What are y'all seeing among your people in regards to mental health? I've seen a lot of variance by MOS, and deployable vs non-deployable billets, but overall it's not good. I know COVID was hard on everyone, but I think the active duty population has taken it harder. Especially some of our sailors and marines that have had to go out to sea, without any port calls, for months on end. Many are cracking as the optemp isn't slowing.

Keep an eye on your peeps, and take care of yourselves as well.

I've been on active duty for 6 years. The constant cycle of CTC rotations, deployments, and non combat rotations takes its toll. Even in the ~year between deployments we spend most of our time bouncing between training events. I have way too much leave saved up for a junior captain and I am constantly feeling like I am in a state of burnout. Field grades don't care because they show up feeling fresh from their schools ready to run everyone into the ground to get their top block OER. Then once they run the unit into the ground they PCS and someone else fresh from school comes in and the cycle starts all over again. I love the Army, I really do. But this type of life is not sustainable.

Trident15 said:

---

Then once they run the unit into the ground they PCS and someone else fresh from school comes in and the cycle starts all over again. I love the Army, I really do. But this type of life is not sustainable.

---

Wait until you get into the corporate world and get on the quarterly profits cycle.
You do it all over again every 90 days and then at some point, the owners/board decides to cash out.
In the Army you might not know who you're prepping to fight against but, at least you know who you're fighting for.

Anyway, for the OP, the Senior Military College my youngest attended lost two guys this past week. One was Class of 2018 and the other was Class of 2021. Our nation's current Mental Health crisis is no joke.

It is a very real problem. Our numbers for the military are much higher than general population.

I worked for Vice Admiral Stearney who took his life in 2018. Even at our highest levels, we have major issues.

We must look out for one another. People I work with have concerns that getting mental health will affect their career. I am living proof that it doesn't. My wife called me out one day for my mental health and I called Fleet and Family Support Center and saw a counselor. Went about 6 times and it helped. My command wasn't notified and my job not affected. I like to tell my Sailors that I went to encourage them to.

If you need help, it is OK to ask! Call OneSource, FFSC, or your medical provider. The military has help and we need to support one another in getting in.

I've been active duty for about 17 years and just took command of a ship. This is a valid concern as I evaluate my crew. Not only did ships deploy last year without any port visits, but we also combined major training events with deployment in order to maintain a clean bubble. During my XO tour, this equated to adding approximately 6 weeks to the front of the deployment.

For me personally, I returned from deployment late January and am essentially deploying for another 5 months this year (not in theater this time; pre-commissioning unit going to the location the ship is being built and then sailing it around following commissioning). It is hard on the family, which makes it difficult for our Sailors.

Big truck guy,

I don't know if you remember me, but we exchanged emails a couple years ago. Thanks for the guidance. I start my Clincal Social Work program this week at the University of Houston. I type this out as I'm waiting in line at CIF to turn in all my equipment and ETS.

Im heading off to the Reserve Army to become a Medical Services Officer. I signed a 3 year contract and my online UH program is 3 years. Upon completion of the program I will apply for Active Duty again and finish up my last 10 years as a Clincal Social Worker and behavioral health specialist. I'm currently interning at Texas State University's Veterans services department.

Anyways, thanks for the help a couple years ago, it meant a lot. If anyone ever has questions about transitioning or struggling with transition, reach out to me.

Santiago Morales
919-895-0317
morales dot santiago89 at gmail