Trying to cope with emotional turmoil

Bahrain has been recently rocked by the tragic deaths of three US Navy personnel who have died in unnatural circumstances.

In the latest incident just one month ago navy counsellor 1st Class Cherie Morton, 40, was found dead in her home in Galali.

The news came close on the heels of a horrifying shoot-out six-months earlier when two female sailors Genesia Mattril Gresham, 19, and Anamarie Sannicolas Camacho, 20, were shot dead in their barracks allegedly by American serviceman Clarence Jackson who turned the gun on himself.

He is currently being treated in a US hospital and is unlikely to fully recover from the injuries he sustained.

Millie Slamin, public affairs officer, Navy Region Southwest Asia/Naval Support Activity Bahrain said that the Naval services do their utmost to see that their personnel are safe and happy in Bahrain.

Calling the incidents "unfortunate" and admitting the latest incident has added to the emotional turmoil suffered by the close-knit community, she said: "The loss of our shipmate, Cherie Morton, the career counsellor assigned to work with sailors assigned to Naval Security Force aboard US Naval Support Activity Bahrain, had a tremendous impact on the hundreds of sailors and Department of Defence employees who she worked with or befriended during her two-year tour of duty here.

"As is the case with every navy command when a sailor passes while on active duty, for whatever reason, the chaplains and the Fleet and Family Support Centre (FFSC) are the first to offer counselling to those who need help with coping with the grief that comes with losing a shipmate, friend, or family member."

The world's largest Navy with 332,000 active service personnel uses the expertise of these two units to support and guide its sailors to help deal with various issues they might face - that could be as diverse as loneliness, adjusting in a foreign land, peer and military pressure, financial, marital or emotional.

At the US Naval Facility in Juffair, home to Fifth Fleet of the US Navy, around 2,500 personnel are served by five chaplains and 10 staff members of FFSC's.

The units are led by Chaplain (Cmdr.) Aaron Jefferson, Navy Region Southwest Asia Chaplain and Dorothy Benford, Navy Region Southwest Asia FFSC director.

While citing confidentiality for not revealing details on statistics of deaths in unnatural circumstances, Chaplain Aaron Jefferson, said as he recalled the horrifying shootout last October: "In my 19-years in the Navy never has there been an incident of that kind before. None of us could believe it. Everyone was taken aback ... it was unbelievable."

The US Navy's official website has a message post that features innumerable emails mostly from anguished mothers coming to terms with their children's departure to the Boot Camp where new recruits undergo initial training.

They know their children will be putting their lives on the line to serve their country. These parents, however, do not expect to lose a loved one in the relative safety of home on a base.

The US Naval Facility in Juffair's chaplains and members of the FFSC have been busy offering counselling to friends of the three sailors who have recently died.

"Even last week I had a sailor here dealing with the loss ... grappling with his thoughts about why he did not see it coming and could he have helped avoiding what had happened. I have to help him overcome his problems and I have to help his troubled heart," said Chaplain Aaron.

At the facility in Juffair, the thing that most concerns the sailors is separation from loved ones. "There are two kinds. We have married sailors who cannot bring their families over and are missing them. The other is from those who are getting used to military life and making adjustments to their lifestyle.

"Not being on US soil makes it a little more difficult. The need for home is sharper for a sailor posted here than the sailor living in the US. We, however, try to integrate with the community and society -_after all, we are guests here."

Affectionately called 'chaps' by everyone who meets him, he explained: "I am just a listener. I don't solve 90 per cent of the problems ... the sailors do. When they discover that someone is concerned and someone cares it works wonders. I just listen and offer titbits of wisdom.

"What we chaplains practice is not in the office space ... it's out there where the sailors are. We call it the 'Deck Plate Ministry'.

"Initially I will share and talk about everything, even bubblegum, if it helps to build a relationship.

"If required we look at the mental and emotional status of the sailor and if necessary refer the sailors to the clinic doctor and fleet and family support services."

US Navy chaplains are trained to get involved the moment there is a tragic incident. "We provide care as early as possible and according to need set up a grief and counselling centre or alert the US Navy Special Psychiatric Rapid Intervention Team (SPRINT) located in Port Smith, US, who are on call 24 hours on all 365 days," said Chaplain Aaron.

Navy Counsellor 1st Class Cherie Morton who tragically died last month was a very popular and outgoing career counsellor. Chaplain Aaron said: "At her memorial service we had 500 to 600 servicemen in attendance. She was always known to go that extra mile and people were in shock. The service was a time to let go."

The US Navy also has ombudsmen who keep commanders informed about the general morale, health and welfare of the operation. They also call upon the services of chaplains, counsellors and military organisations, such as FFSCs, for guidance.

Chaplain Aaron from Houston, Texas, is one of five chaplains on the facility in Juffair.

A Baptist who was trained as a pastor, he has been with the service for 19-years. With his colleagues he offers spiritual and emotional support to a diverse group of sailors, marines, coastguardsmen and their families.

Working alongside the chaplains is Dorothy Benford and her team who spring into action from the moment a sailor sets foot in the kingdom.

They are determined to make a good first impression of the command. Dorothy, the regional director of the Fleet and Family Support Centre in Bahrain, and her colleagues, help navy personnel, aged from as young as 16, settle into a new culture and way of life.

On arrival the sailors get a week's programme of orientation.

Dorothy said: "We want our men and women to take care of each other and be committed to their country. Ninety-nine per cent of the time they are good ambassadors of America and generally all of them feel very safe here.

"For many of the sailors it is the first time that they are away from the US. They do not know anyone and we want to tell them about what it is like to be here. We brief them on the country's salutations, the history of the island, the command and the culture. We offer Arabic classes and take them to the Grand Mosque, National Museum, camel farm and the forts.

"We encourage them to learn Arabic, make friends in the community and be good citizens. And, we also help families back home keep in touch with the sailors if they have not heard from their sons and daughters for some time."

The unit also has various programmes that will help the servicemen and women deal with relationship issues, parenting challenges, or financial problems.

It also supports victims of bullying or assault through the military court system on one hand and on the other, helps make for an easier transition from military service into life in the civilian world once they decide to leave the service.

Dorothy explained: "For any issues of family violence we get the command involved and provide all the necessary emotional and financial support.

"However, most issues get sorted at the level of chaplain first. Sailors are comfortable with the chaplain as they are assured of confidentiality.

"Only when there are issues of hurting oneself or harming someone else that information is shared with the right people in the command."