FORT RILEY, KS (KCTV) -
Top leaders in the U.S. Army on Friday met with soldiers at Fort Riley to hear their concerns.
Reporters were not allowed to videotape the Army leaders meeting with the soldiers and the military declined to provide any video taped by its own photographers, saying they wanted to ensure the discussions were open and honest.
Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, the Army chief of staff and who previously oversaw the armed forces in Iraq, said the war in Afghanistan is the top priority.
"We want to finish that mission successfully, but equally important and mutually supporting mission is the health of our force," Austin said.
Austin and others toured this week six Army posts, including Fort Riley. The focus is ways to improve the lives of soldiers and their families. The focus is the solders' physical and mental well being.
"I have been deployed to Iraq three times and once to Afghanistan and been in good fights with tough enemies," Austin said. "And I will tell you: suicide is the toughest enemy I ever faced."
The military reports 154 suicides this year among active-duty troops, which averages to almost one per day.
Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, surgeon general of the U.S. Army and who oversees the medical command, said the military is focusing on the mental health of its solders and embedding those who can help with the troops.
Some soldiers said preventing suicides and identifying troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder starts with improved communication between the military brass and the soldiers.
Sgt. James Sackett, who is undergoing physical therapy after enduring a head injury when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq, said Friday's meeting was a positive step.
"A lot of soldiers don't feel their leaders are approachable when they first meet them because of their rank," he said. "They are intimidated by the rank so it's hard for them to come to the door. So they need leaders who are more approachable so those young soldiers can seek help if need it."
The Army brass will compile the results of their tour and put together a report on ways to improve each of the posts.
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