As an Officer and someone who has been deployed, suicide is definitely at the forefront, or should be at the forefront, of every leader’s mind. The stresses that accompany a deployment are absolutely overwhelming at times and all Soldiers, including leaders, need to know that it is okay to get help.
On that note, I pose a question: How can we expect Soldiers to believe that there is not a stigma associated with any type of mental or emotional issue if there is such one associated with ANY physical insuffiency that leads to a profile? I have observed time and again both NCO’s and Officers privately putting Soldiers down because “they were riding out their profile(s).” I have even seen Soldiers publicly embarrassed in front of their peers and subordinates because they were not able to complete some form of PT that was required at the time.
This does not only occur with Soldiers; it happens throughout all the ranks of the Army. I am in no way stating that certain individuals do not milk their profile. There will always be those Soldiers, NCO’s, and Officers who fail to live up to the Army values and decide, instead, that it is easier to remain free of physical fitness. However, I charge each leader to really take a look at his or her subordinates and their profiles and ensure that ostracizing is not occurring, especially in a public manner. Then, and only then, will the Army be able to convince Soldiers, NCO’s, and Officers that a stigma does not exist for mental illness.