Report released on suicides of 4 recruitersThe Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jan 21, 2009 21:26:58 EST
HOUSTON —
Poor leadership, stress and individual issues were all factors in the suicides of four Army recruiters in a single battalion, an Army investigation found.Brig. Gen. Dell Turner, who conducted the investigation ordered by the secretary of the Army, told the Houston Chronicle that there was no single cause for the deaths in the Houston Recruiting Battalion, but all Army recruiters will conduct a one-day stand-down next month for training, suicide prevention and recruiter wellness.
The investigation was prompted by four suicides within the 266-member Houston battalion since 2005. All four were combat veterans, and some family members complained that the high-stress and isolation of the recruiting job helped crush the men. The Houston battalion was the only one of the 38 battalions nationwide to report more than one suicide in recent years.
Fifteen recruiters nationwide have committed suicide since 2003.
Turner said the one-day stand-down is a significant action.
Rest of article at:
http://armytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_recruiter_suicides_012109/%2e