Page 5 - Fort Irwin High Desert Warrior, September 2020

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High Desert Warrior 5 September 2020
MEDDAC
MEDDAC Minute September is national Suicide Prevention Month
• According to a 2019 Congressional Research Service report titled “Recent Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths,” between 2006 and 2018, 3,863 active duty service members ended their own lives. This is more than service members who were killed in action, (2,710), and service members who died by wounds (886), combined.
• According to a 2016 report from the Office of Suicide Prevention, while veterans account for only 8.5% of the U.S. population, 18% of all adult suicides in the U.S. are veterans, or about 20 veteran suicides per day.
• These numbers paint a sobering picture: Suicide is the second leading cause of death among service members, and one of the leading causes of death among veterans.
Warning Signs of Suicide and Suicidal Behavior:
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Feeling like there’s no way out of a problem or circumstance - Anxiety and agitation
- Sleeplessness
- Mood swings
- Feeling like there is no reason to live - Rage / anger
- Risky behavior
- Increasing alcohol or drug use / abuse - Withdrawing from family and friends
Resources: if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal feelings please contact any of the resources below
Military OneSource @ 800-342-9647 https://ww.militaryonesource.mil WACH Behavioral Health Clinic 3rd Floor – 760-383-5440
Military Crisis Line @ 800-273-8255 operated 24/7
Veterans Crisis Line @ 1-800-273-8255. Operated 24/7
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services 1-800-622-4357 Military Family Life Counselors 760-818-2646/2705
Embedded Behavioral Health Clinic BLDG 190 B AVE – 760-380-7190
troop or company commander level.
-Non mission-essential travel to Barstow is now authorized. -Visitor restrictions are still in place but the approval au-
thority is now delegated down to the Lieutenant Colonel level. Lesperance also provided an update on Opportunity Leave. “Between Rotation 20-10 and Rotation 21-02, there was
an order published that directs all 06-level commanders to af- ford, liberally, Opportunity Leave for their soldiers and I want soldiers to know that, so they can plan on that.”
Lesperance explained that there will not be a date put on the calendar because each brigade site unit has a different timeline for how they support the following rotations. Each unit will have a timeline for submitting leave and affording leave and soldiers must be back for 14 days before being tested and having contact with the rotational unit.
Leaders are also looking at another leave window over the holidays, between Thanksgiving through the first of the year. “From the beginning, I’ve said that reducing or safeguards is a conditions-based process ... and the conditions being guidance from higher, the governor’s Stay Home Order, county officials and of course the conditions in our surrounding com- munities and those places where many of you may travel for
recreation or essential services,” Lesperance said.
San Bernardino County has seen some improvements, but the county is still on the states/governor’s watch list. He reiterated that the three numbers his team looks at are case rates, positivity rates and rate of acceleration and said those
three metrics in Fort Irwin and in Barstow look really good. “Thankfully with two rotations in a COVID-19 environ- ment complete, we now know that our mitigation measures are working and there have been no intermingling of cases between our rotational training units and the community,”
Lesperance said.
Soldiers, families and employees are asked to visit NTC’s
website, home.army.mil/irwin to read the updated General Or- der and daily updates to COVID-19 conditions on post. The
From RE-OPEN, Page 1
updates are also posted on the NTC Fort Irwin Facebook page. The next live update from the Commanding General is Sept. 9. Lesperance provides updates once a month on RSOI day three. They can be viewed at Facebook.com/NTCfor-
tirwin.
The Garrison Command team continues to conduct their
updates each Wednesday at 2:30p.m. on Facebook.com/FtIr- win. Lesperance reminded the community that constructive feedback is always welcome.
*Modified Reopenings*
-AAFES/PX Barbershop/Salon: Opened Aug. 31 (760- 331-9281)
-Samuel Adams Barber Shop (Ms. Cho): Opened Sept. 3 by appointment only;
(760-380-5837)
-Samuel Adams Desert Oasis Restaurant (Outdoor Dining Only/Reservations Required): Opened Sept. 2
Hours: Wed.-Fri., 4-9 p.m., and Sat. and Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
*Weekend Brunch will be served on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. (760-380-5837)
-Desert Winds Bowling Center: Opened (Sept. 4). Meals provided via to-go boxes
for eating at Bowling Lanes
(760-380-4249)
Hours:
Mondays and Tuesdays: 11 a.m. -1 p.m.
Wednesdays- Fridays: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays: 1-8p.m
Two modified re-opening an- nouncements also came from the Fort Irwin FMWR:
***The Box Fitness Center opened Sept. 4 under the following guidelines:
-Monday-Sunday, 5 a.m.-8 p.m.
-Close every hour and a half for cleaning
-Active Duty and dependents only (15 years and older)
-100% ID Card check
-Closed: Climbing Wall, Boxing Room and Family Fitness Room (except for Pregnancy PT)
-Closed: Showers, Locker Rooms and Saunas
-Open: Bathrooms
-No FOB access
-Maximum Occupancy: 63
people
-Social Distancing measures
remain in effect
-No Group Classes or Personal
Training Sessions
-Operating hours for Labor
Day (Monday, Sept. 7), will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
***The Warrior Zone opened Sept. 9 under the following guide- lines:
-Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
-Close every hour and a half for cleaning
-Active Duty only
-100% ID Card check -Bathrooms open
-Maximum Occupancy; 35
people
-All customers must wear face
coverings
On Aug. 20, the MWR’s Outdoor Recre- ation Center reopened, after shutting down on July 29. They have limited operations and request that guests call before vis- iting. Their number is (760)380-4327.
For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin