The Special Operations Command’s war on suicides is prompting its storied, silent commander to speak both publicly and privately—all but ordering his forces to get help.
Suicides by special operators have fallen for two years straight. But the rates are still among the highest in the military. And that’s prompting the ordinarily tight-lipped commander of the elite forces to speak frankly about seeking help, and all but ordering his troops to do the same.
“I have, with my family, sought counseling and assistance,” said Special Operations Command’s General Joseph Votel, in comments to several hundred current and former troops at a recent Washington conference. The remarks were made publicly and on the record, but have not been previously reported.
“I did it an earlier time in my career, but it’s been since 9/11, and I encourage everybody to do that,” he said, in response to a question from The Daily Beast.
That kind of frank exchange combined with an increase in counseling resources—including anonymous counseling—seems to be helping, slowly.
[For more of this story, written by Kimberly Dozier, go to http://www.thedailybeast.com/a...ounseling-i-did.html]
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