Army leaders add training to detect suicidal soldiers

Army leaders add training to detect suicidal soldiers
By MARTIN J. KIDSTON
Helena Independent Record

HELENA - A military investigation into the death of Pvt. Daren Smith found the Butte soldier was acting “normal” at his forward operation base in Iraq on the evening of Dec. 13, 2007.

So it came as a surprise to his peers when the 19-year-old entered the latrine that evening, locked the door to his stall, turned his M-4 rifle toward his head, and pulled the trigger.

Smith's death, the second known suicide of a Montana soldier over the past five years, added to the Army's growing list of men and women who are taking their lives at a rate not seen in at least 30 years.


Suicides in the Army jumped to a record high in 2008, growing for the fourth straight year. January saw an additional 24 suicides, marking an ominous start to 2009.

Hoping to get a handle on the wave of self-inflicted deaths, Army leaders have ordered a 30-day “safety stand-down,” giving commanders a chance to educate soldiers on suicide behavior and early intervention.

The Montana Army and Air National Guard will also participate in the stand-down, which went into effect on Sunday.

“We can't afford to lose one soldier or airman in the Montana National Guard to suicide,” said Brig. Gen. John Walsh, adjutant general of the state Guard. “We're making this training our priority during the next 150 days.”

Maj. Tim Crowe, public relations officer for the Montana Guard, said state commanders will oversee the training. Soldiers and airmen across the state will spend their drill weekends in March receiving suicide prevention and recognition classes.

The latest effort continues the Guard's own drive to raise awareness on the topic of suicide. Montana's military made suicide prevention a priority after one of its own soldiers, Chris Dana, shot himself to death in 2007 after returning from Iraq.
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http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2009/02/21/news/mtregional/news13.txt