Military suicide has gone up 20% compared to this time last year. The Department of Defense would not say it’s specifically because of coronavirus, but they alluded to this. Military suicide has long been a serious matter. However, many leaders have said this pandemic has added stress to an already stressful job. Army Secretary Ryan …
Early Tuesday morning, Marine Corps Base Twentynine Palms went on lockdown. This was a result of reported gunshots, suspected to be from an active shooter. A 2 hour interaction ensued after military law enforcement found the suspect on a nearby hillside. However, this ended with the Marine in question receiving a fatal self inflicted gunshot …
Self inflicted gunshot ends 2 hour stand off in 29 Palms Read More »
It seems like things in Afghanistan are really starting to heat back up this year. While they haven’t been the greatest since it all started in 2001, it felt like the past couple of years dwindled down and we were beginning to make progress. Unfortunately, this year has brought the highest death toll for US …
Afghanistan update- 2 attacks, prisoner exchange delayed Read More »
Across the nation, this month is all about Suicide Prevention. Most of the people reading these articles know the military rates of suicide are extremely high. Too high. Over the weekend, posts started circulating about two suicides surrounding a Naval Aircraft Carrier. After reviewing headlines, it has been confirmed by the Navy that four suicides …
Despite highly touted efforts to curb the suicide rate among active-duty service members and veterans, suicides remain high and the mental health watchdog Citizens Commission on Human Rights International (CCHR) says the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs need to fully investigate the role of prescription psychotropic drugs in these suicides. We reported on this issue months ago …
Active Duty and Veteran Suicide Rate Increases. Are You At Risk? Read More »
The year was 2000, and I had arrived at MCRD in June. Halfway through training, I wound up getting stress fractures and was sent to MRP (Medical Recovery Platoon.) After about 3 weeks of being there, I was promoted to the position of Guide. About two days prior to that, we had a couple of …
It is a private moment, one where pain, indecision, exhaustion, and uncertainty live. It is often a surprise to find oneself here, even to the Veteran, but this scene is likely something they had already imagined, even fantasized about. The scales need to tip, in one direction or the other, but they will tip, and …
John Preston‘s life took a tragic turn when his oldest brother, the family rock, succumbed to post-traumatic stress and committed suicide. The passing of his brother was enough to make John consider ending his career. Instead, he found a new mission: partnering with the Valkyrie Initiative to find others like his brother, and, through music, …
Superman Falls: John Preston’s Mission to Promote Life after Loss Read More »
So the setting is basic training Feb 2016 at Fort Jackson, on family day. Everything was going exactly like we planned, had a great day with our families and were more than ready for graduation. Even the holdovers got to go all over post and eat civilian food, all that good shit. We got back …
Everyone likes to bag on millennials, including us, but there are a lot of them out there that are veterans and have their heads on straight. This is the story of one of them, who found a way to bridge the generation gap and save a fellow veteran’s life. We get several hundred messages per …
How A Millennial Kept An Elderly Marine From Committing Suicide Read More »
