “New Norm” becomes just that.

“We must establish that not seeking help is a behavior that is unacceptable,” said Burch. “We value each member of the [team] too much to leave them stranded beside the road. Most of all, we will not tolerate any mistreatment of those who seek help. The Warrior Ethos demonstrates every facet of this expectation.”

Burch said the more leaders engage with and know those under their command, the better prepared the entire team will be to provide help if needed.

“We expect all [leaders] … to be engaged in knowing their team, reaching out to the team, helping when we can, and guiding each other to the professionals that are available through the resources available in our network of providers,” said Burch.

And that starts with the senior leadership of the Army Guard.

“The leadership of the A-Team [Army Guard soldiers, their families and employers] is committed to moving forward with this expectation as the ‘New Norm,’” said Burch.

• Date Taken: 11.19.2010
• Date Posted: 11.22.2010 13:16
• Story ID: 60663
• Location: ARLINGTON, VA, US