While I am sure that there are two sides to the story, at first glance this appears to be a massive failure of one U.S Navy chain of command. It seems leadership afloat still doesn't get it
US Navy punishes suicidal sailor who sought mental health treatment | Renton Reporter
"In mid-October, Michael Gregg checked himself into Portsmouth Naval hospital where he was diagnosed with adjustment disorder, severe anxiety and severe depression, deeming his suitability for continued service as “highly doubtful,” according to doctors’ notes provided to the Mirror.
The following day, Michael Gregg saw the ship’s psychologist and explained his suicidal thoughts. The lieutenant allegedly told him to come back for breathing exercises the next Thursday — 10 days away
Michael Gregg said he was presented with three options, including taking medication, which was discouraged due to his religion; a six-day therapy session; or voluntary commitment on the ship."
Each option had Michael Gregg returning to the USS Eisenhower, and doctors had determined the ship was a trigger point for his suicidal thoughts.
“I’ve never heard of somebody going back the third time in two days after being rejected to still be rejected,” Farrah Gregg said of her son’s multiple attempts to seek professional help.
The alleged lack of help sent Michael into a depressive state where he could not leave his bed and would not eat for several days. At this point, Farrah Gregg said, Michael’s lieutenant sent a note to Michael that said he has an unauthorized absence (UA), and if he didn’t return to the ship by Oct. 26, his pay would be cut.
I wish this was the only instance. But it is not. It appears leadership afloat still hasn't gotten the message that those needing help need to get it.
I get it, perhaps ASAN (Aviation Support Equipment Technician ) Seaman Gregg may have had other issues not reported here. And perhaps there were good reasons for the command to do what it did.
Looking at this from a human capital aspect :
https://www.navycs.com/navy-jobs/aviation-support-equipment.html
The Aviation Support Equipment Technician rating was established in October 1965.
The Navy's computerized personnel system associates the rating name with an alphanumeric Navy Occupational Specialty (NOS) code. For AS, the NOS is A430.
Aviation Support Equipment Technicians operate, maintain, repair and test automotive electrical systems in ground equipment, gasoline and diesel systems, and associated automotive, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. They also maintain gas turbine compressor units, ground air-conditioning units, perform metal fabrication, repair and painting of tow tractors and other aircraft servicing units.
Aviation Support Equipment Technician class "A" school is approximately 20 weeks long, and it is located in Pensacola, Florida.
So doing the rough math here, the navy spent time and money to recruit him lets assume 6 months delayed entry.
He enlisted in March 2018. Then he then spent the regular 90 or say days in boot camp graduating in June / July 2018 .
With then another 20 weeks (5 months) in his "A" School leaves him graduating around December 2018.
With probably some leave which means he likely arrived at perhaps notional a "C" school sometime in February 2019 . Not knowing what his NEC is but lets just add another 2 months for a "C" school for good measure notional graduation in March/April 2019.
Then lets assume he spent 90 days cranking (on the mess decks) on arrival (not sure how it works on CVN's) but we get him to his workcenter about Jun 2019.
So essentially, it took about 13 months from the time he enlisted, to get him to his first ship. Not sure how much money that is, but it is an investment. Which had this been handled differently might not have been lost.
Again, no idea if he had previous disciplinary issues. But lets assume for the sake of argument he did not.
Based on the Eisenhower's schedule looks like they deployed in February 2020 returned to home port in August 2020. So he made it through deployment.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) left Naval Station Norfolk on Jan. 17 to begin its final exercise ahead of its deployment. Completing certification on Feb. 20, the carrier headed to the Middle East to relieve Truman. The carrier stayed on station with no port calls for seven months.
Eisenhower stayed in 5th Fleet until the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group deployed from the West Coast in late July.
Eisenhower and cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG-56) pulled into Naval Station Norfolk on Aug. 9. Cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG-72) and destroyers USS James E. Williams (DDG-95) and USS Truxtun (DDG-103) followed shortly thereafter.
USNI News 2020 Fleet and Marine Review - USNI News
Again guessing a 30 day leave period following deployment so he probably took some leave and came back to the ship late Sept.
Again from a human capital management perspective you have a technical sailor, whom has 13 months of training and deployment under his belt
Getting him treatment, and right, taking 2-3 months to do that, and do it right may have saved that investment.
Instead it looks like the Navy and his chain of command spent those 3 months on the disciplinary process
When it comes to suicide my training says if someone iterates or says they are going to do something bad to themselves you take it very seriously.
While the above situation is bad imagine if ASAN Gregg had committed suicide.
“The actions of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Command and its failure to acknowledge Seaman Michael Gregg’s risk of suicide aboard the ship are unacceptable,” Palomares said. “This is the latest example of leadership lapses by Commanders charged with the care of our sons and daughters entrusted to the U.S. military.”
I Sincerely hope that Mr Gregg gets the help he needs in the civilian world.
"Michael was officially separated from the US Navy on Dec. 23 with general discharge under honorable conditions. Farrah Gregg says the family is going to fight for a status change to medical disability discharge in the coming months."
If this was a one off I would feel better...
Shades of USS Shilo
‘I now hate my ship’: Surveys reveal disastrous morale on cruiser Shiloh (navytimes.com)
https://www.facebook.com/WINR1/photos/regarding-the-uss-shiloh-incidentweve-had-the-opportunity-to-talk-to-several-for/1939777369639562/
and another
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/06/08/his-suicide-note-was-message-navy-way-he-died-was-exclamation-point.html
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