An investigation found that leadership at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 in Norfolk,. He played flag football for about 10 years and graduated to tackle football. Their goal is to "to get all of Congress," as Patrick Caserta put it, to vote for the act. Back at the squadron, he was sent to anger management classes and reassigned as LPO over Brandon and other junior sailors under a new chief petty officer "as a leadership challenge.". I have zero patience for immoral coward criminals. "People need help. I just reach out and ask them, What can I do for you? And of course I have to tell Brandons story, she said. Claimed. He would drive the command's 18-person passenger van and no longer inconvenience any other sailors by requesting transportation to and from medical appointments for his re-rate application, according to several command counseling sheets. While details of the plot are still scarce, the FBI did release the names of the men behind the effort. "They were filled with rage," Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils said of the defendants in closing arguments last Friday, the 15th day of trial in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He knew our background. Editor's Note: This article contains a description of suicide. He worked out with a great bunch of guys who he helped and pushed so they could get their contracts as well. Related: Military Deaths by Suicide Rose 25% at End of 2020. Being at HSC-28 didn't help: Caserta and his colleagues worked for a lead petty officer (LPO) who berated them publicly, frequently cursed at them and called them out for the slightest infraction. Courtesy the Caserta Family Parents of sailor who died by suicide urge Pentagon to implement mental health measure named in his honor that became . Here is whatprosecutors want the jury to hear, taken from this Oct. 7, 2020, clipof Caserta stating the following: "And I'm telling you what, right now, man. Brandon Caserta is seen in this military photo. They just don't want to say that it happens and they are at fault.". Please enter valid email address to continue. But Brandon's father, and other sailors in the command, say the decision was made by a callous leadership cadre interested only in making mission and achieving the next rank. Toxic command climate can most certainly trigger suicidal behavior.". As the platoons substance abuse and drug coordinator for a command stationed in New Mexico, many soldiers were coming to her with drug problems, asking her if they could be sent to rehab. The Brandon Caserta Foundation - Facebook In the case of Brandon, that (getting mental health help) was not an option, Kelly said. The proposal would trigger a referral for mental health treatment "as soon as practicable" once a service member mentioned that they needed help under the Brandon Act. Learn More About Macoy. LULAC Presents Presidential Medal To Parents Of Navy Seaman Brandon Caserta Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Patrick Caserta said he and Teri will never get over the loss of theirchild,but passage of the Brandon Act it will help prevent deaths of other military members who are experiencing similar mental health issues. Cronkite News is the news division of Arizona PBS. Lawyers for Harris and Caserta emphasized that neither man went to Elk Rapids with Croft and Fox to surveil Whitmer's home. And that smile right there is always smiling on us. This was no . Learn more about what we do and how to find our content on our broadcast, digital and social media platforms. Tragically, this system failed Brandon.". Madeline Bautista expects to graduate in spring 2023 with a bachelors degree in journalism and mass communication. Clostermanns Restaurant & Bar - Tripadvisor That includes addressing violence and threats to our democracy. "This bill will ensure our service members can get help and have no fear of retaliation for doing so, as its the right thing to do, Moulton said. But the jury returned several hours later to say they were still unable to reach a verdict on some counts. And the progress he'd made in earning his professional qualifications as an aviation electrician's mate reset to zero. On Wednesday, they urged all Americans to support the Brandon Act -- a "verbal 911" that may prevent similar tragedies. According tocourt records, Caserta and his cohorts held field training exercises and plotted the kidnapping in the basement of a vacuum shop near Grand Rapids. This bill will allow service members to seek mental health treatment and require a mental health evaluation as soon as a service member self-reports. The words could easily be attributed to a sailor angry at the system, unhappy with himself and frustrated with life. Trump is not your friend, dude, Caserta says, with an anarchist flag hanging behind him. ", This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ", But an anonymous message sent to squadron commander Cmdr. But the fact that we respond and care, that just carries so much weight with people. L-R: Brandon Caserta, Barry Croft, Adam Dean Fox, and Daniel Harris. On Count 2: Weapon. "This means continued success depends on supporting our people, giving them the tools they need to do their jobs and having their backs especially when it matters the most. Hecht said the memorial service was scheduled to allow the maximum number of unit members to attend and that the family was given "advanced notice." And we thank the jury for their service. According to the FBI, the men used social media to discuss violently overthrowing the government. An investigation later showed that Brandon had been recommended for disciplinary review because of an issue over a drivers license and his lead petty officer had created a hostile work environment by being belligerent. If you or someone you know needs help, the Veterans Crisis Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-273-8255, press 1. Period. Brandon Caserta - The Brandon Act But the investigation found something else: a leadership problem in HSC-28 that started with Caserta's lead petty officer. Brandon Caserta was one of 325 active-duty service members who died by suicide in 2018, and one of 68 sailors, according to military data. After a deployment, she was sexually assaulted, which caused a variety of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Without accountability, extremists will be emboldened," said the statement by Whitmer's chief of staff, JoAnne Huls. With the jury deadlocked on charges against Adam Fox and Barry Croft, Jr.,the judge declared a mistrial on those counts. In 2015, he joined the Navy with the dream of becoming a SEAL the special operations force thats part of the Naval Special Warfare Command. Former executive officer Cmdr. Tony Finau stares down Jon Rahm, Talor Gooch goes back to back, Rory McIlroy returns to the PGA Tour and more in this week's edition of Monday Scramble: Getty Images. Only one defendant,Harris, chose to testify in his own defense, and the four men deny any scheme to get Whitmer at her vacation home. If you or someone you know needs help, the Veterans Crisis Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-273-8255, press 1. He was a great son, grandson, cousin and friend. "He literally dimed me out just to get me to man a deployment.". This is more than an advocacy thing. "This short 70-second video that was posted on Facebook says nothing about kidnapping the governor, nothing about any plot to kidnap the governor, because it has nothing whatsoever to do with any conspiracy orplot to kidnap the governor. In another development, Franksis also pushing to have the trial moved out of Michigan, arguingthat mediacoverage "has corrupted the potential trial atmosphere"and tainted his ability to get a fair trial. Another sailor who asked not to be identified out of fear of retribution simply described the climate at HSC-28 as "terrible. As you know, weve got a high rate of suicide in the veteran community and active duty. An annual DOD report, released in September, showed rates for active duty service members alone went from 20.3 suicides per 100,000 members in 2015 to 28.7 in 2020, with increases across all branches. All rights reserved. But in his suicide note, Caserta faulted the Navy, asking his parents to "go after the re-rate process" that put him in a job he hated, and expose what he saw as a flawed command. Caserta's parents have taken their grievances public, publishing an essay earlier this week on militarycorruption.com. Brandon did not like swimming at all at first but then he learned the breast stroke and that was his favorite stroke. Reach out at [emailprotected]. "But, you know, all too often the military in these cases just interviews the circle of command, not the circle of trust. Jury urged to convict 4 in plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer as "The plan was utter nonsense. His new role: electrician's mate for a Navy aircrew. "You hear horror stories of people trying to get help and them unable to do so," Clemons-Etheredge said. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Valeria Rodrguez expects to graduate in May 2024 with a masters degree in mass communication. In four days, they mailed 700 letters to U.S. representatives and senators. Because of the injury, Caserta's orders were canceled and he was sent back to selling candy and snacks for several months. All rights reserved. Im proud to represent Brandons parents, Patrick and Teri Caserta, who live in my district, and work with them on this important bipartisan legislation in honor of their son, fallen U.S. Navy Petty Officer Third Class Brandon Caserta.. He was then sent to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 in Norfolk, Virginia, where he worked under a lead petty officer known to be verbally abusive to sailors. Brandon was in karate for 17 years. The Caserta family, along with politicians and advocacy organizations, coordinated a June 25 vigil in Washington in which they remembered Brandon's life and recommitted to pushing for the Brandon Act. He could see things differently, and he always found ways to make things easier and better, which, Patrick said, made Brandon such a good fit for the military. But while it was incorporated into the House's version of the fiscal 2021 defense policy bill, it was removed during deliberations of the final law. Caserta's was one of three in Norfolk-based helicopter squadrons in the first half of the year alone. But I used to have a former commanding officer who would often say: If youre not changing it, its getting worse., Lesko said in a statement, "Im supporting the Brandon Act because ensuring our men and women in uniform have access to the mental health services they need is of the utmost importance. David Hecht, the public affairs officer for Naval Air Force Atlantic, said the LPO was placed in a leadership position after his dismissal from another supervisory role because the Navy believes in leadership opportunities and second chances. "Adam Fox is usually impaired. Defense lawyers argue these statements "completely ignore the presumption ofinnocence" and that the "repeated discussion of the governor as a 'victim' ignores the nature of the charges. First published on April 8, 2022 / 2:38 PM. While the bad leaders weren't wholly responsible for the suicides, they did help push the soldiers over the edge, he said. Let this (expletive)go down bro. Then, three weeks into SEALstraining, Brandon broke his leg. DETROIT (FOX 2) - An attorney for Brandon Caserta, one of two men who were found not guilty on all charges on Friday in the plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, says that the leader of the state was never in any danger and that the case presented by the prosecution was clearly not enough for a conviction. Brandon did not have that option on June 25, 2018, when he took his life while stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. Hills said that the jury recognized that there wasn't enough to convict, even if they didn't everything. The agency also added suicide prevention to its firearm safety training and says its working with young service members to improve problem-solving and coping skills. Defense attorney Julia Kelly said Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks, who both testified against the group, are "liars," though they pleaded guilty and are facing prison. Normally, sailors have to report their mental health issues to their commanding officer, who then initiates the referral. Operational leaders, he said, should not rely on "the boot camp strategy of breaking people down to build them back up. ", If they seek help, "People could be concerned about losing their security clearance, their place in the tribe, being flagged, being put on a profile, having someone remove their firearm privileges," Springer said. He biked everywhere he went. I was stripped of all of my duties and reassigned to a position that didn't exist, Romero said. She feared losing rank and the stigma. "If they come in at trial they will involve unfairly prejudicial and inflammatory matter and will unfairly prejudice Mr. Franks by 'spilling over'onto him,"Franks' lawyer argues in court documents. We just dont want anybody to go through what we did, and we certainly want to help the ones who are going through what Brandon did, Teri Caserta said. Boogaloo Boys are known to wear Hawaiian shirts to showcase support for the movement. This year, the Philippines agreed to give the U.S. access to four more bases on the islands. Senior officials of HSC-28 bear the ultimate responsibility for their failures such as the decision to keep AE1 in charge. To reprint or license this article or any content from Military.com, please submit your request, His Suicide Note Was a Message to the Navy. He touched so many lives in such a short time. The lead petty officer remains in the Navy, never having received punitive action. Years Later, Some Are Saddled With Debt. The plot was foiled as undercover agents and an informant were embedded in the group, whose members were ultimately arrested in a setup by the FBI. Contact us today for information that could help save their lives. U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge issued a statement saying, "Although we are disappointed the jury did not reach decisions in our favor, we continue to respect the jury trial system whatever the outcome. That compares with a national suicide rate of 13.5 in 2020. In a Monday court filing, defense lawyers also cited a recent article in Newsweek magazine, in which "Whitmer says shes been in a pensive mood lately, having spent recent days writing a victim impact statement ahead of the sentencing of an anti-government extremist who took part in a plot to kidnap and kill her last year. Photos of Brandon Caserta decorate the Peoria home of his parents, Teri and Patrick. Services also are available online at www.veteranscrisisline.net or by text, 838255. No matter what he was doing, he would smile. Disabled Veterans Sign up for a Career Change. The Casertas are focused on the widespread issue of suicides in the military. Like many young people, Caserta relied on Uber, friends and his bicycle to get around. His Suicide Note Was a Message to the Navy. The Way He Died Was the We dont have a magic wand, and were not telling them anything they probably shouldnt already know, said Patrick, who spent 22 years in the Navy. I'm going to make this shit 100%clear, dude. Brandon Act, named for Brandon Caserta, meant to address suicide in the Review. For Caserta, though, facing a year or more under a toxic LPO in a rating he hated, getting behind the wheel of a vehicle and enduring a disciplinary board appeared to be too much. While a single senator cannot prevent confirmations, a hold significantly delays confirmations because the Senate needs to All of these veterans, who used education benefits earned in the military to pay for the training, had signed agreements Copyright 2023 Military.com. Whitmer, the commanding officer of HSC-28 at the time of Caserta's suicide, completed his command tour last month and has moved on. Yet most who may need help arent getting it. The decision to take one's own life is deeply personal, one made for reasons the dead often take to the grave with them. It sucks that telling the truth will make things bad for [anyone] who speaks up," the sailor wrote. He was always on the go. When Tony Finau was stacking . Caserta wasnt the only sailor who had trouble getting mental health treatment in the HSC-28 command. ", "In the military service, members form a tribe with those who they serve with," Springer said. He helped so many of his friends and was very supportive and compassionate. Even today, Teri regularly gets messages from relatives of other service members who are struggling. But the 21-year-old aircrew aviation electrician's mate striker, or AEAN, did confide to friends via text that he was depressed about BUD/S and unhappy with his rating, which he felt forced to choose from a limited selection after leaving the SEAL training pipeline. Teri and Patrick Caserta remember their son as a fun-loving, positive and hardworking kid. The last time Patrick and Teri saw their son was when he was on leave during his birthday week in late May 2018. But a year later, a broken leg forced him to drop out of the training, reclassify as an aviation electrician and transfer to Norfolk, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28. Heerstrasse 2A, 53859 Niederkassel, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany +49 2208 94800 Website Menu. His smile was so contagious. This is personal, James said. This is the first timeClemons-Etheredge has spoken publicly about the issues within the HSC-28 command. The Brandon Act is designed to protect service members who experience mental health emergencies and reduce the stigma around reporting. Suicides have risen since then. Cmdr. He had never owned a car, didn't have insurance and, while he had taken a driving course as a teen, had never been on the road by himself. Trump motion to declare mistrial in E. Jean Carroll lawsuit denied, U.S. to let Afghan evacuees renew temporary legal status, Tornado hits Virginia Beach, likely damaging hundreds of homes, First Republic Bank seized by regulators, then sold to JPMorgan Chase, Texas man who lost wife and son in shooting shares story, Supreme Court to hear case that could curb power of federal agencies, Mental health of LGBTQ youth worsening in current "hostile political climate", Waiter killed, woman wounded in shooting at popular New Orleans restaurant, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo found dead at 46, Partial verdict reached in Whitmer kidnapping plot trial. They should be put up on a pedestal.. On it, he showers praise on Kenosha, Wisconsin shooter Kyle Rittenhouse, calls coronavirus a hoax, and makes allusions to the QAnon conspiracy.
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