Army Times today wrote: "A record number of suicides has prompted Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli to launch a massive house-cleaning plan with orders to garrison, installation and medical commanders to revive lapsed health and welfare programs, and restore discipline in the barracks."
More: "Soldiers increasingly are 'popping hot' on urine analysis tests for substances that include LSD, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamines, heroin and illegally used prescription drugs, according to Brig. Gen. Colleen McGuire, director of the Suicide Prevention Task Force, who described that as 'an eye opener.' Almost as unexpected as the rise in drug and alcohol abuse was that most of those soldiers haven’t been referred for treatment or evaluation, McGuire said. Many soldiers would have been chaptered out if regulations had been followed, she said. The breakdown in discipline is one of the more glaring examples of falling morale and points to an environment in which tired leaders have had their focus on war for almost eight years, she said."
Remember the post-Vietnam era? How long did it take to get the Army back on track? Same basic issues then as now in my view. Leaders led in combat but forgot how to do so in garrison. I'm talking primarily about NCO leaders here, but officers are certainly not without blame. No excuses, fix it.
