Fort Wainwright Command, Senators, & Local Government,
We are writing to you today on behalf of the young men and women of our military forces who no longer have a voice in this world.
As you are aware, Fort Wainwright has recently lost several of it’s soldiers. It is not fair that ONE, not even ONE soldier’s life be taken due to suicide. These men and women chose to serve the US in war, and if it is to be that they lose their lives in war, we would honor that sacrifice with our whole hearts and souls. But to lose ONE soldier to suicide while stationed at one of our military bases is just too much.
We are humbly requesting a few things of your command beginning immediately.
1. Please provide MORE behavioral health and chaplain support in this remote area where that access is so limited.
2. Reconsider where soldiers fresh out of basic training are sent for duty. A base like Fort Wainwright can be particularly harsh on our military and especially on those who are trying to learn their roles as a new soldier. Perhaps any soldiers sent to FWW as their first duty station, at minimum, be sent for a shorter term and then given the option to move to a lower 48 state base after a set amount of time.
3. Please train your commanding staff more thoroughly on the issues associated with behavioral health that may arise and how to recognize when one of their own soldiers are struggling, support them, and help them to get the help they need. We have been told that soldiers at FWW are often belittled by their commanders if they request help when they’re having behavioral health issues/depression/thoughts of suicide, and this is unacceptable. If this situation occurs, could you consider putting someone else into that commanding role? Someone who would treat our soldiers with the dignity they deserve? After all if they cannot trust their battle buddies at base how are they supposed to trust them when at war together?
We are the USA. The greatest force on this earth and we are humbly asking that ALL of our military be treated with the upmost dignity and assisted in their times of need.
We are urging you today, please support ALL of our military and to do everything you can to resolve these issues!
Sincerely,
Family and Friends of those currently serving and of past service
I just don’t understand it. I mean I know between the darkness, the miles away from home, and the loneliness, you can only handle so much. What I don’t understand is how the higher up doesn’t see. Doesn’t acknowledge their own soldiers. Please. You simply must do better. They are fighting for you tOo. . .