Chief Roy issues call for action in latest 'Perspective'

News > Chief Roy issues call for action in latest 'Perspective'

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• CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT OF THE AIR FORCE JAMES A. ROY

Chief Roy issues call for action in latest 'Perspective'

Posted 10/26/2010

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by Janie Santos
Defense Media Activity-San Antonio

10/26/2010 - SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) -- In his latest "Enlisted Perspective," the Air Force's top enlisted Airman wants everyone's help to stem the alarming increase in the number of suicides among the total force Airmen, active duty, guard, reserve and civilians.

"We've had a drastic increase this year in the number of suicides among our total force Airmen," Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy said. "Last year we lost 84 Airmen by suicides; this year, we've nearly reached that number, and it is only October. Even one suicide is too many!"

Chief Roy said that Air Force people must take immediate action and get involved to look out for each other.

"Supervisors at every level must act now," Chief Roy said. "Get to know your Airmen better and understand their personal and professional challenges. This is not a time to sit idle and think this won't happen in your unit. No one is immune."

"Suicides range the spectrum of ages, locations, major commands and career fields," he said. "The two most common factors we've seen are problems with relationships and finances."

Chief Roy also pointed out to all Airmen that no one should be afraid to seek help for fear of reprisal.

"Military and family life consultants, chaplains and medical professionals are all available." he said. "Also, Military One Source counselors are always available by calling 800-342-9647 or visiting www.militaryonesource.com."

This viewpoint and other senior leader viewpoint can be found in the information section on AF.mil.

Comments

11/1/2010 11:49:30 AM ET
MSgt Brian Potvin, It is also up to us NCOs and SNCOs to inform our leaders when things aren't right. Amongst ourselves, we can have open dialogue about these things, don't you agree? You can call it complaining all you want. The growing culture of distrust and fear mongering going on in our AF is absolutely pointless. The insidious and alarming nature of suicide and its prevention in these uncertain times should be more than just direction and policy to and for the troops, but at the same time, leadership dictates attitude and vice versa. I don't need policy to tell me that's contagious on so many levels.

MSgt Henry Thomas, Southwest Asia

10/29/2010 12:44:57 PM ET
Reading all these comments and knowing how tough the requirements have gotten makes me glad, I am retired. I do believe there are many good Leaders still out there, the difference between an O6 and a Colonel and a E9 and a CMSgt is the O6 and the E9 achieved the rank despite the fact they don't know how to be a leader of people. The Colonel and the Chief know and understand people and make it a point to speak with as many they can daily and understand how to motivate them and be there when someone needs just to talk off record. I met both kinds through out my 22 year career and I'm sure that both still are amongst the many still on active duty. If you're reading this then perform a self assessment and do the right thing and retire if you're just an O6 or an E9 becuase it sounds like the US Air Force is badly in need of more Colonels and CMSGTs to take care of and lead the troops in these austere times. Make no bones about it, times are tough out in the civilian world as well

USAF Retired 1989, Ohio

10/29/2010 9:56:02 AM ET
Please do not trivialize suicide by insinuating that a failed PT test would be a reason to die. There are a lot of complicated factors that go into feelings of suicide. It's never just one thing finances, bad relationship, PT etc. Yes the military sometimes focuses on just one cause but I think that's wrong. I believe CMSAF Roy's message was for all of us to look out for each other and talk to each other. If we share with friends and co-workers problems we are having, it goes a long way to help us deal with life. Like G Europe was saying good conversation. What happened to friends talking? JC Alabama when the young lady was crying was there anyone with her? Where was her support for the past few months encouraging her live a healthy life and exercise so she could pass her PT without problem? Where was that friend or mentor that should have been running alongside her? We don't always see that someone is struggling for their life. They hide it out of fear.

SMSgt widow of suicide , Randolph AFB TX

10/29/2010 4:58:13 AM ET
Air Force leadership doesn't know how to lead, they know how to accomplish tasks. They don't know how to be empathetic and help people get the resources they need to either be successful in their personal lives or to alleviate their workload. They know how to tell people to work longer hours, volunteer more, get more education and then berate them when their PT starts to fall behind and then blame it all on their supervisors when bad things happen.

Sgt whoever, neither here nor there

10/28/2010 3:19:04 PM ET
Reading comments like these never surprises me anymore. Why can't the Air Force stop complaining and criticizing everything that is said It's obvious that the intention of CMSAF Roy's message is for us all to be aware of the signs that one of our fellow Airmen is going through a tough time and to get them the help necessary. Please stop the complaining...it does nothing but further erode morale in the Air Force. No one is perfect even if you have 4 stars on your shoulder or 8 stripes on your sleeves. It's up to us as NCO's and SNCO's to let our people know when it's time to stop questioning things and just follow the rules.

MSgt Brian Potvin, Laughlin AFB TX

10/28/2010 9:37:47 AM ET
The longer I'm in the Air Force the more I realize that leadership feels we are mindless morons who can't see what's really going on. The Chief says The two most common factors we've seen are problems with relationships and finances. Sooo there has been a drastic increase in suicides because more people are fighting with their wives and husbands and more people are hurting financially. Give me a break and please spare me the fog. As others below have stated there this a pretty good chance there is a direct correlation with the new PT test and do more with less ops tempo. It's alway shut up color. Oh and this time fix it yourselves and stop killing yourselves.

CS, SAFB

10/28/2010 6:26:23 AM ET
How about people take responsibility for their own lives and stop blaming the USAF for everyone of their problems? Guy commits suicide. Blame that on his additional duties and deployments...on a PT Test? Give me a break.

Jim Bob, Camp Bastion

10/28/2010 1:30:34 AM ET
The AF needs to take a serious look at what kind and how much medication they are handing out for PTSD, etc. I was on several medications for several years, each with their own mind altering nuisances. I finally quit taking them after I spent time last Christmas eve with a pair of shears to my chest wondering what was going on. I stopped taking the medication and have been fine ever since. Turns out it was nothing some good conversation couldn't fix. I was of the belief that the Army has noted this problem as well, so why hasn't the AF looked into it?

G, Europe

10/27/2010 8:46:56 PM ET
I agree with DR Germany... We are asked to do more with less and still having a personal life is getting harder. People with families suffer and dual military members have a hard time. We preach wingman and family but we are taking away a very important part of that message - Time with Family...Downtime. We are still scaling back our workforce and from my standpoint need to retain. I have worked as a tech all the way up to a manager and see this first hand. We come out with forceshaping and then all of sudden people who had future plans need to re-evaluate.

Master, Hawaii

10/27/2010 6:31:02 PM ET
SSgt TCI'm not sure what leads you to believe I'm not happy I'm alive....but I am. I self identified that I was having issues. My family means more to me than the AF that's for sure. My wingmen never saw this happening to me and I'm sure most people that like to call themselves wingmen don't. Wingman is a cliche' that the AF likes to use to tell you to your job. My friends saw that I was I wasn't Me but only after I told them how I was feeling did they come out and say that. But my point is if you have a problem yes absolutely seek help but the line of no fear of reprisal is false.....it will affect your career trust me.

Someguy, Somewhere

10/27/2010 3:41:45 PM ET
I agree. I too just recently had my PT test and I too was worried. I scored high but was close on the waist. Luckily I can retire if I have to but some of the younger troops do not have that option. It does bother me that our worth is valued as our waist size. The article mentioned relationships as an issue is it that or relationship problems because of deployments I hope the trend ends but I am not optimistic.

SMSgt, Langley

10/27/2010 2:31:58 PM ET
People need to pay more attention to their fellow Airmen. All the policy in the world won't help anything if we are not looking out for each other. We are all one family even if it is a dysfunctional family sometimes. Being a good wingman is the only way to get people the help they need before its too late. Some guy you don't really sound all that happy that your life was saved. Being a flyer isn't the most important thing in the world. Do you think your family cares more that you are alive or that you get to do a cool job?

SSgt TC, hill AFB

10/27/2010 11:22:49 AM ET
I witnessed a young lady in tears before her PT test just a day ago. She passed, but where is the concern for people -- gone To a sterile system of distrust and neglect. I would be willing to bet as people's careers are in jeopardy over fitness, we will see a rise in suicide. The we care is probably not enough Boss.

JC, Alabama

10/27/2010 11:18:03 AM ET
AF Leaders need to SQUELCH 1 Stop the JET taskings to the Army 2 Quit cutting chaplains 3 Undo the changes to PFT 4 End extra duties 5 Layoff blaming us for the suicides and fix the fact that folks are overworked. 6 Clean up the nuke world without making the rest of us feel like heels

N, Texas

10/27/2010 11:09:22 AM ET
Fear of reprisal That's all well and good unless you're a flyer or hold some kind of security clearance because speaking from experience it will affect your career. Am I glad I'm alive? Absolutely but has it affected my career? Absolutely I sought help, was hospitalized and now am healthy enough physically and mentally to resume my life. But the AF says no, I'm too much of a risk to fly again or to trust with information....so here I am without a job a clearance looking for a new career.....so watch out for the party line of you can self identify without fear of reprisal

Someguy, Somewhere

10/27/2010 1:28:37 AM ET
Do more with less...could that possibly be one of the reasons for the alarming increase in suicides across the force? Airmen family relationships are definitely suffering from this increase in operations tempo while at the same time reducing the force. Airmen are being taxed with far too many additional duties. While what Chief Roy says how Air Force people must take action. surely is true...but how about Air Force leadership actually taking action and doing something that can stop the trend? It's not going to get better at this rate...it will get far worse. Fellow Airmen who are struggling out there just know that you are not alone...hopefully the Air Force will soon get back to the Air Force we all knew and loved.

DR, Germany

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