Brigade Resiliency Team addresses safety

By Private 1st Class Shawn Denham
101st Sustainment Brigade

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. October 21 – The 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, has initiated a new program designed to identify, aid and assist at-risk soldiers in regards to personal safety and mental welfare.
The Brigade Resiliency Team is part of a base wide initiative that will attempt to focus on bringing all units together to actively give aid to at-risk soldiers and their families. The program is also a direct response to recent incidents both on and off post during the past several months, most recently during the Columbus Day weekend.
“Soldiers are our greatest asset, and we have to exhaust every resource we have to protect them,” said Staff Sgt. Jeffery W. Duncan, chaplain’s assistant for the 101st Sustainment Brigade Unit Ministry Team.
The Resiliency team will consist of several key leaders within the brigade. They include the following members:
• The brigade surgeon leads the individual teams, and offers both medical and psychiatric referral to health care providers.
• The brigade Judge Advocate General (JAG) notifies the brigade surgeon of potential at-risk Soldiers, as well as refer the Soldiers to health care providers.
• The brigade Chaplain conducts confidential one-on-one counseling with the Soldier and offers assistance according to each situation. A chaplain’s assistant can act on the Chaplain’s behalf in their absence. A ‘duty to warn’ exception is in place in the event of a soldier possibly being an active danger to himself or those around him.
• The Military Family Life Consultant’s purpose is to grant families of at-risk soldiers guidance and counseling. The intent of the program is to protect the soldier, his family, career and overall unit welfare and readiness.


According to the Brigade Resiliency Team Standard Operating Policy (SOP), possible causes related to self-endangerment include debt, divorce or other family issues, religious conflicts, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, Driving Under the Influence, unsafe driving practices and workplace issues.
Duncan said the team’s goal is to open lines of communication between the soldier and the chaplain, directing the soldier to aid if needed.
Captain Jesse P. DeLuca, brigade surgeon for 101st Sustainment Brigade and leader of the 101st Sustainment brigade Resiliency team, said the program actively searches for people who need assistance or guidance as soon as a problem arises.
“It’s not like we need to advertise and say 'come to us', because that’s a step backwards,” he said. “It’s the people that may not know about us we need to seek out,”
“It’s not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength and being able to train properly,” DeLuca said.

Ft. Campbell Soldier Saves A Life - Erika Lathon

Ft. Campbell Soldier Saves A Life - Erika Lathon

A different Approach to Safety

716th MPs use relevant issues during “Safety Day”

By Sergeant First Class Pete Mayes
101st Sustainment Brigade

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., October 15, 2009 – During a recent Brigade level “Safety Day”, the 716thMilitary Police Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, decided to take a different approach to reach out to Soldiers.
Instead of using tried-and true slide presentations discussing topics like Extreme Cold Weather and Seatbelt Safety, the MP’s used “bonding events” … flicker ball, sit-down meals, small group discussion, and even watching the movie, “Stand By Me” together as a unit.
It was part of a “Holistic Approach” employed at the various battalions to address at-risk behaviors that have recently plagued the brigade.
The battalion conducted their “Peacekeeper Safety Round-Up” in which Soldiers and their squad leaders addressed personal and professional safety issues, identified Soldiers most prone to high risk behavior, and team building exercises.
“We want to hear from the Soldiers. Let them tell us what solutions we can come up with as leaders to help them,” said Sergeant Major William T. Griffin, S-3 Operations Sergeant Major for the 716th MP Battalion. “It gives us a better understanding of our Soldiers.”
Sustainment Brigade Safety Officer James Jennings said the brigade is working with the Installation Risk Reduction Program to address the issues.
“Law enforcement usually tracks traffic-related incidents, the medical community tracks health and behavioral issues. And of course safety, vehicle, and personal safety issues are tracked by the safety office, but we still might not always be able to connect the dots to at-risk behavior,” he said.
“The bottom line is that we have to realize how to deal with those individuals in situations where their own behavior becomes the focal point.”
Fifteen Fort Campbell Soldiers have died in the past four months due to some form of at-risk behavior, according to statistics provided by the 716th MP Bn. Two of those deaths occurred during the recent Columbus Day four-day weekend. Those behaviors have included suicide, vehicle accidents, and drug overdoses. At least three deaths are still pending autopsy, according to statistics.
The Soldier-led discussions proved successful within the 716th MP Bn. The Soldiers there did not use the sessions to complain about problems, but spoke honestly about their issues and concerns, and went as far as offering ways to resolve them and boost unit morale.
“Instead of just checking the block, or going through a slide show that was put together, we’re talking about serious issues that impact us on a personal level,” said Specialist Christian Stahl, an MP with the 561st Military Police Company.
“Rather than watching some video about a car crash that happened in Britain, we’re talking about what happened to me on 41-A yesterday at Arby’s. It’s more personalized, it’s more localized and I think a little more constructive. We have a little more feedback, because at the end of an hour-long slide show no one wants to raise their hand and bring up any questions.”
Sergeant Joseph Locurto said the group sessions were the most effective means to tackling the issues.
“Doing it this way in this type of forum, it’s more of a constructive forum. We’re all understanding and seeing what the issues are instead of what you only see. We’ see it from everyone else’s point of view and hopefully it gets sent to higher and will be addressed,” he said.
Sergeant Major Griffin said the purpose of approaching “Safety Day” the way they did was to give Soldiers and squad leaders a way to articulate their concerns.
“We want them to have critical thinking and have them and solve some of these issues on their own. It’s not a squad leader preaching to his Soldiers, or a day to beat Johnny down. We wanted that interaction with the Soldiers, and it has to be a heartfelt, passionate discussion,” he said.

Combat Medic uses skills to save NCO’s life

By Sergeant First Class Pete Mayes
101st Sustainment Brigade

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., October 8, 2009 – Specialist Timothy Lee has used his skills to save the lives of Iraqi nationals while he was deployed in theater. He recently used those skills again, this time to help save the life of a fellow Soldier here at Fort Campbell.
Specialist Lee, who is assigned to the 2-44th Air Defense Artillery Battalion, used CPR to save the life of fellow battalion Sergeant First Class Peter Kelly. He received an Army Commendation Medal for his actions.
Major Robert “Sean” Newell, Battalion Executive Officer, 2-44th ADA, said Lee’s actions that day were in keeping with the Army Creed.
As Soldiers, we are never to leave behind a fallen comrade. On that day, (Lee) exemplified that,” he said.
Specialist Lee said he was returning to his barracks Monday morning, October 7 from his overnight duty as the medic at the Expert Field Medical Badge Course. As he got out of his truck, he said he was told a medic was needed to help a Soldier who was on the ground across the street.
“I got there and there were about 10 Soldiers huddled around (SFC Kelly). He was on the ground and he didn’t have a pulse,” Specialist Lee said.
Specialist Lee said he began to administer Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation to SFC Kelly in an attempt to revive him. He continued to do so until an EMT unit arrived and took the sergeant to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital.
Sergeant First Class Kelly was later transferred to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. He is listed in serious condition.
Specialist Lee, who has been in the Army over two years, said he used the life-saving steps to treat SFC Kelly … skills that all Combat Medics learn in their Advance Individual Training. These same skills are what the medics are using as they compete for the right to wear the EFMB badge.
“It’s about them using those skills and being proficient with them in a combat environment,” he said.
Asked if he thought his skills made a difference in saving the sergeant’s life, Lee answered humbly. “I think so,” he said.

Leadership through Humility

MP Company Captain to represent Sustainment Brigade for MacArthur Leadership Award

By Sergeant First Class Pete Mayes
101st Sustainment Brigade

FORT CAMPBELL, KY., October 4, 2009 – When Captain Michael Cotovsky learned he was being nominated to represent the 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, at the Division-level Gen. Douglas MacArthur Leadership Awards, he did what he normally does in these instances.
He gave to the credit to the Soldiers under his command.
“(The Soldiers) are extremely professional and are always trying to do what’s right,” he said. “They always want to represent the company well, and when they’re given a task, they get after it.”
Captain Cotovsky was recognized by Sustainment Brigade leadership and his company this past Friday. He and his company recently returned from a one-year tour to Iraq five months ago.
The award was created in 1987 by the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Foundation to recognize company-grade officers who demonstrate MacArthur's ideals of "duty, honor, country." The award sustains and promotes effective junior leadership in the Army.
716th Military Police Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Michael Dolata said Captain Cotovsky, commander of the 194th Military Police Company, represents the best example of an officer who takes care of both the Soldier and their families.
During their deployment, LTC Dolata said the company worked alongside the Iraqi Police and the Marine Corps conducting training and law enforcement. All the Soldiers who deployed came back, he said.
“We only select the best MPs to serve here,” he said. “The Cotovsky’s are a super part of the 194th.”
Captain Cotovsky’s wife, Catherine, said her husband she was not surprised about the nomination, nor his non-chalant attitude toward it. It’s just part of his personality, she said.
“He would never ask any of his Soldiers to do things that he would not do himself,” she said. “I think they see that in him and respect him for it.”
“The job’s never done,” Captain Cotovsky said. “There’s always work to do.”