(See J. Cordle, October 2017 Proceedings Today)
As we sit here nine months removed from the tragic and heroic day on the USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), and seven months for the USS John S. McCain (DDG-56), it is important to remember that PTSD and its effects remain, and in some cases have yet to manifest themselves. Seven of my shipmates gave their lives on that day and 267 more gave everything they had to save everyone else. After the collision and the initial recovery period, the Navy decided it would be best to break up the crew to help the surface force recover from a spiraling manning deficit in Seventh Fleet. While many of our sailors have returned to normal lives on board other ships, many have experienced relapses and manifestations of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) brought back by returning to sea. I personally know of a number of sailors who served on board the USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) who have held their hands up and said I need more help, and some of those sailors may never see a ship again.
It is important to reemphasize the lessons the USS Cole (DDG-67) bombing and other incidents with loss of life at sea. We as a Navy need to recognize that PTSD and the mental anguish of survival are real, debilitating, and need to be treated as such. All commands, in the months and years to come, need to examine their sailors for signs of PTSD and mental health issues related to the tragic events in the summer of 2017. At the same time our sailors need to remember there are many resources available to help them cope with the tragedy.
Mental health care providers in the Medical Corps can only do their jobs if we go and talk with them and we allow our sailors to seek help. Most commands will, but some will not. For many of our sailors, getting back on the horse will not be enough to pull them back where they were mentally when they went to sleep on 16 June 2017. It is my sincere hope that the Navy will take the recommendation of this article seriously, learn from the Cole/Fitzgerald/John S. McCain events and establish a formal program to follow these sailors as they learn to live with the aftermath of these catastrophes.
The twin tragedies on board the Fitzgerald and John S. McCain have served as a wakeup call for the surface fleet in many ways. This wakeup call is not just one of training and proficiency, but also includes awareness of the mental health requirements of our most irreplaceable assets, our sailors.
*A version of this post will appear in the April 2018 Proceedings “Comment & Discussion” column.
