Facebook: A lifesaving application

FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES

10.08.2012

Courtesy Story

103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

By Sgt. Rachel S. Krogstad
368th Public Affairs Detachment

Editor’s Note: Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.

FORT MCCOY, Wis. -- Facebook is often criticized in the military for enabling operational security leaks, but recently it proved that it can also help save lives.

Facebook posts give soldiers a look into their battle buddies daily lives when they are not able to see each other every day. It is especially helpful when soldiers fear the stigma associated with asking for help during difficult times in their lives.

“Technology is not always the answer and creates its own set of challenges, but it can be a great tool, it can be a great help,” said Col. Robert J. Carlson, commander of the 646th Regional Support Group, headquartered in Madison, Wis.

“There’s no way I could have found him if it weren’t for Facebook,” said 1st Sgt. Roe.

U.S. Army Reserve 1st Sgt. Roe recently received an email from one of his soldiers before drill weekend; this email was a goodbye letter from a soldier that thought he had nothing to live for.

Immediately Roe attempted to contact Spc. Myer by phone; the phone numbers on record were turned off. He then called police from the soldier’s hometown to find him; Myer’s dad had recently kicked him out of the house. No one knew where he was.

During morning formation, Roe asked the other soldiers in the unit if they had heard from Myer. Three young soldiers in the formation answered that they had talked to him on Facebook within 48 hours.

Roe pulled the three soldiers aside, and asked them how they had reached Myer. The battle buddies had been talking to him over Facebook.

They tried to use Facebook to reach out to Myer before it was too late. He answered their messages and they were able to talk to him for over an hour. Myer’s Facebook Locator was turned off, so they were not immediately able to find him. Roe coached the soldiers in messaging Myer in an effort to prevent him from harming himself while they tried to get help.

Then Myer stopped messaging, and a chaplain was brought in to counsel the three soldiers. After a many tense moments, he started messaging again and this time he did not disable the locator tool. They were able to pull the location and call local police. Myer was brought to the hospital where he was able to receive initial treatment and then he checked himself in to a behavioral health center.

Too often soldiers are found too late, but using technology these soldiers were able to save their battle buddy and get him the help that he needed.

“The first sergeant did a great job, and the soldiers did a great job,” said Carlson. “It’s the Army family and we are a family. We take care of each other and these guys definitely acted like a family. I’m proud of them.”

The Army has been trying to eliminate soldier suicide using the Ask, Care, Escort Program, or ACE to encourage soldiers to make sure their battle buddies are getting help when they need it.
“Those of us who have been around a long time grew up when it was a problem to ask for help and it was considered a sign of weakness. We are starting to see the younger generation understand that it’s a sign of strength and that everyone needs help at some time in their life,” said Carlson. “The Army is focused on trying to understand, treat, and train us on how to prevent suicide. There is so much that is happening that is good that we’re not talking about. Soldiers are doing good things every day that are preventing suicides and we need to talk about it.”

• Date Taken: 10.08.2012
• Date Posted: 10.08.2012 13:28
• Story ID: 95847
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US