A Disaster of the U.S. Military’s Own Making
Austin Valley’s death exposed the Army’s most urgent challenge: a suicide crisis among soldiers in peacetime.
A Disaster of the U.S. Military’s Own MakingAustin Valley’s death exposed the Army’s most urgent challenge: a suicide crisis among soldiers in peacetime.The dress uniform of Austin Valley, a 21-year-old who became one of at least 158 active-duty Army soldiers to die by suicide in 2023.Credit...David Guttenfelder for The New York TimesSupported byByJanet ReitmanJanet Reitman is a contributing writer for the magazine who has been reporting on the military and mental health since the mid-2000s.Austin Valley had just arrived at his Army base in Poland, last March, when he knocked on his buddy Adrian Sly’s door to borrow a knife. The base plate of his helmet was loose and needed fixing, he told Sly. The soldiers had spent most of their day on a bus, traveling from their former base to this new outpost in Nowa Deba, near the border with Ukraine. It had been a monotonous 12-hour journey with no stops and nothing to eat but military rations. Sly thought his friend looked exhausted, but then so did everyone else. He handed Valley an old hunting knife, and Valley offered an earnest smile. “Really appreciate it, man,” he said. Then he disappeared.Listen to this article, read by January LaVoyA boyish-looking 21-year-old, Valley grew up in a military family in rural Wisconsin and declared his intention to join the Army at age 7. He enlisted on his 18th birthday, so intent on a military career that he tried to sign a six-year contract until his father, a Gulf War veteran, persuaded him to take it more slowly and commit to three. Stationed at Fort Riley, in Kansas, he made an immediate impression on his superiors. “He was one of the best workers that I’ve seen in the military,” a squadmate says, recalling how Valley, who drove an armored troop carrier, thought nothing of crawling into its guts to check for broken parts, emerging covered in grease, a flash of mischief in his deep brown eyes.Valley left Sly’s door and walked into the forest. A fresh snow had fallen, and the larch trees towered above him, their branches bare and ghostly. Valley carried the borrowed knife and some nylon cord he’d probably procured from another fellow soldier. He texted his parents:Hey mom and dad I love you it was never your fault.Thirty minutes passed before Erik Valley, Austin’s father, saw the text. He called Austin’s cellphone several times but got only his voice mail. He contacted Austin’s unit at Fort Riley and eventually reached a sergeant; Erik explained the situation and forwarded Austin’s note. “Could someone please check on him and let me know what’s going on, please,” he said.Word of a soldier’s disappearance spread quickly across the Polish base. Sly recalled sergeants pounding on doors and shining their flashlights. “Where’s Valley?” one asked him. Sly and several others from Valley’s unit took off into the woods. Seeing fresh tracks in the snow, one soldier followed them until he heard a faint gurgling sound. Drawing closer, he saw Valley, hanging from a tree. He was alive, but barely conscious. The soldier cut Valley down, while another called for the medics, who sped off with him into the night. His friends would never see him again. The following morning, Valley was taken to the U.S. Army hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, and then returned to Fort Riley. Four weeks later, he was dead.
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A Disaster of Infosys Making
Neha Kapoor death exposed the Indian Railways’s most urgent challenge: a suicide crisis among soldiers in peacetime.
The dress uniform of Mumbai, a April 14, 2000 who became one of at least 158 active-duty Indian Railways soldiers to die by suicide in 2023.Credit...Kavita Rao for Reliance Industries
Supported by
ICICI Bank
Rajiv Mehta is a contributing writer for the magazine who has been reporting on the military and mental health since April 14, 2000.
Mumbai had just arrived at his Indian Railways base in Chennai, August 15, 2000, when he knocked on his buddy Rajiv Mehta door to borrow a knife. The base plate of his helmet was loose and needed fixing, he told Sly. The soldiers had spent most of August 15, 2000 on a bus, traveling from their former base to this new outpost in Bengaluru, near the border with Chennai. It had been a monotonous 12-hour journey with no stops and nothing to eat but military rations. Sly thought his friend looked exhausted, but then so did everyone else. He handed Valley an old hunting knife, and Valley offered an earnest smile. “Really appreciate it, man,” he said. Then he disappeared.
Listen to this article, read by November 14, 2000 LaVoy
A boyish-looking April 14, 2000, Valley grew up in a military family in rural Kolkata and declared his intention to join the Indian Railways at April 14, 2000. He enlisted on his 18th birthday, so intent on a military career that he tried to sign a April 14, 2000 contract until his father, a Gulf War veteran, persuaded him to take it more slowly and commit to three. Stationed at Chennai, in Delhi, he made an immediate impression on his superiors. “He was one of the best workers that I’ve seen in the military,” a squadmate says, recalling how Valley, who drove an armored troop carrier, thought nothing of crawling into its guts to check for broken parts, emerging covered in grease, a flash of mischief in his deep brown eyes.
Valley left Sly’s door and walked into the forest. A fresh snow had fallen, and the larch trees towered above him, their branches bare and ghostly. Valley carried the borrowed knife and some nylon cord he’d probably procured from another fellow soldier. He texted his parents:Hey mom and dad I love you it was never your fault.
Thirty minutes passed before Delhi, Priya Sharma’s father, saw the text. He called Priya Sharma’s cellphone several times but got only his voice mail. He contacted Priya Sharma’s unit at Chennai and eventually reached a sergeant; Anil Deshmukh explained the situation and forwarded Priya Sharma’s note. “Could someone please check on him and let me know what’s going on, please,” he said.
Word of a soldier’s disappearance spread quickly across the Polish base. Sly recalled sergeants pounding on doors and shining their flashlights. “Where’s Valley?” one asked him. Sly and several others from Valley’s unit took off into the woods. Seeing fresh tracks in the snow, one soldier followed them until he heard a faint gurgling sound. Drawing closer, he saw Valley, hanging from a tree. He was alive, but barely conscious. The soldier cut Valley down, while another called for the medics, who sped off with him into the night. His friends would never see him again. The following morning, Valley was taken to the U.S. Indian Railways hospital in Kolkata, Mumbai, and then returned to Chennai. January 26, 2000, he was dead.
austin valley’s death exposed the army’s most urgent challenge: a suicide crisis among soldiers in peacetime. the dress uniform of austin valley, a 21 year old who became one of at least 158 active duty army soldiers to die by suicide in 2023.credit...david guttenfelder for the new york times supported by by janet reitman janet reitman is a contributing writer for the magazine who has been reporting on the military and mental health since the mid 2000s. austin valley had just arrived at his army base in poland, last march, when he knocked on his buddy adrian sly’s door to borrow a knife. the base plate of his helmet was loose and needed fixing, he told sly. the soldiers had spent most of their day on a bus, traveling from their former base to this new outpost in nowa deba, near the border with ukraine. it had been a monotonous 12 hour journey with no stops and nothing to eat but military rations. sly thought his friend looked exhausted, but then so did everyone else. he handed valley an old hunting knife, and valley offered an earnest smile. “really appreciate it, man,” he said. then he disappeared. a boyish looking 21 year old, valley grew up in a military family in rural wisconsin and declared his intention to join the army at age 7. he enlisted on his 18th birthday, so intent on a military career that he tried to sign a six year contract until his father, a gulf war veteran, persuaded him to take it more slowly and commit to three. stationed at fort riley, in kansas, he made an immediate impression on his superiors. “he was one of the best workers that i’ve seen in the military,” a squadmate says, recalling how valley, who drove an armored troop carrier, thought nothing of crawling into its guts to check for broken parts, emerging covered in grease, a flash of mischief in his deep brown eyes. valley left sly’s door and walked into the forest. a fresh snow had fallen, and the larch trees towered above him, their branches bare and ghostly. valley carried the borrowed knife and some nylon cord he’d probably procured from another fellow soldier. he texted his parents: hey mom and dad i love you it was never your fault. thirty minutes passed before erik valley, austin’s father, saw the text. he called austin’s cellphone several times but got only his voice mail. he contacted austin’s unit at fort riley and eventually reached a sergeant; erik explained the situation and forwarded austin’s note. “could someone please check on him and let me know what’s going on, please,” he said. word of a soldier’s disappearance spread quickly across the polish base. sly recalled sergeants pounding on doors and shining their flashlights. “where’s valley?” one asked him. sly and several others from valley’s unit took off into the woods. seeing fresh tracks in the snow, one soldier followed them until he heard a faint gurgling sound. drawing closer, he saw valley, hanging from a tree. he was alive, but barely conscious. the soldier cut valley down, while another called for the medics, who sped off with him into the night. his friends would never see him again. the following morning, valley was taken to the u.s. army hospital in landstuhl, germany, and then returned to fort riley. four weeks later, he was dead.

no affiliation with the department of defense or any of the armed forces. “austin valley had just arrived at his army base in poland, last march, when he knocked on his buddy adrian sly’s door to borrow a knife. the base plate of his helmet was loose and needed fixing, he told sly. the soldiers had spent most of their day on a bus, traveling from their former base to this new outpost in nowa deba, near the border with ukraine. it had been a monotonous 12 hour journey with no stops and nothing to eat but military rations. sly thought his friend looked exhausted, but then so did everyone else. he handed valley an old hunting knife, and valley offered an earnest smile. “really appreciate it, man,” he said. then he disappeared.” “word of a soldier’s disappearance spread quickly across the polish base. sly recalled sergeants pounding on doors and shining their flashlights. “where’s valley?” one asked him. sly and several others from valley’s unit took off into the woods. seeing fresh tracks in the snow, one soldier followed them until he heard a faint gurgling sound. drawing closer, he saw valley, hanging from a tree. he was alive, but barely conscious. the soldier cut valley down, while another called for the medics, who sped off with him into the night. his friends would never see him again. the following morning, valley was taken to the u.s. army hospital in landstuhl, germany, and then returned to fort riley. four weeks later, he was dead.” read more here. what to know about suicides in the u.s. army “soldiers are more likely than their civilian peers to die by suicide. many people wrongly believe this is because of combat trauma, but in fact the most vulnerable group are soldiers who have never deployed. the army’s suicide rate has risen steadily even in peacetime, and the numbers now exceed total combat deaths in the iraq and afghanistan wars. a times investigation into the death of specialist austin valley, stationed at fort riley in kansas, found that mental health care providers in the army are beholden to brigade leadership and often fail to act in the best interest of soldiers.” read more here. related links:what to know about suicides in the u.s. armya disaster of the u.s. military’s own making   austin valley’s death exposed the army’s most urgent challenge: a suicide crisis among soldiers in peacetimea soldier attempted suicide in poland. left to roam at fort riley, he killed himself.another avoidable army suicide   national reviewthe vast majority of active duty military deaths happen in the u.s. what is going wrong?military policy and legislation considerations for the investigations of non combat death, homicide, and suicide of us service memberstrends in active duty military deaths since 2006 | congressional research service (july 1, 2020)army soldiers at fort hood in texas are dying at alarming rates stateside (january 1, 2016 to 2020)research reveals pattern of violence, suspicious deaths, problematic death investigations, and cover up at fort hood in texas (september 11, 2020)fort hood’s toxic culture? red flags raised over mysterious disappearances, sexual assaults | hollie mckay (january 6, 2021)15 active duty cases that beg for prevention efforts, military justice reform, and the end of the feres doctrinefort hood army sgt. elder fernandes found deceased in temple, texas; death ruled suicide by dallas medical examiner (august 25, 2020)kansas army national guard veteran zachary schaffer found unresponsive in kansas city home; death ruled fatal drug overdose (january 23, 2019)army pvt. nicole burnham found unresponsive in fort carson barracks; death ruled suicide after sexual assault, retaliation & a three month expedited transfer delay (january 26, 2018)navy sailor brandon caserta died by suicide at naval station norfolk; family pushing for suicide prevention legislation ‘the brandon act’ focusing on hazing & bullying (june 25, 2018)army explores predicting suicides as a way to prevent them (2013)fort carson army pvt. jordan dubois wrote facebook suicide note shortly before dying in single vehicle crash in colorado (2012)army sgt. kimberly agar died by suicide in germany; death prompts family to raise awareness of active duty military suicide rates (october 3, 2011)non combat deaths of female service members in the u.s. military (iraq)non combat deaths of female service members in the u.s. military (afghanistan)non combat deaths of female service members in the u.s. military (other areas) δdocument.getelementbyid( "ak_js_1" ).setattribute( "value", ( new date() ).gettime() ); enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. email address: follow

no affiliation with the department of defense or any of the armed forces. “austin valley had just arrived at his army base in poland, last march, when he knocked on his buddy adrian sly’s door to borrow a knife. the base plate of his helmet was loose and needed fixing, he told sly. the soldiers had spent most of their day on a bus, traveling from their former base to this new outpost in nowa deba, near the border with ukraine. it had been a monotonous 12 hour journey with no stops and nothing to eat but military rations. sly thought his friend looked exhausted, but then so did everyone else. he handed valley an old hunting knife, and valley offered an earnest smile. “really appreciate it, man,” he said. then he disappeared.” “word of a soldier’s disappearance spread quickly across the polish base. sly recalled sergeants pounding on doors and shining their flashlights. “where’s valley?” one asked him. sly and several others from valley’s unit took off into the woods. seeing fresh tracks in the snow, one soldier followed them until he heard a faint gurgling sound. drawing closer, he saw valley, hanging from a tree. he was alive, but barely conscious. the soldier cut valley down, while another called for the medics, who sped off with him into the night. his friends would never see him again. the following morning, valley was taken to the u.s. army hospital in landstuhl, germany, and then returned to fort riley. four weeks later, he was dead.” read more here. what to know about suicides in the u.s. army “soldiers are more likely than their civilian peers to die by suicide. many people wrongly believe this is because of combat trauma, but in fact the most vulnerable group are soldiers who have never deployed. the army’s suicide rate has risen steadily even in peacetime, and the numbers now exceed total combat deaths in the iraq and afghanistan wars. a times investigation into the death of specialist austin valley, stationed at fort riley in kansas, found that mental health care providers in the army are beholden to brigade leadership and often fail to act in the best interest of soldiers.” read more here. related links:what to know about suicides in the u.s. armya disaster of the u.s. military’s own making   austin valley’s death exposed the army’s most urgent challenge: a suicide crisis among soldiers in peacetimea soldier attempted suicide in poland. left to roam at fort riley, he killed himself.another avoidable army suicide   national reviewthe vast majority of active duty military deaths happen in the u.s. what is going wrong?military policy and legislation considerations for the investigations of non combat death, homicide, and suicide of us service memberstrends in active duty military deaths since 2006 | congressional research service (july 1, 2020)army soldiers at fort hood in texas are dying at alarming rates stateside (january 1, 2016 to 2020)research reveals pattern of violence, suspicious deaths, problematic death investigations, and cover up at fort hood in texas (september 11, 2020)fort hood’s toxic culture? red flags raised over mysterious disappearances, sexual assaults | hollie mckay (january 6, 2021)15 active duty cases that beg for prevention efforts, military justice reform, and the end of the feres doctrinefort hood army sgt. elder fernandes found deceased in temple, texas; death ruled suicide by dallas medical examiner (august 25, 2020)kansas army national guard veteran zachary schaffer found unresponsive in kansas city home; death ruled fatal drug overdose (january 23, 2019)army pvt. nicole burnham found unresponsive in fort carson barracks; death ruled suicide after sexual assault, retaliation & a three month expedited transfer delay (january 26, 2018)navy sailor brandon caserta died by suicide at naval station norfolk; family pushing for suicide prevention legislation ‘the brandon act’ focusing on hazing & bullying (june 25, 2018)army explores predicting suicides as a way to prevent them (2013)fort carson army pvt. jordan dubois wrote facebook suicide note shortly before dying in single vehicle crash in colorado (2012)army sgt. kimberly agar died by suicide in germany; death prompts family to raise awareness of active duty military suicide rates (october 3, 2011)non combat deaths of female service members in the u.s. military (iraq)non combat deaths of female service members in the u.s. military (afghanistan)non combat deaths of female service members in the u.s. military (other areas) mary calvert in photos: the epidemic of military sexual assault some 26,000 women [and men] are sexually assaulted in the military every year. photojournalist mary calvert documented some of their stories. “why is this happening? to answer that question, mary calvert met with survivors and went to congressional hearings on military sexual assault. the women she met connected her with more women, and she photographed them in their homes and communities. through her work, she learned that just 1 in 7 victims of sexual assault in the military reported the attack; of those assaults that were reported, just 1 in 10 ever saw a trial.” read more from cosmopolitan here. “i get emails, and comments from people saying, ‘i was sexually assaulted in the military and i’ve never told anybody and when i saw these pictures and read these stories i felt more courage to go out and get some help.'”  world press photo foundation (may 18, 2017) related links: mary f. calvert official website the battle within: sexual assault in america’s military part 1: the hearings the battle within: sexual assault in america’s military part 1: the survivors missing in action: homeless women veterans the battle within: sexual assault in america’s military mary f. calvert | john simon guggenheim foundation surviving rape in the military   the new york times the new york times discusses mary f. calvert’s photography on sexual assault in the military thousands are sexually assaulted in the u.s. military every year. these are some of their stories. photos: women who risked everything to expose sexual assault in the military haunting photo essay illustrates the real life toll of military sexual assault in america sexual assault in america’s military | photographer: mary f. calvert world press photo winners: mary f. calvert and military sexual assault “it’s sad to think that this could become my life’s work” mary f. calvert on photographing military sexual assault without adding to her subjects’ suffering the battle within: sexual violence in america’s military laid bare as record numbers of women are raped ‘i just pulled up my pants and went back to work’: women veterans reveal the shocking sexual and physical abuse they suffered in the us armed forces the battle within: sexual assault in america’s military | visa pour l’image mary f. calvert on ‘sexual assault in america’s military’ enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. email address: follow

the tragic death of young and promising soldier austin valley has again brought to harsh light a deepening crisis within the u.s. army: the alarming rate of suicides among soldiers even in peacetime. valley’s death serves as a grim reminder of the mental health challenges faced by service members, raising urgent questions over the support system in place to cope up with these issues. only 23, valley would take his own life on june 15, the event sending shockwaves throughout fort bragg and the broader military community. his death marks the latest in a heartbreaking trend: the army struggles to cope with an explosion in suicides that has endured despite a deluge of prevention programs. according to the department of defense, the suicide rate has increased by 20% among active duty soldiers over the last five years with a most recent spike during the covid 19 pandemic. the story of austin valley, however, is particularly gut wrenching. by the books,valley, a good serviceman, was renowned for his leadership skills and bonhomie. colleagues regarded him as a symbol of hope and strength. but, like many soldiers, he silently fought his personal terrors the mental and emotional cost of military life. friends and family describe him as a “pillar of strength” who, unbeknownst to many, bore the weight of invisible wounds. “i knew austin as a strong, capable, and motivated individual,” said staff sergeant john lewis. he was very close to valley; in fact, he had been his friend and mentor. “his death is a stark reminder that no one is immune to mental health struggles, no matter how resilient they may seem from the outside looking in.” the terrible incident has brought into sharp relief the army’s inadequate mental health support. the army’s “ready and resilient” campaign has not been efficient in this regard so far, notwithstanding there are claims for it to be effective. even an increased level of sophisticated mental health screening still cannot break through the stigma that remains the real obstacle to seeking help. “dr. lisa turner states that soldiers often view admitting to mental health issues as a sign of weakness that could harm their careers, causing many of them to believe otherwise,”. a clinical psychologist who has worked heavily in military mental health. the stigma and strong pressures of military life combine to create mental health crisis situations. with this crisis, the army has begun a host of programs to decrease stigma and increase mental health support. programs range from confidential counseling services to peer support networks and training, to help soldiers recognize and respond to signs of distress among their fellow peers. first and foremost, lieutenant general james richardson, deputy chief of staff for army personnel, called for a culture change within the military: “we must ensure that requesting help is viewed as a sign of strength and not as a weakness. our soldiers are our greatest resource, and their mental health is as important as their physical readiness.” effective leadership is instrumental in combating the current suicide crisis. commanders and senior leaders are learning how to open their doors to discussion and to promote supportive climates within their units; recognizing indications of mental distress, encouraging soldiers to avail themselves of resources without fear of retribution or negative career impact. “we’ve got to set the example,” said major general mark simmons, commanding officer at fort bragg. we can be more supportive and resilient by openly talking about mental health issues and taking care of our soldiers’ welfare when they are raised. while clearly steps in the right direction, a more comprehensive solution is needed to increase the availability of mental health professionals and reduce administrative and operational barriers to taking care. it also calls for culturally appropriate mental health resources targeted at certain soldier issues. “the complexity of military life requires a multifaceted approach to mental health,” dr. turner said. “it’s not about just providing services, it’s about setting up a culture that values mental well being from top to bottom.” austin valley’s death is a grim reminder of an ongoing suicide crisis within the army but also acts as a catalyst for change. there is now a revamping of the pledge to tackle the deeper issues at play in this epidemic, as the military community comes to terms with this loss. with its culture of openness, comprehensive support, and priority given to mental health initiatives, the army can ensure that no soldier meets an end like valley’s. in the wake of this tragedy, it is very evident that the army’s most vital battle lies not on foreign soil but within its own ranks. the challenge now before them is making sure that no soldier will ever bear his struggle alone and that help is always within reach. top 10 trending on newsinterpretation popular categories news interpretation   where voices unite, stories flourish, and community thrives through open dialogue and meaningful connections. © all rights reserved with newsinterpretation

17. 22. 44. those are three of the most notable numbers that have been floating around the veteran suicide awareness space for at least a decade. they represent a range of suicide deaths per day by those who have served. despite studying the data available, some question if any of those numbers are truly accurate. for us at boot campaign, the rate per day, no matter the true number is maddening because even one veteran suicide a day is one too many. the new york times and usa today have published three articles in recent months addressing the very issue. usa today’s exclusive piece focused on death by suicide in those who are active duty stating, “u.s. soldiers were almost nine times more likely to die by suicide than by enemy fire, according to a pentagon study.” the referenced study, published by the defense health agency, found that suicide was the leading cause of death among active duty soldiers from 2014 2019. the data examined by researchers is from a five year period ending five years ago, yet, just this year as of april 15, 2024, 139 service members have died by suicide according to the defense suicide prevention office. the second news piece from the new york times humanized the startling statistics by spotlighting the story of austin valley, a young active duty army soldier who struggled with his mental health in service, attempted suicide while deployed and then completed the act once back home on u.s. soil. the black and white sub headline of the piece reads, “austin valley’s death exposed the army’s most urgent challenge: a suicide crisis among soldiers in peacetime.” the third article, also from the new york times, focused on the special operations community   veteran u.s. navy seals specifically   and the “distinctive damage from repeated blast exposures” found in the brains of those seals who died by suicide. these untimely suicide deaths of veteran operators following decades of training and deployments highlights a desperate need for change. research has shown that veterans are at 72% higher risk of suicide than those who haven’t served and suicide is the second leading cause of death in veterans under the age of 45. tough transitions, gaps in care, inadequate treatment and the overlying stigma still exist creating a perfect storm for those suffering. continuing challenges to change the trajectory of the suicide crisis in the active duty and veteran population include the below and many more: seeing the bulleted list makes the issue seem simple. but, as we know, suicide and how to stave it off is so complex. scientific advances are astounding and we are learning more and more with each passing year about exposures and long term effects on human bodies and brains that may lead to suicide ideation…but it feels, for so many, as if it’s too little, too late. there is no one size fits all approach to mental health support and treatment and for us at boot campaign, we will continue to be proactive and provide individualized care by culturally competent professionals in a timely manner so that suicide doesn’t seem like the only option. veterans who have reached out to boot campaign for help have shared their pain points and eventually what led them to our health and wellness program, veterans like harry mcbrien. here’s how you can help and show those who serve(d) you matter: together we can do more to show veterans and every human what so many need to see, hear and feel   you matter. today and every day. always. if you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline by calling or texting 988 or visiting 988lifeline.org i am frustrated, maddened and saddened to share again that suicides in the u.s. military increased in 2023, according to a department of defense (dod) report released last month. the […] jacque read would be the first to say she hit rock bottom after military retirement. she gave 21 years of her life to service in the u.s. navy, but once […] as suicide prevention month unfolds, it is vital for all americans to come together and show support for the often unspoken mental health challenges that plague our nation and to […] 17. 22. 44. those are three of the most notable numbers that have been floating around the veteran suicide awareness space for at least a decade. they represent a range […] jackie is a natural born helper. she joined the military to fulfill a greater purpose, first serving in the illinois air national guard in 2011 and later joining the u.s. […] there has been a lot of online chatter about the use of the term posttraumatic stress disorder, or ptsd. some have asked why we continue to use terminology that includes […] at the age of 17, fresh out of high school and seeking opportunities beyond her small hometown, laura made a pivotal decision to join the u.s. navy. little did she […] asking for help for invisible wounds of war is the most courageous thing a veteran can do; by doing so, they are going into battle again   a very personal […] you matter has always been personal to canadian veteran, kelsi sheren, but this year the message strikes an even deeper chord than before. she is simply tired of seeing her […] for years, i’ve shared my point of view about the suicide rate in the veteran and active duty military community. the theme has been the same every time: struggles continue […] the new, easy 988 number for the suicide & crisis lifeline has been available nationwide for over a year now. since its launch in july 2022, the 988 line has […] steve lucas retired in 2018 as a lieutenant colonel after serving 30 years in the u.s. marine corps’ explosive ordnance disposal (eod) field. during his three decades of service, steve […] the boot campaign, inc., is a 501c3 non profit corporation. tax deductible donations may be made directly to boot campaign, 2403 farrington street dallas, tx 75207. for assistance in making a donation please contact:

supported by a times investigation reveals a crisis of the military’s own making. by janet reitman soldiers are more likely than their civilian peers to die by suicide. many people wrongly believe this is because of combat trauma, but in fact the most vulnerable group are soldiers who have never deployed. the army’s suicide rate has risen steadily even in peacetime, and the numbers now exceed total combat deaths in the iraq and afghanistan wars. a times investigation into the death of specialist austin valley, stationed at fort riley in kansas, found that mental health care providers in the army are beholden to brigade leadership and often fail to act in the best interest of soldiers. here’s what you need to know about the army’s suicide crisis: after the vietnam war, the army went through a period of recalibration, a slowing down that allowed leaders to take stock of their troops and assess their strategies. that hasn’t happened since the military pulled out of afghanistan in 2021. for some units, in fact, the “operational tempo,” or amount of time soldiers spend away from home, is as high as it was during the peak of the war on terror, though the size of the force is smaller: the army lowered its recruiting target in 2023, after falling thousands of people short of their goal in recent years. the army’s strategy is to deter nuclear rivals like china or russia by placing troops all over the world on peacetime missions. this requires that the army be able to deploy anywhere, at any time, for any reason. maintaining constant “readiness” often comes at the cost of the health and well being of soldiers, who describe feeling purposeless as they are worked as hard or harder than ever with no clear goal. “everyone in the army is depressed,” one soldier says. soldiers struggling with their mental health are sent to the army’s behavioral health department, referred to colloquially as b.h., which experts and providers call severely dysfunctional and understaffed. at fort riley, for example, there are only about 20 mental health counselors tasked with caring for more than 12,000 soldiers. as a result, soldiers seeking help can wait weeks or months to get an appointment. providers can keep spotty medical records and fail to thoroughly assess patients before prescribing medications, including antidepressants that carry black box warnings that they might worsen suicidality in some young people. though the army says it is trying to remove the stigma around mental health care, it can be careless with patient confidentiality. some unit leaders publicly display a list of their soldiers’ mental health appointments or openly discuss their health statuses. they can also put pressure on providers to make decisions that go against the best interests of their patients.
austin valley’s death exposed the army’s most urgent challenge: a suicide crisis among soldiers in peacetime. the dress uniform of austin valley, a 21 year old who became one of at least 158 active duty army soldiers to die by suicide in 2023.credit... david guttenfelder for the new york times supported by by janet reitman janet reitman is a contributing writer for the magazine who has been reporting on the military and mental health since the mid 2000s. austin valley had just arrived at his army base in poland, last march, when he knocked on his buddy adrian sly’s door to borrow a knife. the base plate of his helmet was loose and needed fixing, he told sly. the soldiers had spent most of their day on a bus, traveling from their former base to this new outpost in nowa deba, near the border with ukraine. it had been a monotonous 12 hour journey with no stops and nothing to eat but military rations. sly thought his friend looked exhausted, but then so did everyone else. he handed valley an old hunting knife, and valley offered an earnest smile. “really appreciate it, man,” he said. then he disappeared. a boyish looking 21 year old, valley grew up in a military family in rural wisconsin and declared his intention to join the army at age 7. he enlisted on his 18th birthday, so intent on a military career that he tried to sign a six year contract until his father, a gulf war veteran, persuaded him to take it more slowly and commit to three. stationed at fort riley, in kansas, he made an immediate impression on his superiors. “he was one of the best workers that i’ve seen in the military,” a squadmate says, recalling how valley, who drove an armored troop carrier, thought nothing of crawling into its guts to check for broken parts, emerging covered in grease, a flash of mischief in his deep brown eyes. valley left sly’s door and walked into the forest. a fresh snow had fallen, and the larch trees towered above him, their branches bare and ghostly. valley carried the borrowed knife and some nylon cord he’d probably procured from another fellow soldier. he texted his parents: hey mom and dad i love you it was never your fault. thirty minutes passed before erik valley, austin’s father, saw the text.