Soldier Suicide Rates Rising

Newsflash: We suck at psychiatric care. This is not a new problem. I only need to look so far as the previous generation of warriors from Vietnam and much of their publicized problems with Post-Traumatic Stress disorder. If you have ever seen an Oliver Stone movie, you would know he is a poster child for PTSD. Last night, I read an article published by MSNBC titled, Soldier suicides reach record level, study shows. I didn't like any of what I read.

The article highlights the Army's struggle to deal with rising rates of suicide among Soldiers. It cites examples of Iraq veteran's attempting suicide despite the "best" efforts of their doctors and chain of command. An Army study on the issue cited the need for improved training programs as well as an increase in treatment capacity. I cannot judge the actions of other leaders, but I do understand the culture that is the basis of the problem.

The bottom line is that throughout the history of the U.S. Army, our Warrior culture has failed to address and meet the psychiatric care requirements of our Soldiers. More often than not Commanders choose to push 'troubled' Soldiers out of the Army and onto the beleaguered shoulders of the Veteran's Administration. There is negative stigma attached to psychiatric treatment. It is a question on the generic security clearance questionnaire. The implied message: get treated for being 'mental' and your career is over.

Personally, I believe the answer lies more in capacity than training. Like any problem, the military chooses to throw leadership at a problem to make up for lack of resources. In this case, the first recommendation is additional 'training.' Like the majority of added mandatory 'training', it would be extremely difficult and taxing for unit leadership to shoulder the burden of improving the Army's psychiatric care issues and add to their already overwhelming workload.

Honestly, do we want our commanders to be a Dr. Phil’s, feeling their way through problems, or George Patton's, going out and winning our nation's wars. I'm sure the correct answer is both; however you could spend a lifetime doing one or the other. Doing well at both would take more talent than most individuals possess.

The problem will get worse before it gets better. Today's Soldier faces more trigger-time while on deployment than any Soldier in American history. Wars used to be fought as campaigns. Weeks and months of fighting were followed by months of convalescence and reconstitution. Today's Soldier trains, deploys, patrols, fights, trains, deploys, and fights again. There is no more "R&R" of old. The wire is always wound tight.

I don't know the answer. We are the most lethal force in history facing one of our nation's greatest security challenges. We will accomplish the mission, of that I have little doubt. How we care for our wounded after the fight ends?


I haven't a clue.

President to Congress: Transfer GI Bill Benefits to Families!

In his final State of the Union address, the President made the following statement to Congress:

“I call on Congress to enact the reforms recommended by Senator Bob Dole and Secretary Donna Shalala, so we can improve the system of care for our wounded warriors… Our military families sacrifice for America… So I ask you to join me in expanding their access to childcare, creating new hiring preferences for military spouses across the federal government, and allowing our troops to transfer their unused education benefits to their spouses or children.”

The fact is, since 2002, the Department of Defense made transfers of GI Bill available to military family members. The Army used that as a retention incentive for targeted career fields. Monday night, the President issued some extremely broad guidance stating that this targeted benefit to some be made mandatory for all. I happen to know a rather attractive gal that would love to get her hands on my $12 large.

Here are some relevant statistics courtesy DMI:

• Regular military compensation for a single enlisted member in the lowest pay grade in 2006: $29,700.


• Regular military compensation for an enlisted member with a spouse and two children in the lowest pay grade in 2006: $32,800.


• Number of dollars added to the national economy for every dollar spent on educational benefits under the original G.I. Bill: $7.


• Approximate amount of tuition support a service member can receive, in total, under the current G.I. Bill: $39,600.


• Average price of one year at a 4-year private college: $22,218.


• Percentage of troops who pay a nonrefundable $1,200 contribution towards G.I. Bill benefits who never use the G.I. Bill: 30%.


• Percentage of veterans who use their whole G.I. Bill benefit: 8%.


• Average amount less per hour that military wives earn compared to their civilian counterparts: $3.


• Percentage of active-duty military spouses who have their high school diploma: 97%.
  

Thank you Mr. President. Congress, get to work.

Howdy

This will be the first official post for my new blog, Bullet Wisdom. A few things about myself. As the title says, I'm a Field Artillery Major in the US Army. I am currently a student at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. Yes, yes, life is hard here in the cold tundra that is Kansas, but I have no complaints.

I am blessed to be a husband and father of two wonderful kids. I am an avid hunter and gamer. I particularly enjoy bird hunting and bowhunting deer. These days I am getting myself into the practical shooting game in order to improve my marksmanship skills. Since I'm grossly out of practice, I'll be happy to provide video and commentary on my follies in this new sport.

Otherwise, from time to time I will be happy to provide my two cents on sports, events and my experiences as a member of the U.S. Army. Thanks for visiting.