FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - Regular duties are suspended for three days at Fort Campbell, which leads the Army in suicides this year, so commanders can identify and help soldiers who are struggling with the stress of war and most at risk for killing themselves.
The post began a stand down yesterday so soldiers can focus on suicide prevention training in the wake of 11 confirmed suicides by Fort Campbell soldiers this year. More deaths are being investigated as possible suicides.
"We don't want to lead the Army in this statistic," said Brigadier General Stephen Townsend.
From January to March, the installation on the Kentucky-Tennessee line averaged one suicide per week, Townsend said. After a suicide prevention campaign started in March, there were no suicides for six weeks.
"But last week we had two. Two in a week," Townsend said.
Townsend told more than 4,000 soldiers yesterday morning that the suicides must stop. There are about 25,000 soldiers in the division.