Baker Presented the Thayer Award
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SprintOctober Football14, 2010 1 vs. Princeton, 7 p.m. Friday at Shea Stadium. OINTER IEW ® PVOL . 67, NO. 40 SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF WE S T VPOINT , THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY OCTOBER 14, 2010 Baker presented the Thayer Award (Photo above) Former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III rides with Lt. Gen. David H. Huntoon, Jr., West Point Superintendent, and Cadet First Captain Marc Beaudoin during a review of the Corps of Cadets Oct. 7 on the Plain at West Point. Baker was presented the 2010 West Point Association of Graduates Sylvanus Thayer Award at a dinner in his honor that evening. (Photo below) Baker holds up his Thayer Award medal with West Point Association of Graduates chairman Jodie Glore in the background. Story and photos by Mike Strasser rest of your lives.” citizen whose services and accomplishments Assistant Editor/Copy Baker made his second visit to the U.S. in the national interest exemplify personal Military Academy as the 53rd recipient of the devotion to the ideas expressed in the West During a dinner in his honor, former West Point Sylvanus Thayer Award. Point motto, “Duty, Honor, Country.” Secretary of State James A. Baker, III On a crisp autumn evening, the cadet Previous recipients include presidents addressed the Corps of Cadets Oct. 7 on the brigade marched onto the parade field, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, both impact which military service played in his holding a review to honor the Thayer Award of whom Baker had served as Secretary of life as a leader, statesman and politician. recipient. State and Chief of State, respectively. “Service to our country, and particularly “This is an extraordinarily impressive Baker’s portrait now hangs in the Thayer military service, is encoded in our DNA,” ceremony and a really signal honor,” Baker Award Room among former presidents, Baker told the West Point cadets. said. astronauts, generals, journalists and other Baker described his stint in the U.S. Earlier in the day, he met privately with cabinet officers. Marine Corps as uneventful, yet it provided cadet brigade officers to discuss leadership. “It means a lot to me to be honored in the him the traits which have guided his service “We had a very moving and wonderful same way those two presidents I served under to the nation ever since. dialogue,” Baker said. “They are a very were honored,” Baker said. “But as I looked “The first (trait) is the work ethic that impressive group of young men and around the photographs in the Thayer Room, military service instills,” Baker said. “That women.” I noticed former secretaries of state have been work ethic is legendary. That work ethic will The Thayer Award is presented annually honored as well … a number of people I had serve you (well) in whatever you do for the by the West Point AOG to an outstanding U.S. worked with in government.” 2 October 14, 2010 Commentary Pointer View Depression is treatable—get screened, seek care By Kurt Miceli, MD, MBA ways to bring about wellness and success can Soldiers, Family members and civilian psychiatrists who work together in promoting Keller Army Community Hospital be achieved. government employees are available wellness. We are here to help. psychiatrist Seeing patients at Behavioral Health, I through the Department of Defense (www. Feel free to call us at 938-3441 to schedule am reminded daily that all wounds are not militarymentalhealth.org or 877-877-3647) an appointment. If thoughts of self-harm Within the confines of medicine, physical. The brain harbors many internal 24 hours a day, seven days a week. or suicide are overwhelming, immediately hypertension is often thought of as the silent scars caused by the ravages of mental illness, More information is also available at contact your first-line supervisor or TAC killer. Yet, another “silent” killer unfortunately particularly depression. And strong is the www.behavioralhealth.army.mil/, www. officer and report to the emergency room. A exists in our midst. It is so close to one’s heart Soldier who breaks the silence and seeks resilience.army.mil, www.army.mil/csf/ and clinician will be there to help. that it eats away at the mind, body and soul, help. www.militaryonesource.com. To be truly healthy requires both physical causing one to feel mental anguish, physical In my short time at West Point, I have seen Once screened, seek care. The earlier and emotional well-being. As a colleague of pain and spiritual torment. It may change many heroes sit across from me and actively treatment begins, the greater likelihood the mine recently remarked, he has “never treated one’s appetite, destroy one’s sleep or break work toward fighting depression. You, too, recurrence of depression can be prevented. a physically fit depressed person.” one’s concentration. The ailment is depression can do the same if depression is destroying The Behavioral Health team at West Point Depression destroys and it can do so and its symptoms are as plentiful as the your life. welcomes you to our clinic in Bldg. 606, in such a silent way. Break the silence, individuals it afflicts. As a first step, get screened for depression. Floor 3M. get screened and seek care. Depression is Male or female, young or old, military Anonymous depression screenings for We are social workers, psychologists and treatable, now more than ever before. or civilian—depression can strike any one of us. With nearly 15 million Americans suffering from a major depressive disorder Army marks National Depression Awareness Month Common signs and another 35,000 suicides a year, depression is a medical condition equally as menacing By Jerry Harben eating or loss of appetite or thoughts of as hypertension itself. Even worse, factors U.S. Army Medical Command suicide or death. and symptoms such as multiple deployments, exposure to Unfortunately, many people believe their war and separation from loved ones may lead The Army marks National Depression symptoms are a normal part of life. Two- of depression to depression for Soldiers, Family members Awareness Month in October with a theme thirds of people who suffer from depression and Army civilians. of “Depression is Treatable—Get Screened, fail to seek the care they need. Physical signs and symptoms However, depression often silences Seek Care.” The truth is, more than 80 percent of • Low energy; its victims. Individuals easily succumb to Clinical depression is a serious medical clinical depression cases can be treated • Body aches and pains; the false notion that their symptoms are a condition that, if left untreated, may lead to effectively with medication, psychotherapy • Over eating or loss of appetite; normal part of life. Crying becomes routine, other complicated medical conditions. or both. • Poor sleep or excessive sleep; Seeking treatment for a medical Often, the first step to recovery is a irritability regular and lethargy omnipresent. • Irritability; condition is not a sign of weakness. It may depression screening. Additionally, many wounded by depression • Anxiety or restlessness. feel guilty for their thoughts, lose hope for the prevent a good Soldier from becoming a Anonymous depression screenings future or withdraw from Family and friends. casualty. are available through the Department of Their silence is not golden. The National Institute of Mental Health Defense (www.militarymentalhealth. Emotional signs and symptoms In this month of “Depression Awareness,” has reported that major depressive disorders org or call 877-877-3647), Department • Thoughts of suicide or death; those of us at Behavioral Health aim to cast affect some 14.8 million people in the of Veterans Affairs (www.mentalhealth. • Feeling sad, crying all the time; depression from the shadows. This battle must United States. va.gov/depression.asp) and civilian • Loss of interest in things you once be fought, and it must be won. Signs and symptoms of depression organizations (mentalhealthscreening. enjoyed; Depression is an enemy we can overcome. may include sadness, loss of interest in org/programs/military/). • Feelings of gulit, worthlessness or things you once enjoyed, feelings of guilt The screening sites also provide It is a medical illness treated much like any hopelessness; other illness. As one with a back injury would or worthlessness, restlessness, withdrawing information about how to get treatment. from friends and Family or trouble For more information, see www. • Withdrawing from friends and take medication to calm inflammation and Family; physical therapy to promote healing, one with concentrating or making decisions. behavioralhealth.army.mil/, www. • Difficulty concentrating or mak- depression should do much the same. Depression also may produce body resilience.army.mil, www.army.mil/csf/ Medication and psychotherapy are proven aches and pains, irritability, anxiety, over and www.militaryonesource.com. ing decisions. OINTER IEW ® P V 40 Mulberry Street, Middletown, NY 10940 The Army civilian enterprise newspaper, the Pointer View, is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. 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