Month: July 2023

Source: United States Navy

 The rescues included a hiker who had fallen down a slope on Silver Star Mountain and a search and subsequent rescue of a speed-flyer who had disappeared near Church Mountain 48 hours earlier.
 
On Sunday morning, July 2, 2023, the SAR team was called to rescue a 35-year-old woman who had fallen down a slope and been injured on Silver Star Mountain northwest of Winthrop, Wash. The SAR team launched at 9:35 a.m. and arrived on scene about 10:10 a.m.
 
After a search of the area, the SAR team found the party of hikers with the injured hiker and inserted two SAR team members via hoist. The injured hiker was soon hoisted onto the SAR helicopter and delivered to St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham, Wash. by approximately 11:20 a.m.
 
The next morning, July 3, 2023, a SAR team was called to search for a speed-flyer who had gone missing at some point on July 1 near the peak of Church Mountain, northeast of Glacier, Wash.
 
Speed-flying is a form of paragliding where the speed-flyer launches with a chute from a slope and glides down, relatively close to the ground and at fairly high speeds, rather than soaring like a paraglider.
 
The SAR team launched at 5:10 a.m. July 3 to conduct the search in the area where the paraglider was suspected to have been flying.
 
After an initial sweep the SAR team conducted a low-level, slow search and eventually found a chute of the same description as the paraglider’s chute. A SAR team member was inserted to the spot to search for the paraglider where he found footprints heading off into the bush away from the chute. A SAR team member in the aircraft noticed an off-colored patch of green about 80 meters away in small creek amongst fallen trees and, using binoculars, saw the paraglider waving one arm trying to signal the helicopter.
 
With the paraglider located, the SAR team member on the ground was recovered, then two SAR team members were inserted to the patient’s location via hoist. By 6:35 a.m. the patient was hoisted aboard the SAR helicopter with significant injuries and was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he was dropped off just after 7 a.m.
 
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island SAR has conducted 18 missions this calendar year, which includes 1 MEDEVAC, 3 searches and 14 rescues.
 
The Navy SAR unit operates three MH-60S helicopters from NAS Whidbey Island as search and rescue/medical evacuation (SAR/MEDEVAC) platforms for the EA-18G aircraft as well as other squadrons and personnel assigned to the installation.  Pursuant to the National SAR Plan of the United States, the unit may also be used for civil SAR/MEDEVAC needs to the fullest extent practicable on a non-interference basis with primary military duties according to applicable national directives, plans, guidelines and agreements; specifically, the unit may launch in response to tasking by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (based on a Washington State Memorandum of Understanding) for inland missions, and/or tasking by the United States Coast Guard for all other aeronautical and maritime regions, when other assets are unavailable.
 

Source: United States Navy

It is no secret that there has been an increase in struggles with mental health all over the world. As a demanding organization, the Navy Reserve force is comprised of tough warfighters, commonly hiding their battles with mental health.

One of the many readily available mental health resources for Navy Reserve Sailors is the Psychological Health and Outreach Program (PHOP). PHOP provides a vast selection of free psychological health services for all Navy and Marine Reserve Sailors as well as the command and support staff and their family members. Some of the services include therapy sessions, psychiatric evaluations, behavioral health screenings, case management, consultations, and psychoeducational presentations. They aim to educate, assess, refer, and follow up as needed. 

“Part of our PHOP mission also focuses on reducing the stigma of asking for help,” said Alan Lipzin, the Lead Outreach Coordinator for PHOP at Naval Reserve Readiness Command Jacksonville. “We educate Sailors that getting help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It takes courage to confront difficult personal problems and life circumstances. Help is available. It is extremely rewarding to see the improvement that occurs when Sailors and their family members get the assistance they deserve and need. They regain a sense of happiness and purpose. They then become part of the process to reduce stigma and promote that it is okay to ask for help.”  

PHOP finds resources and coordinates referrals to help deal with life stressors. They focus on being proactive and helping service members and their families get the assistance they need. 

 “If we can assist a person with their problems, there is a better chance that they will get the help they need before it’s too late,” said Lipzin. “Like any wound, it is easier to heal when it is a smaller stress wound than a larger one. By encouraging Sailors to get help before problems get out of control, we can prevent someone from ever getting into a crisis or suicidal state.” 

PHOP offers services from licensed clinical professionals with experience assisting servicemembers and military veterans. The professionals conduct site visits and monthly outreaches, around the clock phone or email consultations, and workshops on operational stress control, suicide prevention, stress, resilience and more.

One of the educational messages PHOP professionals provide is that suicide hurts the people you love, who are left behind, the most. 

“Suicide is a very uncomfortable subject for most people to talk about,” said Aaron Runion, an Outreach Team Member for PHOP REDCOM JAX. “Addressing or not addressing the issue in the right ways can either pull a family together or tear them apart. I have worked with clients who have a hard time managing intense feelings after such an event. PHOP encourages them to get assistance.”

He continued with the following example: “I recently connected with a service member who experienced loss while deployed, and years later, with the suicide of a family member. He was having suicidal ideations himself. I was able to get him connected with an organization in which he was able to talk to a fellow veteran who experienced similar things. They were able to get him into an online support group with other veterans and survivors of suicide loss. I checked in with him on a weekly basis until he no longer felt despair.” 

The command and shipmates are also affected when a Sailor dies by suicide. 

“Suicide affects everyone who knew the person who died to different degrees,” said Runion. “It is important to have a broader response than with just the immediate family. My experience with a unit that lost a service member to suicide, was that not talking about it created a lot of uneasy feelings. During the drill weekend, PHOP arranged for the local Vet Center to come out. We were able to acknowledge it with the Navy Reserve Center as a whole, and meet with the specific unit to process the loss. Service members were thankful they had a time and place dedicated to talk about their loss.” 

PHOP has also developed a program called Lethal Means Safety, the process of limiting or removing access to potentially lethal means of suicide or self-harm, such as firearms, medication, and alcohol. 

If you are concerned about a Sailor, take action. Raise the issue, develop a plan, and follow up with the Sailor. You may refer them to PHOP or connect them with a Navy Reserve Chaplain.

The first step in suicide prevention is learning to recognize the warning signs. According to the PHOP staff, conversations about dying, a change in personality, or low self-esteem are notable signs that a Sailor may need support. 

“I think sometimes we can be afraid that we will offend the shipmate by asking if he/she feels like they want to hurt themselves; that we are getting ‘too personal’,” said Monica Turner, an Outreach Team Member for PHOP REDCOM JAX. “However, even if this is true, and the Sailor is offended, the individual will know someone is concerned about them, and it might make the difference between life and death. Another concern may be the fear of ‘getting it wrong’ and ‘making things worse,’ if a shipmate offers help. No one has to do this alone. The shipmate assisting is not the one that will make the final decision on whether the Sailor needs a psychological assessment or hospitalization. All the shipmate needs to do is to stay with the Sailor needing assistance and pass them onto a corpsman or a unit leader.” She finished with this piece of wisdom: “A Sailor would not leave his shipmate behind in a dangerous situation.” 

To learn more about PHOP services or to connect with them, you can call 1-866-578-(PHOP)7467. You can also visit their Facebook page at https://facebook@BUMEDPHOP . PHOP is not a crisis hotline. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. 

For a comprehensive list of mental health resources available to service members and their families, visit: navyreserve.navy.mil/Resources/Mental-Health-Resources/

Source: United States Navy

Both of these incidents occurred in international waters.

At 1 a.m. local time, one Iranian naval vessel approached the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker TRF Moss in international waters in the Gulf of Oman. The Iranian vessel departed the scene when U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) arrived on station. Additionally, the U.S. Navy deployed surveillance assets, including MQ-9 Reaper and P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

Approximately three hours later, the U.S. Navy received a distress call from Bahamian-flagged oil tanker Richmond Voyager while the ship was more than 20 miles off the coast of Muscat, Oman, and transiting international waters toward the Arabian Sea. Another Iranian naval vessel had closed within one mile of Richmond Voyager while hailing the commercial tanker to stop.

McFaul directed course toward Richmond Voyager at maximum speed as the merchant tanker continued its transit. Prior to McFaul’s arrival on scene, Iranian personnel fired multiple, long bursts from both small arms and crew-served weapons. Richmond Voyager sustained no casualties or significant damage. However, several rounds hit the ship’s hull near crew living spaces. The Iranian navy vessel departed when McFaul arrived.

In May, the United States increased the rotation of ships and aircraft patrolling the Strait of Hormuz with partners following an uptick in Iranian merchant vessel seizures. The increased force presence supports multinational efforts under the International Maritime Security Construct and bilaterally with partner nations to deter threats to commercial shipping and reassure regional mariners.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the entire [U.S. Naval Forces Central Command] team, especially the exceptional effort by the McFaul crew, for immediately responding and preventing another seizure,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. “We remain vigilant and ready to protect navigational rights in these critical waters.”

Since 2021, Iran has harassed, attacked or seized nearly 20 internationally flagged merchant vessels, presenting a clear threat to regional maritime security and the global economy.