Mimi editor shapes series on army suicides

As a Navy reservist, I have followed Stars and Stripes, the military’s official newspaper, for two decades, sometimes even submitting stories myself. The paper was informative with some fluff — just what I’d expect from a DoD-funded newspaper. Oh sure, Stars and Stripes was deemed independent of influence from military brass, but I wondered just how strong that independent streak was.

Then I took a look at Stars and Stripes’ series on Army suicides and I detected a Dart Society member in the mix.  That’s because Tina Croley, a Mimi Award winner and a former Dart Society board member, is now editing at Stars& Stripes. And this is the result:

http://www.stripes.com/news/special-reports/suicide-in-the-military/maltreated-and-hazed-one-soldier-is-driven-to-take-his-own-life-1.14594

Granted, I haven’t read every S&S newspaper out there. But in all those that I have read, none had the depth, the human factor  and the courage to expose wrongdoing among the Army rank-and-file.  Thoroughly researched with a brilliant narrative, this is the kind of series that can truly make a difference.

Tina, my hat’s off to you once again. I’m especially pleased to see this hard-hitting, relevant series coming at a time when it’s needed most. We’re more than nine years into fighting two wars, our service men and women are returning home with injuries, both physical and emotional.  Suicide is rampant within the Army, but few have had the courage to identify why.  Tina, your team did that in a powerful way. I’ll keep reading.