Army ranger commits suicide to avoid 9th tour in Afghanistan

[derf]

Originally Posted by Tmall

8 tours in 6 years? How is that even allowed?

Ranger Regiments, when they say tours they mean one off specialty missions that they trained months for to general tours where they go over (those types of units) for 4-6 months. However these guys see real combat, just like in the movies, so yeh this guy has seen some shit.

I have nothing but heartfelt sympathy for this guy, he was let down at every step from what the article says. That whole world/lifestyle is about manly aggression, being the best warfighter out there. But there are some glaring inconsitencies that make me think what the guy was telling his family and friends vs what what was really going on, or he just didn't understand the army and for someone of his rank with his experience that is shit he should know.

First off read everything you sign. If he re-enlisted then he signed off on not getting what was promised. Here is a standard re-enlistment form, used across the board by everybody, read the bold line at the bottom of the page next to the words enlistee initial here (http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/i...rms/dd0004.pdf).

Secondly he had been given a minimum of 4 chances to get help. Granted it's based on self reporting, but his wife family and anyone else who was concerned could have asked for help.

Third, once you volunteer to join the regiment you are there for 36 months, longer than that you have to volunteer for longer time. I can also tell you that there is a ton of peer pressure to stay, mostly because they are looking for veteran ranger qualified leaders, but if he wanted to leave he could have.

What the real problem is, is the culture that is necessary in a unit like that, and most any direct combat unit. Be aggressive, fight through the pain, one more mile to run, keep on going, never quit. And you can't change that, its needed or people will die. He was let down at every level and it sucks.


As far as getting a memorial ceremony, thats not going to happen. Until earlier this month death by suicide was not eligible for a memorial unless it was questionable if it was a suicide. In the beginning of august that changed and now any death is eligible for a memorial ceremony.