CARLISLE BARRACKS, Pa. – The United States Military Academy's William Simon Center for Professional Military Ethics Award was recently presented to U.S. Army Lt. Col. Marlene Elias-Reynoso, a former Army psychiatric nurse who now serves as commander of the U.S. Army Health Clinic in Ansbach, Germany.
The Professional Military Ethics Award was presented to Arias-Reynoso for a Ted Talk-style video he produced while attending the United States Military Academy. The video, titled “Going Off the Boom,” focuses on transforming suicide prevention in the military, specifically leveraging leadership at the squad and platoon level.
According to officials with the William Simon Center for Professional Military Ethics, the ethics award is given to a student who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in research, strategic thinking and communication related to national security issues.
“My primary goal during my time at the Military Academy was to share my insights as a behavioral health care provider,” Arias-Reynoso said, “I also wanted to bring attention to a subject I'm deeply passionate about. I'm committed to using every platform to enhance behavioral health care readiness and empower leaders to do their best to support their teams.”
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. military, according to a recent Department of Defense report, which also noted that rising suicide rates among service members and veterans over the past decade have raised concerns among the public and experts.
“As a medic, I realized the best thing I could do to save lives was to engage with my leaders,” Arias-Reynoso added. “Ensuring the health and well-being of our Soldiers is a top priority for all Army leaders, but it's our leaders at the platoon and platoon level who interact with our Soldiers every day.”
Pentagon officials say suicide prevention is a long-term effort, and the men and women who serve our country in uniform are the Department of Defense's most important asset.
“Young leaders are key to Soldier well-being,” Arias-Reynoso added. “To effectively prevent suicide, they must prioritize open and honest communication and foster an atmosphere of trust where Soldiers feel comfortable asking for help. Recognizing signs of distress, such as changes in behavior, performance or mood, is key.”
Senior military officials say behavioral health impacts both soldiers and unit readiness.
“Mental and emotional health is essential for Soldiers to perform their missions effectively,” Arias-Reynoso said. “Resilient Soldiers make better decisions, adapt quickly to challenges, and contribute more to their unit. Meanwhile, untreated mental health issues can negatively impact morale, judgment, and overall performance. These issues can also increase the risk of accidents, injuries, and even suicide, weakening unit cohesion and fighting readiness.”
What can Army leaders do to ensure behavioral health and resilience in their soldiers?
“Empowering everyone to be part of the solution is essential,” Arias-Reynoso added. “You don't have to be a mental health professional to make a difference. Suicide prevention is a collaborative effort that requires the involvement of Soldiers, leaders, family members and support staff. Investing in prevention programs and fostering a culture of open communication will not only save lives, but will also build a more resilient and effective Army.”
Date taken: August 14, 2024 Date posted: August 14, 2024 03:55 Story ID: 478548 Location: DE Web views: 5 Downloads: 0 Public domain
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