casey [continued froM page 57] summer looking at the number of
soldiers who had taken their own
lives and realizing the army suicide
rate had surpassed that of their ci-
vilian peers for the first time. casey
reviewed army help programs and
found them heavily weighted toward
assistance “after the fact, after iden-
tifying that someone had a problem.
But we weren’t doing things on the
front end to actually build resilience
... give soldiers the skills they need to
be more resilient” amid an era of re-
peated deployments, the army’s new
reality, he says.
Working with outside psychia-
trists and psychologists, the army
is building a program called com-
prehensive Soldier fitness that
emphasizes keeping soldiers both
mentally and physically fit. Soldiers
and their families soon will be able
to assess their own mental health
through an online survey. the re-
sult will be a strength rating. in
areas where weaknesses are identi-
fied, participants will be referred to
self-help modules.
Find another hero.
the army also is instituting men-
tal health resilience training at every
Earn $2,000.
level, from basic training to the war
Refer a friend to the Army Medical
college. “it will get progressively bet-
Department as a Reservist.
ter,” casey vows.
the service also is developing Enrich a friend’s career by referring him or her to the Army Reserve.
“master resilience trainers,” the
We need experienced clinicians in:
mental health equivalent of master
R
General Surgery
R
Preventive Medicine
R
Family Practice
R
fitness trainers.
Orthopedic Surgery
R
Emergency Medicine
R
Psychiatry
R
Clinical Psychology
“We’ve already sent 50 sergeants
through this course up at the uni-
It’s a part-time commitment, with a lifetime of rewards. And it just
might be the career boost your friend has been looking for. When your
versity of pennsylvania,” casey says.
friend commissions, you’ll receive $2,000.
Some who have graduated met with
casey at fort Jackson, S.c., in July
Find your strength in Army Medicine
and confirmed the training had
Call 1-800-984-6508 or visit us online at
helped them both in their jobs and
GoArmyReserveDocs.com/mo
their personal lives. MO
— contributing editor Tom Philpott
PLACE YOUR AD IN:
is the author of the “Observation Post”
column at
www.moaa.org and has pro-
duced the weekly “Military Update” since
FOR MORE INFORMATION
1994. His last article for Military officer CALL (800) 234-6622 ext. 145
was “Ready, Set — Run,” October 2009.
www.moaa.org/advertising
december 2009 Military officer 85
Dec_Casey.indd 85 10/29/09 6:12 AM
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