Just a thought, figured it was worth posting. Throughout my time in the Navy, I got sick of the annual requirement and having to sit through it, including making jokes like “this training makes me want to commit suicide”.
Fast-forward 15 years. Close family friend gives me something of some value, we had been helping them out for about a month but no way can they afford to give me that (relative to what they have; based on their personal situation, they should pawn it or sell it online). Alarm bells went off, along with other things we’d already seen (reclusivity, alcoholism, change in behavior, etc; expected depression for sure, wasn’t thinking suicide until that moment). Had the hard talk asking him about it 15 minutes later after gathering myself, and sure enough suicidal, been contemplating it for a few days. Man is 7 years older than me, I’m not babysitting him or considering Baker acting him (based on the conversation, he wasn’t planning on immediately carrying it out), but had a deep conversation, letting him know we cared etc, and would be happy to help more, etc, and hopefully it helps.
In other words, as stupid as the training may seem when you young ensigns are going through it, you never know when it might help you counsel a younger enlisted person in your shop (who maybe knows about someone else who is suicidal and maybe comes to you), or someone in your personal life. I’d happily trade all that time for the relentless training now that it lit the master warning in my brain, even if it shoulda been lit earlier.
Fast-forward 15 years. Close family friend gives me something of some value, we had been helping them out for about a month but no way can they afford to give me that (relative to what they have; based on their personal situation, they should pawn it or sell it online). Alarm bells went off, along with other things we’d already seen (reclusivity, alcoholism, change in behavior, etc; expected depression for sure, wasn’t thinking suicide until that moment). Had the hard talk asking him about it 15 minutes later after gathering myself, and sure enough suicidal, been contemplating it for a few days. Man is 7 years older than me, I’m not babysitting him or considering Baker acting him (based on the conversation, he wasn’t planning on immediately carrying it out), but had a deep conversation, letting him know we cared etc, and would be happy to help more, etc, and hopefully it helps.
In other words, as stupid as the training may seem when you young ensigns are going through it, you never know when it might help you counsel a younger enlisted person in your shop (who maybe knows about someone else who is suicidal and maybe comes to you), or someone in your personal life. I’d happily trade all that time for the relentless training now that it lit the master warning in my brain, even if it shoulda been lit earlier.