Below is the foreword to the report, “Preventing Suicide in the U.S. Military: Recommendations from the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee.”  Here at Ruddershift, we believe that helping service members transition is just one such way we can help reduce veteran suicide. Too many veterans wind up underemployed following their transition from service, and all too often are overwhelmed in the process of finding a new career. Making the transition as smooth as possible and providing for the service member as holistically as possible is our goal, always.

I encourage service members, clients, and those interested to read the report, linked below.

~ Tom

A Letter To Service Members of the U.S. Military,

It is with gratitude and appreciation that we submit to you our report, “Preventing Suicide in the U.S. Military: Recommendations from the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee.” We undertook this task with you as our primary stakeholder. We never lost sight of your dedication, passion, courage, and commitment to service as we developed our recommendations.

We heard your voices loud and clear. During our visits, we invited you to identify what is and is not working, and what needs to change when it comes to suicide prevention and response in the Armed Forces. We asked what you would specifically recommend to the Secretary of Defense to prevent suicide. Your candor and compassion were most impressive. You overwhelmingly supported the DoD’s efforts to prevent suicide as the right thing to do. While some current efforts were not seen as effective, you did not hesitate to reinforce the importance of suicide prevention practices and helped us consider different options to decrease the risk of suicide among those in uniform.

You are your families sacrifice every day for us. You deserve excellence, dignity, and respect, and to have your voices heard. Our freedom and national security depend on each and every one of you, and we endeavor to work equally hard to support you in the ways we can. We are grateful and honored for the opportunity to serve you and thank you for sharing your voices for this important effort.

Sincerely,

The writers of the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee (SPRIRC) Report, dated 4 January, 2023

Link to the full report