Human Resources Command marks Army Suicide Prevention Month with Life Promotion events

By David Ruderman, U.S. Army Human Resources Command Public AffairsSeptember 8, 2015

HRC runs, walks, rides for suicide prevention awareness
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Anthony Bloomfield, Information Systems Team chief with PERSINSD, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, concentrates during the egg-walk segment of a life skills training exercise at the command's Life Promotion Run-Walk-Ride Sept. 3 at Fort ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
HRC runs, walks, rides for suicide prevention awareness
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
HRC runs, walks, rides for suicide prevention awareness
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Keshell Owens (left), an IT specialist with PERSINSD, and Command Surgeon, Lt. Col. Randall Freeman, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, greet runners with water and encouragement at the finish line of the command's Life Promotion Run-Walk-Ride S... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
HRC runs, walks, rides for suicide prevention awareness
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
HRC runs, walks, rides for suicide prevention awareness
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Wintre-Renee Davis (center), Enlisted Personnel Management Directorate, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, serves as OC while Staff Sgt. Joseph Penosky (left), Headquarters and Headquarters Company, and Staff Sgt. Anthony Bloomfield, PERSI... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Human Resources Command runs, walks, rides for suicide prevention awareness
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Keshell Owens (right) , an IT specialist with Personnel Information Systems Directorate, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, greets Staff Sgt. Ronald Ross, also of PERSINSD, with water and encouragement at the finish line of the command's Life Pr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT KNOX, Kentucky (Sept. 3, 2015) - U.S. Army Human Resources Command wrapped up a week's worth of early morning runs, rides and resiliency reinforcement at the Maude Complex Sept. 3 in support of the Army's 2015 Suicide Prevention Month.

Soldiers and civilians gathered each morning for awareness-raising briefings followed by 5-kilometer bike rides, walks, runs, relays and mixed skills events that met the requirements of the Fort Knox garrison training regimen, said HRC Equal Opportunity Adviser, Master Sgt. Robin Ayers.

"It was mandatory annual training for the garrison, but they asked us to come up with something different," she said.

The week's events were sponsored by the HRC Command Surgeon's Office and the EO with support from each command directorate. Suicidal behavior and the tragedy it entails continues to be a major concern for the Army, said HRC Command Surgeon, Lt. Col. Randall Freeman.

HRC's Life Promotion activities were designed to engage Soldiers and civilians in upbeat activities that prevent normal life stressors from developing into crises, increasing suicide prevention awareness through practicing positive coping skills, he said.

"There was definitely good esprit de corps," said Ayers. "It was a big morale builder with personnel learning to spot tell-tale signs and how to respond through asking, caring and escorting -- all while having fun."

Freeman said he was pleased with the turnout for the early morning events.

"We also had very good participation by civilians. There were 20 to 30 each morning, which is really good," he said.

HRC personnel who could not participate in the Life Promotion events will complete annual suicide prevention training through small group discussion or presentation events, or online in compliance with the command's annual training guidance, said Ayers.

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