Military News, News From Iraq & Afghanistan - Military Times

VFW chief: Look out for struggling soldiers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The head of the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization is urging more than 1.6 million veteran members to reach out to soldiers who may be considering suicide.

Commander in Chief Glen Gardner issued the open letter following the announcement last week that 11 soldiers from Fort Campbell, Ky., have committed suicide in 2009 — the highest of any Army post.

The Army reached the highest rate of suicides on record last year.

Gardner said Wednesday that veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are more likely to open up to other combat veterans about personal or psychological problems.

“Your credibility goes up greatly with these young people” if you have served in combat, he said. “VFW people are not counselors, they are not trained to be counselors, but those of us who have been in combat can listen and understand what they are talking about.”

He asked the members to listen, be sympathetic and take soldiers to professional counseling through the military or the Veterans Affairs. He said this is first time the Kansas City, Mo.-based veterans group has asked its members to seek out both active duty and National Guard and Reserve soldiers who may be struggling.

“If you hear something that makes you think that individual needs help, then try to get them to the VA and let someone that is a professional talk to them,” he said.

He said the military has improved its mental health screening services for younger veterans. But he also said that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are much harder on soldiers.

“This is a different war,” he said. “It’s not like you’re in a jungle in Vietnam. You’re basically like a policeman and then all of the sudden things are being blown up around you.”

He said the strain is especially hard on National Guard and Reserve soldiers who have been a large part of the ground forces since the wars started.

Leaders at Campbell suspended regular duties for three days last week to find and help soldiers at risk of killing themselves and focus on prevention training.

Across the Army, suicides from January through March rose to a reported 56 — 22 confirmed and 34 still being investigated and pending confirmation.

Gardner said the efforts by the Army and the VA are positive, but the stigma of seeking help makes some soldiers hesitant to say anything. He asked veterans to meet one-on-one, away from the VFW halls, to provide privacy and try to eliminate real or perceived fears of retribution from either military commanders or civilian employers.

“Everybody that goes to war is affected, some more drastically than others,” he said.