EDITORIAL Editor Kathleen Curthoys [email protected] Senior Reporter Meghann Myers [email protected] Ground Combat Reporter Todd South [email protected] Military Times Executive Editor Andrew Tilghman [email protected] Deputy Editor and Capitol Hill Bureau Chief Leo Shane III [email protected] Pentagon Bureau Chief Tara Copp [email protected] News Editor Steve Weigand [email protected] Associate Editor, Military Culture J.D. Simkins [email protected] Navy Reporter Mark Faram [email protected] Marine Corps Reporter Shawn Snow [email protected] Air Force Reporter Stephen Losey [email protected] Commandos to Counselors: A response to Senior Reporter Geoff Ziezulewicz geoff [email protected] Editor, MIlitary Communities Karen Jowers spec ops forces’ mental health crisis [email protected] Editor, Rebootcamp George Altman [email protected] Associate Editor, Rebootcamp Natalie Gross Th ere is a growing mental health crisis the value of “quiet professionalism” that enhanced if members of the community [email protected] Early Bird Brief Editor Kyle Rempfer among members of the U.S. Special we seek to embody. obtain even a few hours of training from [email protected] Operations Forces community that is In 2015, recognizing the formidable qualifi ed professionals. DIGITAL OPERATIONS not being adequately addressed. barriers to seeking help within the SOF Creating a better-trained and organ- Senior Editor, Digital Operations On Feb. 2, 2019, CNN reported that community, Gen. Joseph Votel (then ized response system within the SOF Christian Lowe [email protected] suicides among those currently serving commander of SOCOM) took the veteran community is a near-term goal Social Media Editor Rachel Rakoff with U.S. Special Operations Command extraordinary step of speaking publicly that we can make signifi cant progress VIDEO & PHOTO tripled last year. Although data specifi c about his own experience in counseling. on right away. Longer term, we should Video and Photo Editor Ben Murray Multimedia Journalist/Producer Jeff Martin to SOCOM veterans is not currently Although Votel’s candor on this issue work toward the recruitment and train- Multimedia Journalists Alan Lessig, available, a recent study by the VA found was a signifi cant move in the right di- ing of SOF veterans to provide pro- Daniel Woolfolk that, between 2005 and 2015, veteran rection, the crisis continues to grow and fessional mental health services within Multimedia Producer John Bretschneider DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT suicides increased 25.9 percent. more must be done. the community on a sustained basis. VP, Technology/Engineering Will Alexander While the precise scope of the problem Eff ective responses to the epidemic Th is can be accomplished in a number Director, Web Development Ashley McCabe Web Developers Karan Batra, Kaym Yusuf among SOF veterans remains unclear, of suicide and related mental health of ways. In the public sector, we can Senior Director, Digital Project Management anyone with access to forums like the problems in the SOF community can press government at the federal, state, Jenn Rafael closed social media groups that serve take many forms, but they will all share and local levels to recognize the need DESIGN & PRODUCTION as an ad hoc support system for the one indispensable element. Th e key is for diff erentiated mental health services Art Director Philip Kightlinger Designers Brandon-Mykal Rambus, Audrey Angel community can see that the situation the direct involvement of SOF veter- tailored to the specifi c needs of SOF Production Director Deborah Stoken is getting worse. Th e most eff ective ans stepping up to show our comrades personnel and veterans. At the same Production Manager Mary Poston solution to this national crisis requires that they should not be ashamed of time, private resources can be marshalled ADVERTISING Senior Vice President, Sales Mort Greenberg the direct involvement of SOF veterans the problems they are struggling with. and directed towards research, training, [email protected] trained to provide mental health services Th e simple truth is that, because of the and treatment. Western U.S. Michelle Rosen [email protected] to their comrades. unique bonds shared by members of this Although there are many ways to ap- Eastern and Central U.S. Phil Hladkly After leaving active duty and transi- community, many SOF veterans may proach this, there is a common goal that [email protected] Director, Military Market Sales Lisa Danielczyk tioning back to civilian life, many SOF only be willing or able to talk about the they all share. Th at is for every member [email protected] veterans struggle with serious mental challenges they are facing with other of the SOF community to know that Government and Recruitment Megan Morrocco [email protected] health issues, including post-traumatic SOF veterans. Our comrades may be the they are not alone in their fi ght against Education and Recruitment Pilar Allas stress and depression. In the context of only people that we feel we can relate to. inner demons. For more information, [email protected] this diffi cult transition from the battle- For that reason, SOF veterans who are please visit the Commandos to Counse- MARKETING fi eld to the home front, a mindset that trained in suicide prevention and crisis lors Facebook page. Marketing Director Stephanie Gildea fosters success in the world of special intervention can have enormous positive If you or someone you know is in cri- operations can become a double-edged impact on this problem. Th at kind of sis, the number for VA’s Veterans Crisis sword. Fighting through injuries and training does not require an advanced Line is 1-800-273-8255. ignoring pain to complete the mission degree. It can be obtained relatively inex- Jon Hollis is a litigation partner in the SIGHTLINE MEDIA GROUP may be what is required in the short pensively and in a short period of time. Publisher of: Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force term, but insistence on our own invinci- Th is is a fi ght and the creeds that we Washington, D.C., offi ce of the interna- Times, Marine Corps Times, Defense News, bility over the long term can prove fatal. live by dictate that we never go into a tional law fi rm Loeb & Loeb LLP. He is the C4ISRNET and Federal Times founder of the fi rm’s pro bono Veterans Chairman and CEO Michael A. Reinstein Th e bitter irony is that the nature of fi ght unprepared. As with any mission, Publisher David Steinhafel Assistance Project, which has provided Chief Revenue Offi cer Doug Neiman SOF training and the culture of hard- we need to train, organize, and prepare free legal services to veterans in the VA Military Evangelist/Community ened stoicism that pervades the SOF in order to succeed. Interventions are benefi ts claims process for over 10 years. Outreach Director Rob Wilkins Executive Director of Audience Development ethos make it particularly diffi cult for already being undertaken on an informal Prior to attending law school, he served Shawn Byers SOF veterans to ask for help when they basis through social networks of SOF with the Army’s 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger To advertise, visit armytimes.com/advertising need it. We have made it a troubling veterans. But the impact and outcomes Regiment and deployed multiple times to habit to mistake suff ering in silence for relating to this work can be signifi cantly Iraq and Afghanistan. STAFF SGT. CHRISTINE GROENING/AIR FORCE CHRISTINE SGT. STAFF 36 ARMYTIMES.COM 03.04.19.