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{{Short description|U.S. Army term for a soldier's assigned partner}}


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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
[[File:Wyoming National Guard (32381751194).jpg|thumb|A [[Wyoming Army National Guard]] soldier helping her battle buddy climb a wall during [[obstacle course]] physical test]]
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A '''battle buddy''' is a partner assigned to a [[soldier]] in the [[United States Army]]. Each battle buddy is expected to assist their partner both in and out of [[combat]]. A battle buddy is not only intended for company, but also for the reduction of [[suicide]]; since each watches their partner's actions, a battle buddy can save their fellow soldier's life by noticing negative thoughts and feelings and intervening to provide help. Most participating soldiers have reported satisfaction and have agreed that the Army should implement the system fully, although there have been cons reported as well.<ref name="Duckworth" /><ref name="Ramsberger" />


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== Advantages and disadvantages ==
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A '''Battle Buddy''' is a partner assigned to a fellow soldier in the [[United States Armed Forces]].  Each Battle Buddy is expected to assist his or her partner both in and out of [[combat]]. Most participating soldiers have reported satisfaction and have agreed that the Army should implement the system fully, although there have been cons reported as well. A Battle Buddy is not only intended for company, but also for the reduction of [[suicide]]; since each watches his partner's actions, a Battle Buddy can save their fellow soldier's life by noticing negative thoughts and feelings and intervening to provide help.<ref name="Duckworth" /><ref name="Ramsberger" />


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Evaluations of the battle buddy system have identified the following advantages:<ref name="Ramsberger" /><ref name="Allen">Allen, Reginald E. "Command Battle Buddy Program." Army. Army.mil. Web. 24 Jan. 2011. <http://www.hood.army.mil/3d_acr/Regiment/PolicyLetters/Command%20Battle%20Buddy%20Program.pdf>{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.</ref>
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==Advantages and disadvantages==


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*Reduces rates of suicide and [[Sexual assault|sexual assaults]]
Evaluations of the Battle Buddy system have identified the following advantages:

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*Reduces rates of [[suicide]] and [[sexual assaults]]
*Buddies keep each other informed about key instructions and information
*Buddies keep each other informed about key instructions and information
*Promotes cooperative problem-solving 
*Promotes cooperative problem-solving
*Increases [[morale]]
*Increases [[morale]]
*Encourages soldiers and motivates increased [[confidence]]
*Encourages soldiers and motivates increased confidence
*Decreases [[stress (biology)|stress]]
*Decreases stress
*Eases transition to the [[military]] lifestyle
*Eases transition to the military lifestyle
*Improves [[safety]] in [[training]] and [[combat]]
*Improves safety in training and combat
*Promotes better leadership skills
*Improves [[communication]] for soldiers not fluent in [[English language|English]]
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*Promotes better [[leadership]] skills<ref name="Ramsberger" /><ref name="Allen">Allen, Reginald E. "Command Battle Buddy Program." Army. Army.mil. Web. 24 Jan. 2011. <http://www.hood.army.mil/3d_acr/Regiment/PolicyLetters/Command%20Battle%20Buddy%20Program.pdf>.</ref>


The following potential disadvantages have also been identified:
The following potential disadvantages have also been identified:<ref name="Ramsberger" /><ref name="Allen" /><ref name="Dunz">Dunz, James V. "What It Means to Be a Battle Buddy." Army. Army.mil, July–Aug. 2010. Web. 24 Jan. 2011. <http://www.wood.army.mil/engrmag/PDFs%20for%20May-Aug%2010/Dunz.pdf></ref>


*Personality conflicts can cause tension and decrease positive effects
*Personality conflicts can cause tension and decrease positive effects
*Adds extra responsibilities
*Adds extra responsibilities
*Interferes with desired activities
*Interferes with desired activities
*Requires the [[promise|commitment]] of caring for another person<ref name="Ramsberger" /><ref name="Allen" /><ref name=Dunz />
*Requires the commitment of caring for another person


== Evaluations ==
== Evaluations ==


Soldiers were asked to evaluate and rate their satisfaction with the "Battle Buddy Team Assignment Program" in order to gauge whether the program should be implemented by the [[Army]].<ref name="Ramsberger" />  [[Statistical survey|Surveys]] were created to assess:
Soldiers were asked to evaluate and rate their satisfaction with the "Battle Buddy Team Assignment Program" in order to gauge whether the program should be implemented by the Army. Surveys were created to assess:<ref name="Ramsberger" />


*The role of [[personality psychology|personality]] [[Variable (research)|variables]]
*The role of personality variables
*Self-assessments of successes due to Battle Buddies
*Self-assessments of successes due to battle buddies
*Potential situational influences
*Potential situational influences
*Buddy [[interactions]]/assessments<ref name="Ramsberger" />
*Buddy interactions/assessments


The following table, for example, displays soldiers' [[evaluation|ratings]] of [[Contentment|satisfaction]] with the Battle Buddy system:<ref name="Ramsberger">Ramsberger, Peter. "Evaluation of the Buddy Team Assignment Program." Army. Army.mil, Oct. 2002. Web. 24 Jan. 2011. <http://www.hqda.army.mil/ari/pdf/SN-2003-01.pdf></ref>
The following table displays soldiers' ratings of satisfaction with the Battle Buddy system:<ref name="Ramsberger">Ramsberger, Peter. "Evaluation of the Buddy Team Assignment Program." Army. Army.mil, Oct. 2002. Web. 24 Jan. 2011. {{cite web|url=http://www.hqda.army.mil/ari/pdf/SN-2003-01.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723224525/http://www.hqda.army.mil/ari/pdf/SN-2003-01.pdf |archive-date=23 July 2011}}></ref>


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| 5% || 4% || 10% || 31% || 50%
| 5% || 4% || 10% || 31% || 50%
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|}


This table, on the other hand, shows soldiers' agreement that Battle Buddies are good [[Army]] practice:<ref name="Ramsberger" />
This table shows soldiers' agreement that battle buddies are good [[United States Army|Army]] practice:<ref name="Ramsberger" />
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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| 5% || 5% || 22% || 24% || 44%
| 5% || 5% || 22% || 24% || 44%
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|}


==Suicide Prevention==
== Suicide prevention ==
[[File:Identifying high-risk behavior can save a battle buddy’s life DVIDS865021.jpg|thumb|A [[private first class]] (left) being awarded the [[Achievement Medal]] for potentially preventing the death of his [[Overmedication|overmedicated]] and [[Alcohol intoxication|drunk]] battle buddy]]
===Military Suicides===
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Suicide prevention is a major objective of the battle buddy system. In 2006, the suicide rate in the U.S. 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 [[legislature|legislative]] officials found the assignment of battle buddies to be an effective method of decreasing military suicide rates.<ref name="Duckworth">Duckworth, Tammy. "Mental Health in the Army." All Psychology Careers | The Psychology Career and Education Center. 2011. Web. 25 Jan. 2011. <http://www.allpsychologycareers.com/topics/mental-health-army.html></ref>

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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 [[legislature|legislative]] officials found the assignment of Battle Buddies to be an effective method of decreasing military suicide rates.<ref name="Duckworth">Duckworth, Tammy. "Mental Health in the Army." All Psychology Careers | The Psychology Career and Education Center. 2011. Web. 25 Jan. 2011. <http://www.allpsychologycareers.com/topics/mental-health-army.html></ref>

===Honorable Battle Buddies===
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 [[Military deployment|deployed]] in [[Iraq]], [[Specialist (rank)|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 (firearms)|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 [[disarmed|disarming]] the weapon and saving Sanders' life.<ref>"Army Veteran Albert Godding Prevents Suicide Of Friend Joseph Sanders « More Than Coping." More Than Coping. 6 July 2010. Web. 24 Jan. 2011. <http://morethancoping.wordpress.com/2010/07/06/army-veteran-albert-godding-prevents-suicide-of-friend-joseph-sanders/>.</ref><ref>Drake, Bruce. "Army Suicides Grow, but This Soldier Was Saved." Politics News, Elections Coverage, Political Analysis and Opinion. Mar. 2010. Web. 24 Jan. 2011. <http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/03/12/army-suicides-grow-but-this-soldier-was-saved/></ref><ref name="Zach"/>

Godding would eventually receive the [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|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."<ref name="Zach">Morgan, Zach. "Soldier Saves Battle Buddy's Life with Simple Act of Caring." The United States Army Homepage. 14 May 2010. Web. 25 Jan. 2011. <http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/05/14/39171-soldier-saves-battle-buddys-life-with-simple-act-of-caring/>.</ref>

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 [[bullying|bullied]] by a group of other soldiers, Dunz intervened and helped Eddie up to his feet.<ref name="Dunz" /> 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.<ref name="Dunz">Dunz, James V. "What It Means to Be a Battle Buddy." Army. Army.mil, July–Aug. 2010. Web. 24 Jan. 2011. <http://www.wood.army.mil/engrmag/PDFs%20for%20May-Aug%2010/Dunz.pdf></ref>  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."<ref name="Dunz" />


== See also ==
== See also ==
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* [[Buddy system]]
* [[Suicide prevention]]
* [[Suicide prevention]]
* [[Suicide methods]]
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* [[United States Armed Forces]]
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* [[Buddy system]]


==References==
==References==
<!--- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically -->
<!--- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically -->
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
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[[Category:United States Army doctrine]]

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[[Category:Military life]]
==External links==
* Military.com, [http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,158010,00.html Finding Your Battle Buddy], Tara Crooks, 11 December 2007

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2011}}

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[[Category:Military slang and jargon]]

Latest revision as of 01:54, 13 February 2023

A Wyoming Army National Guard soldier helping her battle buddy climb a wall during obstacle course physical test

A battle buddy is a partner assigned to a soldier in the United States Army. Each battle buddy is expected to assist their partner both in and out of combat. A battle buddy is not only intended for company, but also for the reduction of suicide; since each watches their partner's actions, a battle buddy can save their fellow soldier's life by noticing negative thoughts and feelings and intervening to provide help. Most participating soldiers have reported satisfaction and have agreed that the Army should implement the system fully, although there have been cons reported as well.[1][2]

Advantages and disadvantages

[edit]

Evaluations of the battle buddy system have identified the following advantages:[2][3]

  • Reduces rates of suicide and sexual assaults
  • Buddies keep each other informed about key instructions and information
  • Promotes cooperative problem-solving
  • Increases morale
  • Encourages soldiers and motivates increased confidence
  • Decreases stress
  • Eases transition to the military lifestyle
  • Improves safety in training and combat
  • Promotes better leadership skills

The following potential disadvantages have also been identified:[2][3][4]

  • Personality conflicts can cause tension and decrease positive effects
  • Adds extra responsibilities
  • Interferes with desired activities
  • Requires the commitment of caring for another person

Evaluations

[edit]

Soldiers were asked to evaluate and rate their satisfaction with the "Battle Buddy Team Assignment Program" in order to gauge whether the program should be implemented by the Army. Surveys were created to assess:[2]

  • The role of personality variables
  • Self-assessments of successes due to battle buddies
  • Potential situational influences
  • Buddy interactions/assessments

The following table displays soldiers' ratings of satisfaction with the Battle Buddy system:[2]

Disliked Very Much Disliked Neither Liked Liked Very much
5% 4% 10% 31% 50%

This table shows soldiers' agreement that battle buddies are good Army practice:[2]

Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly agree
5% 5% 22% 24% 44%

Suicide prevention

[edit]
A private first class (left) being awarded the Achievement Medal for potentially preventing the death of his overmedicated and drunk battle buddy

Suicide prevention is a major objective of the battle buddy system. In 2006, the suicide rate in the U.S. 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.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ a b Duckworth, Tammy. "Mental Health in the Army." All Psychology Careers | The Psychology Career and Education Center. 2011. Web. 25 Jan. 2011. <http://www.allpsychologycareers.com/topics/mental-health-army.html>
  2. ^ a b c d e f Ramsberger, Peter. "Evaluation of the Buddy Team Assignment Program." Army. Army.mil, Oct. 2002. Web. 24 Jan. 2011. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)>
  3. ^ a b Allen, Reginald E. "Command Battle Buddy Program." Army. Army.mil. Web. 24 Jan. 2011. <http://www.hood.army.mil/3d_acr/Regiment/PolicyLetters/Command%20Battle%20Buddy%20Program.pdf>[permanent dead link‍].
  4. ^ Dunz, James V. "What It Means to Be a Battle Buddy." Army. Army.mil, July–Aug. 2010. Web. 24 Jan. 2011. <http://www.wood.army.mil/engrmag/PDFs%20for%20May-Aug%2010/Dunz.pdf>
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