Battle buddy: Difference between revisions
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A '''Battle Buddy''' is a partner assigned to a fellow soldier in the [[United States Armed Forces]]. Assigned in pairs, each Battle Buddy is expected to assist his or her partner both in and out of [[combat]]. Although they have reported both pros and cons to the Battle Buddy system in polls, most participating soldiers |
A '''Battle Buddy''' is a partner assigned to a fellow soldier in the [[United States Armed Forces]]. Assigned in pairs, each Battle Buddy is expected to assist his or her partner both in and out of [[combat]]. Although they have reported both pros and cons to the Battle Buddy system in polls, most participating soldiers have reported satisfaction and have agreed that the Army should implement the system fully. A Battle Buddy is intended not just for company, but also for the reduction of [[suicide]]; since each watches his partner's actions, a Battle Buddy can save his 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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==Advantages and disadvantages== |
==Advantages and disadvantages== |
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Revision as of 07:06, 30 June 2011
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (February 2011) |
A Battle Buddy is a partner assigned to a fellow soldier in the United States Armed Forces. Assigned in pairs, each Battle Buddy is expected to assist his or her partner both in and out of combat. Although they have reported both pros and cons to the Battle Buddy system in polls, most participating soldiers have reported satisfaction and have agreed that the Army should implement the system fully. A Battle Buddy is intended not just for company, but also for the reduction of suicide; since each watches his partner's actions, a Battle Buddy can save his fellow soldier's life by noticing negative thoughts and feelings and intervening to provide help.[1][2]
Advantages and disadvantages
Evaluations of the Battle Buddy system have identified the following advantages:
- 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
- Improves communication for soldiers not fluent in English
- Promotes better leadership skills[2][3]
The following potential disadvantages have also been identified:
- Personality conflicts can cause tension and decrease positive effects
- Adds extra responsibilities
- Interference with desired activities
- Requires the commitment of caring for another person[2][3][4]
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.[2] Surveys were created to assess:
- The role of personality variables
- Self-assessments of successes due to Battle Buddies
- Potential situational influences
- Buddy interactions/assessments[2]
The following table, for example, 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, on the other hand, 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
Military Suicides
Suicide prevention is a major objective of the Battle Buddy system. In 2006, the suicide rate in the United States Army increased by 37%, while in 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, and military and legislative officials have found the assignment of Battle Buddies to be an effective method of decreasing military suicide rates.[1]
Honorable Battle Buddies
Demonstrating the effectiveness of this program in preventing suicide, several soldiers have been saved from suicide by their Battle Buddies. For example, in August of 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.[5][6][7]
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, speaking publicly about the experience, expressed 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."[7]
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.[4] 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.[4] 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."[4]
See also
References
- ^ 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>
- ^ a b c d e f g 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>
- ^ 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>.
- ^ a b c d 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>
- ^ "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/>.
- ^ 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/>
- ^ a b 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/>.
External links
- Military.com, Finding Your Battle Buddy, Tara Crooks , 11 December 2007