Task Force 34 develops unique suicide prevention program

Everyone in the military has heard of a battle buddy. You take care of this person and they take care of you. You watch out for each other in battle and you are both accountable to each other.

In today’s war fight, the stresses of the battle continue long after the fight. To equip our Soldiers to win the mental challenges of war, Task Force 34’s Chaplain, LTC Joel Severson, uses a simple and proven technique of depending on your battle buddy, and he calls it RANGER 6.

With the increased levels of suicide permeating all branches of the military, Task Force 34’s Commander, COL R. Clay Brock asked CH Severson to “come up with something that will equip our Soldiers with the tools they need to win this fight.”

Having served together in Kosovo in 2003-04, CH Severson recalled what worked then.

“We called it Battle Buddies. We were the first rotation in Kosovo without a suicide or attempted suicide,” CH Severson recalled.  “We both believed that it was due, in part, to the Battle Buddy accountability system.”

During that deployment, there was a close call, but his battle buddy saved his life.

“We had two Soldiers who received Dear John letters. One of the Soldier’s contemplated suicide, but couldn’t because he felt he would let his battle buddy down,” CH Severson said.  “If you don’t kill yourself because you are concerned about getting your battle buddy in trouble, then everyone gets a battle buddy.”

“The RANGER 6 program, which takes this concept a step further, was born out of a need to do a better job of being our brother’s keeper. Soldiers always talk about being family and we agree,” said CH Severson. “When it comes to suicide, who is responsible for taking care of you?

“Based on the number of counseling sessions that we were doing, I knew our Soldiers were feeling the stresses of deployment,” said CH Severson, “and we had to do something. COL Brock liked the Battle Buddy program from Kosovo, but he wanted more.”

From there CH Severson had an idea.

“Everyone understands how tough Rangers are and that your 6 o’clock is your most vulnerable position,” he said.  “So why not build on something that everyone understands and develop a contract with six people to look out for you at your weakest time.”

The acronym RANGER 6 stands for Remember, Ask, Never, Get to know, Everyone can use help and Remember your team depends on you.

“It is important for Soldiers to remember that they are loved, important, a vital member of a team and that they are accountable to their battle buddies,” CH Severson said.

When people are thinking about suicide, they feel disconnected from things. They need to remember that they are a part of something bigger, a team, and that they are an integral part of what makes that team work. Battle buddies need to ask each other how they are doing on a regular basis, really get to know each other and never forget to check on your battle buddy.

As a pastor, CH Severson built on the fact that in Hebrews, seven is the perfect number of completion.

“The number seven stands for life,” explained CH Severson, “and so you need six battle buddies with you to make seven and that equals life.”

Units conduct two hour briefings, talk about the red flags, and drill Soldiers to recognize the warning signs. But to make it meaningful, everyone signs the RANGER 6 contract, stating the six people they will talk to if they need help. The contract is committing that they are responsible for each other.

Other units are also looking at implementing this simple program. The 18th Airborne Corp asked for a copy of CH Severson’s presentation and is going to implement the program in the very near future and CH Severson will be visiting with I Corp to explain what TF34 is doing.

The amazing thing is, according to CH Severson, the program works.

“People feel important, they feel connected and they feel that they matter,” CH Severson said.  “We have all ready had two Soldiers turn over their weapons to one of their battle buddies on the RANGER 6 contract list.”

“When you make a commitment to another Soldier, you keep it,” CH Severson said. “It’s that simple.”

Although nothing is guaranteed, this program is just one more tool commanders can use to help Soldiers fight this battle.

“If it saves one life, and we believe it has,” CH Severson said, “then it is worth it.”

Leaders, commanders or anyone interested in receiving unit training on the RANGER 6 program can contact Severson at joel.severson@iraq.centcom.mil for more information.

By MAJ Roy Fuhrmann, TF 34 Public Affairs Officer
5 Apr 09