Battle Buddy - Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention

Suicide prevention is a major objective of the Battle Buddy system. In 2006, the suicide rate in the United States Army increased by 37% and, by 2009, there were 344 completed suicides by military personnel (211 of whom were members of the Army). In response, efforts to identify suicide prevention initiatives have increased; military and legislative officials found the assignment of Battle Buddies to be an effective method of decreasing military suicide rates.

Several soldiers have been saved from suicide by their Battle Buddies, demonstrating the effectiveness of this suicide prevention program. For example, in August 2008, while the pair was deployed in Iraq, Specialist Albert Godding prevented his Buddy, Specialist Joe Sanders, from shooting himself in the head. Having recently learned that his wife wanted a divorce, Sanders put an M-4 carbine under his chin and pulled the trigger, but the gun failed to fire. Godding, noticing that his Battle Buddy was distraught, had removed the firing pin earlier in the day, thus disarming the weapon and saving Sanders' life.

Godding would eventually receive the Meritorious Service Medal for his actions. After the thwarted attempt, Sanders sought counseling. Two years later – at which point he had been promoted and gone on to continue a successful military career – Sanders, spoke publicly about the experience, expressing gratitude for his Buddy's actions: "If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have gotten to experience my fiancée. I wouldn't have gotten to lead troops, or attend schools and learn. Those are things I love to do."

The Army has also reported another Battle Buddy success story involving Specialist James V. Dunz and another soldier named Eddie. Noticing that Eddie was on the ground, being bullied by a group of other soldiers, Dunz intervened and helped Eddie up to his feet. Dunz and Eddie would eventually become Battle Buddies. Years later, at Eddie's retirement ceremony, he revealed that he had been planning to commit suicide before Dunz intervened to help him. In his retirement ceremony speech, Eddie stated: "Retirement is a time to thank those who helped you make it through all the tough years: your parents, your family, even your sergeants—but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a Battle Buddy to someone is the best gift you can give him."