{"id":74083,"date":"2022-12-13T09:44:38","date_gmt":"2022-12-13T09:44:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:14:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:14:54","slug":"three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/","title":{"rendered":"Three deployments. Two mental health visits. One attempted separation."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To hear the junior sailor tell it, Navy life had gotten hard by late 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 23-year-old petty officer 3rd class had undergone back-to-back deployments aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, including the infamous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/05\/19\/carrier-theodore-roosevelt-sidelined-in-guam-by-coronavirus-heads-back-to-sea-this-week\/\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cCOVID cruise\u201d<\/a> of 2020, where roughly a quarter of embarked sailors popped positive for the virus, prompting an emergency detour into Guam and the high-profile firing of TR\u2019s commanding officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was followed by another long stint at sea aboard the same carrier that began in December 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/09\/25\/a-few-months-after-getting-home-the-theodore-roosevelt-is-about-to-deploy-again\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/tr-dub-pump-3.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">A few months after getting home, the Theodore Roosevelt is about to deploy again<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of pent-up frustration with Big Navy,\u201d one TR spouse said of the looming double pump. \u201cLike, what are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soon after returning home in May 2021, the sailor was transferred to the aircraft carrier <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2022\/11\/30\/fire-aboard-aircraft-carrier-abraham-lincoln-injures-9-sailors\/\" target=\"_blank\">Abraham Lincoln<\/a>, as that crew began preparations for its own deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Facing a third deployment in as many years, and reeling from a close family member\u2019s attempted suicide, the sailor knew he was struggling and needed to talk with someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A family member, who was also in the service, encouraged the petty officer to heed the mantra of Navy leadership: If you need help, ask for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And so, on Nov. 25, 2021, the petty officer went to the Lincoln\u2019s onboard psychologist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But that\u2019s when his problems elevated to a career-threatening level, according to the sailor and his civilian attorney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of helping him work through the stressors he was dealing with, the Lincoln\u2019s commanding officer moved to boot him from the Navy, according to the sailor and Stephanie Kral, a lawyer he later hired to fight the separation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI went to get help thinking it would be the best thing for me,\u201d the sailor told Navy Times earlier this year. \u201cIt\u2019s turned into a battle for my career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2021\/01\/11\/readying-for-the-worst-pandemics-long-deployments-take-a-hard-toll-on-crews-families-and-ships\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/tr-dub-pump-3.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Readying for the worst: Pandemic\u2019s long deployments take a hard toll on crews, families and ships<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The pace of operations and Big Navy\u2019s COVID suppression measures are placing added stress and strain upon sailors and raising questions in some circles about retention and the material readiness of Navy ships, compounding issues that existed well before the pandemic.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the service struggles with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2022\/07\/14\/why-is-big-navy-mum-on-mental-health-care-shortages-long-wait-times\/\" target=\"_blank\">long wait times<\/a> to see mental health professionals, and as suicides haunt crews across the fleet, the Lincoln\u2019s attempt to kick a sailor out who sought help reveals the tension between sailor well-being and making the mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere is a disconnect between the general officers and senior enlisted leaders who say they want to end the stigma of mental health treatment and the first-level commanding officers who don\u2019t have the time or willingness to put those words into action,\u201d said Kral, a former Air Force attorney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Records provided by Kral show that the ship\u2019s psychologist drafted an administrative separation, or ADSEP, recommendation for the sailor on Dec. 10, 2021 \u2014 16 days after he first sought help \u2014 and cited a regulation that offers little recourse for junior sailors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lincoln\u2019s commanding officer, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2021\/08\/20\/this-navy-captain-is-now-the-first-woman-commanding-a-nuclear-aircraft-carrier\/\" target=\"_blank\">Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt<\/a>, approved the recommendation and the sailor was notified Dec. 28, 2021, that he would be forced out of the Navy, records show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t want to get out of the Navy,\u201d the sailor recalled telling the psychologist as she drafted up the paperwork to kick him out. \u201cI\u2019m just looking for help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ADSEP recommendation states that the sailor\u2019s condition \u201cis so severe that the member\u2019s ability to function effectively in the military environment is significantly impaired.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kral questioned how the ship\u2019s psychologist could make such a determination after just two visits with her client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She also notes that the ADSEP regulation citied as justification for the separation states that a commanding officer \u201cmust provide the member reasonable time to overcome the deficiencies, if possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grant Khanbalinov, a retired Navy chief who has spent his downtime helping suicidal sailors and shipmates struggling with mental health, said young sailors have several reasons why they are hesitant to seek help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIs the chain of command going to look at them in a negative light for getting help? Are people going to talk shit to them for getting help? And the other is that they\u2019re going to lose their career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/09\/24\/meet-the-navy-chief-helping-suicidal-sailors-on-reddit\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Khan-cover-pic.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Meet the Navy chief helping suicidal sailors on Reddit<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Chief Grant Khanbalinov started posting videos encouraging sailors to seek help earlier this year.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kral provided to Navy Times a copy of the ADSEP notification records that Lincoln\u2019s command handed down to the junior sailor, as well as other correspondence, for this report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those records show the ADSEP recommendation was reviewed and approved by an unidentified admiral at the Navy Medicine Region West command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Navy Times interviewed the sailor and granted his anonymity request, due to his fears that speaking out would impact his future Navy career prospects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Navy declined to comment on the specifics of the sailor\u2019s case, citing privacy laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Cmdr. Sean Robertson, a spokesman for Lincoln\u2019s operational command, U.S. 3rd Fleet, said in a statement that \u201cparticipation in care resources is routinely promoted and encouraged and all service members are afforded the opportunity to participate in care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAll separation of Sailors from active duty is done in strict accordance with applicable guidance and procedures, to include evaluation and recommendation by a board of medical providers and in certain circumstances Flag medical officer review,\u201d Robertson said earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After being served his ADSEP notice, the sailor decided to fight it and hired Kral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But several months later, for reasons that remain unclear to the sailor or his attorney, the Navy stopped the separation effort and notified him in June that he would return to Lincoln.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That Navy email, a copy of which was provided to Navy Times, notes that the petty officer \u201cdecided to stay in the Navy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2022\/07\/14\/why-is-big-navy-mum-on-mental-health-care-shortages-long-wait-times\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/smith-all-hands.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Why is Big Navy mum on mental health care shortages, long wait times?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The Navy is struggling to fill mental health care positions in the fleet, and sailors are complaining about long wait times.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Attorney Kral disputes that characterization as \u201cwholly inaccurate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe never expressed a desire to separate at all,\u201d she said in an email. \u201cThat he was returned to the ship means they dropped the ADSEP effort somewhere along the way. We have no idea where that happened.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sailor said he hopes that telling his story will help shed light on the mental health challenges facing junior sailors, an issue that attracted renewed scrutiny earlier this year when news emerged of a rash of sailor suicides among the crew of the aircraft carrier George Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sixty-three active-duty sailors died by suicide this year as of Dec. 6, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mynavyhr.navy.mil\/Support-Services\/21st-Century-Sailor\/Suicide-Prevention\/Statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\">according to Navy data<\/a>, up from 59 in 2021 but less than the 74 and 65 sailors who took their own lives in 2019 and 2020, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve been in three years, I\u2019ve seen a lot of suicide at both commands I\u2019ve been at, with the junior guys,\u201d the sailor told Navy Times. \u201cI get the Navy, we\u2019re all in a way replaceable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kral decried the method by which Lincoln\u2019s command tried to kick her client out of the service, and the fact that junior sailors can so easily \u201cbe kicked out with the stroke of a commanding officer\u2019s pen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She alleged that the ship\u2019s command opted to boot her client so that there would be one less thing to worry about before the ship deployed in January, instead of helping him work through his problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt is easier than taking the time to find the right resources or allow them to go through a simple program of therapy and treatment for something that is a temporary mental health issue,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"666\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-2.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-81160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-2.jpg.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-2.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-2.jpg.jpg?resize=768,511 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A junior sailor assigned to the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln at sea in November 2022. (MC3 Clayton A. Wren\/Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2018Going through a rough patch\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ship\u2019s psychologist, listed in paperwork provided by Kral as Lt. Cmdr. Ann Hummel, cited <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mynavyhr.navy.mil\/Portals\/55\/Reference\/MILPERSMAN\/1000\/1900Separation\/1900-120.pdf?ver=yBtAfRU_DX56sQnWYPoKlQ%3D%3D\" target=\"_blank\">Naval Military Personnel Manual section 1900-120<\/a> as the justification for separating the sailor in December 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That section of the manual, known in the Navy as the MILPERSMAN, states that a sailor with less than six years of service can be separated at the commander\u2019s discretion for \u201cmedical conditions not amounting to a disability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sailors with less than six years facing such an ADSEP are not afforded the right to take their case before a board for adjudication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Involuntary separations under section 1900-120 apply if members\u2019 ability to do their job is impacted, and if they are non-deployable, but it can\u2019t be used if a separation is based on \u201cunsatisfactory performance or conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Navy Personnel Command officials said they do not track data regarding how many sailors have been separated under 1900-120.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hummel did not respond to requests for comment for this report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The petty officer was left in San Diego for Lincoln\u2019s seven-month deployment, which wrapped up in August, as his case played out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGoing through a rough patch and asking for help shouldn\u2019t be the end of someone\u2019s career,\u201d Kral said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2018I want to get help, I want to be better.\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the back-to-back Theodore Roosevelt deployments, the petty officer had been hoping for some shore time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Big Navy had other needs and other plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen I got to the Lincoln, I was thinking I was going to be able to come home and back to a normal life, and not go right back out to sea,\u201d he recalled. \u201cThat\u2019s not what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had felt he wasn\u2019t quite right during the TR deployments and recalled worrying constantly about his wife and parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sailor arrived home with the TR in May 2021, took a few weeks of leave and felt better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then he checked in aboard Lincoln the following month.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/management\/pay-benefits\/2022\/05\/26\/services-detail-plans-to-beef-up-mental-health-services-for-troops-families\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"158\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Mental-health.png.png?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Services detail plans to beef up mental health services for troops, families<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">&#039;We understand this will not be an easy or a quick fix.&#039;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the petty officer\u2019s Dec. 28 separation notification, he first came to the carrier\u2019s mental health department for help on Nov. 25, less than a month before he was notified that the command wanted to give him the boot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For reasons that remain unclear, he was only seen by a chief hospital corpsman and not the ship\u2019s psychologist during that first visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He knew he needed to talk with someone, but described his two mental health visits aboard the ship as \u201cvery quick sit downs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI really wasn\u2019t able to talk about much,\u201d the petty officer recalled. \u201cI\u2019d be asked a question and was pretty much quickly cut off by another question, without really answering the last question. So, that made it tough to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The petty officer expressed concern about his \u201csea duty schedule,\u201d given that he had already done two deployments in less than three years in the Navy and was about to get underway with the Lincoln again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m just under so much stress,\u201d the petty officer said, according to the clinical history portion of the ADSEP notification record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-3.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-81166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-3.jpg.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-3.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-3.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Junior sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln salute the ensign on the flight deck on Nov. 292. (MC3 Han Puyu\/Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI want to get help,\u201d he told Hummel. \u201cI want to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the petty officer worried about being apart from his family, that record indicates he denied any suicidal ideation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The petty officer \u201cwas offered treatment and support resources,\u201d according to the ADSEP record, but Kral and the sailor say that doesn\u2019t tell the whole story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, they contend he was offered medication and phone apps instead of substantive treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said he was told he wouldn\u2019t be able to be seen again for six weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s because, as the petty officer understood it, the ship\u2019s psychologist \u201cwas so backed up\u201d with sailors in need. He left that Nov. 25, 2021, appointment \u201cpretty upset.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An hour after leaving mental health, the petty officer was brought back by his chief, who had found him crying in his berthing, according to the sailor and records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That led to time with the ship\u2019s psychologist, and he sat down for \u201can acute evaluation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The petty officer stated \u201cthat his goal is to \u2018get off the ship,\u2019 and that \u2018being flown off the ship is the only solution to [his] problems,\u201d the ship\u2019s psychologist Hummel wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kral disputed that characterization of events in a February rebuttal letter sent to Bauernschmidt, Lincoln\u2019s commanding officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c(The petty officer) attempted to explain to LCDR Hummel that a third deployment in two years would be detrimental to his mental health,\u201d Kral wrote. \u201cThis is a completely and utterly reasonable concern for literally anyone in the Navy, yet LCDR Hummel oversimplifies the issue as him wanting to \u2018get off the ship.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The petty officer said he wanted to go ashore for treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey just looked at it as another sailor trying to get off the ship because I didn\u2019t want to do a deployment,\u201d he recalled. \u201cI had just done back to backs with all the workups and the underway. I was struggling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hummel wrote that the sailor further attributed his issues to a \u201ctoxic work environment\u201d and \u201cdenied interest in or seeking of any other type of help or support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In her rebuttal, Kral wrote that the support mentioned by Hummel was \u201cthe mental health apps and medication she immediately offered him in lieu of actually treating him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-4.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-81168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-4.jpg.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-4.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-4.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Castro, front, and Lt. Bartley O&#8217;Toole shoot off an EA-18G Growler jet as it launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln on Dec. 22. (MC3 Clayton A. Wren\/Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2018I\u2019m not here to bullshit you\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After Lincoln returned to port on Dec. 3, 2021, following a pre-deployment underway, the petty officer sought help at Navy Medical Center San Diego the next day, \u201cexplaining that ship\u2019s medical was insufficient for addressing his needs,\u201d according to the ADSEP notification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He completed a mental health screening on Dec. 6, where he reported being \u201canxious and depressed \u2026 due to occupational stressors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The petty officer was diagnosed with adjustment disorder with anxiety and went to see Hummel again on Dec. 10, 2021, \u201cfor a fitness for duty evaluation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In her rebuttal, Kral wrote that Hummel only spoke with the petty officer twice, and that the second visit \u201cwas for the express purpose of drafting up a separation recommendation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe could not possibly have diagnosed a chronic adjustment disorder in that amount of time,\u201d Kral wrote. \u201cIt defies logic and common sense that a career-ending diagnosis can get made without any treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Hummel\u2019s summary, the petty officer said he was \u201cnot deployable,\u201d and that he had worried about what would happen to his family during the TR deployments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The petty officer relayed that he was not suicidal, but \u201cmight get there,\u201d according to the summary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She asked if he felt unfit for deployment, and he said he did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen presented with the separation recommendation, (the petty officer) stated he believes \u2018it is for the best,\u201d Hummel wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The petty officer denied Hummel\u2019s characterization of the meeting and told Navy Times he just wanted time to get himself squared away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hummel then began typing up a separation recommendation, according to the petty officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI had just explained to her for about five minutes why I didn\u2019t want to be separated,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not here to dip out on anything. \u2026 I\u2019m not here to bullshit you. I\u2019m not lying about anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hummel wrote that the sailor\u2019s \u201cprognosis if retained is poor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c(The petty officers\u2019) deterioration in the shipboard environment, including self-reported anticipated development of suicidality for which he expects he may not seek help, present significant risk for self and command,\u201d Hummel wrote. \u201cHis condition precludes overcoming the deficiency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-5.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-81171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-5.jpg.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-5.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/lincoln-sailors-5.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sailors observe flight operations aboard the deck of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln Dec. 1. (MCSN Julia Brockman\/Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kral wrote that her client\u2019s distress could be expected given his deployments and family issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c(The petty officer) has shown no issues with his work performance,\u201d she wrote. \u201cHis concern was the stress of a third deployment in rapid succession. Being temporarily non-deployable does not render the condition \u2018so severe that the member\u2019s ability to function effectively in the military environment is significantly impaired.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The attorney noted in that February rebuttal that her client still had not received any mental health assistance from the Navy at that point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sailor told Navy Times he just wants to excel at his job, but that couldn\u2019t happen until he got a handle on the stressors in his life, from inside and outside the Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe can\u2019t do that if we aren\u2019t mentally at 100 percent,\u201d he said. \u201cI think Big Navy forgets that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cI went to get help, thinking it would be the best thing for me, and it\u2019s turned into a battle for my career.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":81158,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-post-featured-layout","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":88,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[29,116,15,88],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3487],"class_list":["post-74083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home","category-left-column","category-news","category-your-military"],"acf":{"subheadline":"Did the Navy try to kick out a junior sailor who sought mental health help?","legacy_arc_id":"H5QRAYDTLZHARHZ42WQDZAS3UI","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-navy\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"featured-layout","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Three deployments. Two mental health visits. One attempted separation. - Military Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u201cI went to get help, thinking it would be the best thing for me, and it\u2019s turned into a battle for my career.&quot;\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Three deployments. Two mental health visits. One attempted separation.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cI went to get help, thinking it would be the best thing for me, and it\u2019s turned into a battle for my career.&quot;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Military Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-12-13T09:44:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T20:14:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Geoff Ziezulewicz\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Geoff Ziezulewicz\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/your-military\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/13\\\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/your-military\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/13\\\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"Three deployments. Two mental health visits. One attempted separation.\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2022-12-13T09:44:38+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T20:14:54+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/your-military\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/13\\\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 2629,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/your-military\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/13\\\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/Lincoln-sailors-1.webp_.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"Home\",\n\t                \"Left Column\",\n\t                \"News\",\n\t                \"Your Military\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/your-military\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/13\\\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/your-military\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/13\\\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/your-military\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/13\\\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Three deployments. Two mental health visits. One attempted separation. - Military Times\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/your-military\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/13\\\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/your-military\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/13\\\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/Lincoln-sailors-1.webp_.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2022-12-13T09:44:38+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T20:14:54+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"\u201cI went to get help, thinking it would be the best thing for me, and it\u2019s turned into a battle for my career.\\\"\",\n\t            \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/your-military\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/13\\\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\\\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/your-military\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/13\\\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\\\/\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/your-military\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/13\\\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\\\/#primaryimage\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/Lincoln-sailors-1.webp_.jpg\",\n\t            \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/Lincoln-sailors-1.webp_.jpg\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/your-military\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/13\\\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\\\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t            \"itemListElement\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 1,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"home\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 2,\n\t                    \"name\": \"News\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"news\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 3,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Your Military\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/news\\\/your-military\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"your-military\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 4,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Three deployments. Two mental health visits. One attempted separation.\"\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#website\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Military Times\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Independent News About Your Military | Military Times\",\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t                        \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t                    },\n\t                    \"query-input\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t                        \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t                        \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t                    }\n\t                }\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#organization\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Military Times\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"logo\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/military-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/military-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"Military Times\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"\n\t            }\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\",\n\t            \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"migration\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/militarytimes\\\/author\\\/migration\\\/\"\n\t        }\n\t    ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Three deployments. Two mental health visits. One attempted separation. - Military Times","description":"\u201cI went to get help, thinking it would be the best thing for me, and it\u2019s turned into a battle for my career.\"","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Three deployments. Two mental health visits. One attempted separation.","og_description":"\u201cI went to get help, thinking it would be the best thing for me, and it\u2019s turned into a battle for my career.\"","og_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/","og_site_name":"Military Times","article_published_time":"2022-12-13T09:44:38+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-08T20:14:54+00:00","author":"Geoff Ziezulewicz","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Geoff Ziezulewicz","Est. reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/"},"author":{"name":"migration","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1"},"headline":"Three deployments. Two mental health visits. One attempted separation.","datePublished":"2022-12-13T09:44:38+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T20:14:54+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/"},"wordCount":2629,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Lincoln-sailors-1.webp_.jpg","articleSection":["Home","Left Column","News","Your Military"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/","name":"Three deployments. Two mental health visits. One attempted separation. - Military Times","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Lincoln-sailors-1.webp_.jpg","datePublished":"2022-12-13T09:44:38+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T20:14:54+00:00","description":"\u201cI went to get help, thinking it would be the best thing for me, and it\u2019s turned into a battle for my career.\"","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Lincoln-sailors-1.webp_.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Lincoln-sailors-1.webp_.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2022\/12\/13\/three-deployments-two-mental-health-visits-one-attempted-separation\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/","ad_zone":"home"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/","ad_zone":"news"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Your Military","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/","ad_zone":"your-military"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Three deployments. Two mental health visits. One attempted separation."}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#website","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/","name":"Military Times","description":"Independent News About Your Military | Military Times","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#organization","name":"Military Times","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/military-logo-white.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/military-logo-white.png","caption":"Military Times"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1","name":"migration","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"migration"},"url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/author\/migration\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Military Times","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes","push-errors":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Lincoln-sailors-1.webp_.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74083"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74090,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74083\/revisions\/74090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74083"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=74083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}