My ears popped on the way down. The tragedy drove the Casertas to lobby Congress for legislation to expand mental health services to members of the military. Jury urged to convict 4 in plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer as Fox's attorney, Christopher Gibbons, said Fox was a hapless man living in the basement of a Grand Rapids-area vacuum shop, smoking marijuana whenever possible and totally incapable of leading the wild plot. Struggling in his assigned rating and facing disciplinary action within his command, Caserta left notes for his parents and friends before died by suicide on the flight line on June 25, 2018. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. But her command leaders ignored the burgeoning problem. Michael Hills represented Caserta in federal court for the kidnappings conspiracy charge. See 230 traveler reviews, 241 candid photos, and great deals for Clostermanns Hof, ranked #1 of 2 hotels in Niederkassel and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor. "Adam Fox is usually impaired. He just needed someone to talk to, and they were unwilling to allow him to do that, Clemons-Etheredge said. Caserta was among 13 men busted by the feds Thursday who planned to kidnap Whitmer and storm the Capitol building in Michigan in hopes of sparking a civil war. US Navy Macoy Hicks And I see the need for change. ", This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. If this shit goes down, okay? When he was in BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training) in SD, I asked him what it was like, if he liked it, and the first words out of his mouth were, How can I not like it? You either tell them to go right now, orelse they're going to die. ". Caserta, who was from Arizona, was assigned his rating after breaking his leg during Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL School in 2016. Gretchen Whitmer railed that President Trump was a tyrant and called all government workers your enemy.. Gretchen Whitmer could be lengthy. And in some cases, when folks do reach out, they dont get the necessary positive reaction, on the road to getting help. Lawyers for Harris and Caserta emphasized that neither man went to Elk Rapids with Croft and Fox to surveil Whitmer's home. 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. ", They are, the directive states, a combination of "self centered attitudes, motivations, and behaviors that have adverse effects on subordinates, the organization, and mission performance.". "Right from the beginning I kept looking for it. And that smile right there is always smiling on us. 2023 www.freep.com. ContactTresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com. Military research finds that up to 70% of service members with mental health symptoms do not seek treatment, and 35% have reported that they worry seeking help would negatively impact their careers. Brandon touched more people than he realizes. Kelly said he doesnt expect a lot of resistance to the Brandon Act. Brandon Caserta did get some help. "There are all of these potential consequences, and while they are not common, they are common fears. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Don't even f--- with me. All rights reserved. That includes addressing violence and threats to our democracy. And we thank the jury for their service. But another accident happened. Asked by the Army to "think outside the box" in studying the deaths, Matsuda found that, given the opportunity, some noncommissioned officers and officers in the chain of command make their subordinates' lives a living hell. Shortly after the verdict, Whitmer's Chief of Staff JoAnne Huls, issued a statement saying that the trial is normalizing political violence: "Today, Michiganders and Americansespecially our childrenare living through the normalization of political violence. MacMillan served with Caserta and reached out to the family after Brandon's death, hoping to provide them some solace and affirmation. Brandon Caserta FB: Man Arrested in Plot to Kill MIchigan Gov. This law is designed to protect service members who experience mental health emergencies by requiring requiring the Department of Defense to create a process and reduce the stigma a process that also protects confidentiality, said Kelly, a former combat pilot who served in the Navy for 25 years and championed the act after hearing Brandons story. Feds: Whitmer kidnap suspect doesn't want public to hear God gave him OK, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. He died soon after that, on June 25, 2018. Brandon tragically lost his life because he wasnt able to get support for his mental health something we should provide every American, especially every American hero in uniform," Moulton said in a news release. They can say Hey, I have a Brandon Act issue, and theres no questions, no repercussions, they will be given initial counseling and treatment that they need.. Recommend Disciplinary Review Board," stated his counseling record from June 22, 2018. If this whole thing, you know, startsto happen;I'm telling you what, dude, I'm taken out as many of those m----- ------s (expletive) as I can. According to the unsigned message provided by both Patrick Caserta and included in the command investigation, the LPO called subordinates his "bitches" and referred to the chiefs behind their backs as "douchebags" and "dumbasses." She believesthe Brandon Act isnecessary. in the basement of a vacuum shop near Grand Rapids. Ear piercing investigation leads to arrest of Tontitown dad Brandon was very athletic and took karate, swimming, football and track. Unit chiefs were to visit the LPOs shop more frequently, "engage the sailors and attempt to ensure they had a means to convey any concerns if things weren't working out," according to the command investigation. As they learned more about the workings of the Capitol, Teri and Patrick grew more confident that the bill could be passed into law and scheduled more appointments for April 2020. As for Fox and Croft, because the case against them has not been resolved, he said they would be remanded into custody. Defense attorneys insist they were under the spell of informants and agents who got them to say and do violent, provocative things. OK? They just don't want to say that it happens and they are at fault.". All rights reserved. This was no . She feared losing rank and the stigma. Expect a lengthy trial for men accused of plotting to kidnap - WDIV Claimed. A person cannot accidentally enter into a conspiracy.". Crystal Romero, the LULAC subcommittee chair for military and veterans affairs, said the main goal isto educate the civilian population to understand the problems our service members face on a daily basis.. Brandon Act, named for Brandon Caserta, meant to address suicide in the However, other videos of Caserta show him armed with a semi-automatic rifle wearing a shirt that says Fuck the Government.. Thanks for contacting us. 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. She has a niece in the Army and nephew in the Marines. Learn more about what we do and how to find our content on our broadcast, digital and social media platforms. Share. 2023 FOX Television Stations, issued a statement saying that the trial is normalizing political violence, DPD host walk to raise awareness on National Crime Victims Rights Week, WATCH - Jennifer Hammond was in Allen Park as the Lions introduced their 2023 first round picks, 'No Beef Zone in effect' by Detroit activists in Greektown to keep the peace. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255. "He was a loving, caring, friendly kid.". Contact us today for information that could help save their lives. Senior officials of HSC-28 bear the ultimate responsibility for their failures such as the decision to keep AE1 in charge. His death was one of 325 suicides among active duty personnel that year, including 68 in the U.S. Navy. Teri and Patrick Caserta bought a new car and drove it from Peoria to Washington, D.C., in the summer of 2019. After their son died by suicide in the Navy, the couple lobbied Congress for legislation to expand mental health services to members of the military. James has friends who served who died by suicide. Operational leaders, he said, should not rely on "the boot camp strategy of breaking people down to build them back up. "You have not performed your required duties as a watchstander (duty driver) like your peers and superiors since your assignment to HSC-28 due to the fact that you stated you are not a licensed driver. "He was the kind of person that would drop whatever he was doing to help someone else. Military.com is not naming him as he has not been charged. We've received your submission. David Covucci is the senior politics and technology editor at the Daily Dot, covering the nexus between Washington and Silicon Valley. The stalked and surveilled Whitmer in an effort to help violently overthrow the government. That compares with a national suicide rate of 13.5 in 2020. Hills said that the jury recognized that there wasn't enough to convict, even if they didn't everything. This is a tragic situation. Follow her on Twitter at @patriciakime. "We are so angry at them for not looking out for Brandon and the other troops. Indeed, she didnt know about any supposed plan, of course, until after the government filed its case," defense lawyers argue, adding: "Potential jurors, especially women jurors, are likely to feel an emotional reaction" to such exhortations. 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. 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. Cmdr. He basically tasked us with changing the system, Teri said. Tragically, this system failed Brandon.". Whitmer, the commanding officer of HSC-28 at the time of Caserta's suicide, completed his command tour last month and has moved on. That, and the fact that his dad served in the Navy for 22 years, were major factors in Brandon applying to the Navy SEALs after his senior year at Sunrise Mountain High School in Peoria. "I've learned that my voice and my knowledge can help somebody else," Clemons-Etheredge said. 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. Thats why they were pulling them together," Hills said. I just remember him being really upset, Clemons-Etheredge said. Seven of the defendants were linked to a militia group called the Wolverine Watchmen. But the Navy has had its share of what are considered "toxic leaders," notably even with the service's top enlisted leader, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Stephen Giordano, who retired in 2018 after an investigation found he publicly berated and humiliated his staff and treated aides like servants. But he was forced out of SEAL training in May 2017 after breaking his leg - an injury his parents say was not originally diagnosed and not properly treated. The command, Patrick Caserta asserts, was "so hostile, corruptive and unethical," they tormented Brandon and drove him past the brink of despair. Today, our hard work has paid off. He helped so many of his friends and was very supportive and compassionate. He played flag football for about 10 years and graduated to tackle football. Patrick Caserta recalled the passion Brandon had for building anything with his hands. Because of the injury, Caserta's orders were canceled and he was sent back to selling candy and snacks for several months. He is particularly interested in hearing any tips you have. We kept looking for it," Hills said. All rights reserved. When he ran into the bad people he would try to look for the good in them and try to bring it out of them. Asked why she decided to speak out, Clemons-Etheredge said, because I'm a civilian and tired of seeing people I care about not get mental health treatment, not get proper treatment in general. I passed him. Toxic leadership has even permeated the highest ranks of the service: Giordano retired the week Caserta killed himself, following an inspector general investigation into his bullying and verbally abusive behavior toward subordinates and staff. This is the first timeClemons-Etheredge has spoken publicly about the issues within the HSC-28 command. Two other defendantspreviously pleaded guiltyand cooperated with investigators. And theyre treated like this? The concerns they describe are similar to the stress and readiness issues determined to be a factor in the deadly collisions of the guided missile destroyers Fitzgerald and John S. McCain. 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. It will also allow Americans serving in uniform to seek help confidentially and, if necessary, outside of the chain of command. I'm getting paid to work out,' Teri remembered. He touched so many lives in such a short time. So they build a median that goes over to the right, on a one-lane road, so that you can goaround them. His football coach called him the Energizer bunny.. This is personal, James said. And the progress he'd made in earning his professional qualifications as an aviation electrician's mate reset to zero. He was incredibly in shape, Patrick Caserta said. If he wasnt doing sports, he was working out. Boogaloo Boys are known to. Matsuda, the anthropologist, said that to truly address the problem of suicide in the armed forces, the services should consider toxic leadership when analyzing individual deaths. On Wednesday, just before he was arrested, Caserta speculated Is it morally legitimate to initiate violence and theft against non violent people? Other posts ask similar questions. "They aren't leading anymore. Holly Graf perhaps the most notorious. The family also was "provided a video of the memorial service, a piece of memorabilia signed by all the squadron members and a letter of condolence from the command," he said. They called him a BUD/S dud, or somebody who goes through SEALsand doesnt make it, Patrick said. When youre in the military, you have this part to play. Military leaders push back on 'woke' military narrative in - CNN In its annual report, the Department of Defense said it has taken steps to address the issue of suicide in the ranks. They should be put up on a pedestal.. He had been counseled while serving as a detachment LPO for "intolerable and unprofessional" behavior toward subordinates, and later relieved when his behavior didn't change. Brandon Caserta, accused Whitmer kidnap plotter: Trump is a 'tyrant' (Sen. Mark Kelly's staff/Sen. So if if, you know, ifif we're doing a recon or something and we come up on some of them, dude,you better not give them a chance. 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. He was on his high school freshman and sophomore years. It was difficult for her to get treatment, and James attempted suicide. And my (expletive)was clean bro. "There's one lead petty officer who is pretty good. Trump is not your friend, dude, Caserta says, with an anarchist flag hanging behind him. He learned that by doing this stuff.. ", Caserta continues: "And if you guys are going to give any of these mother f------a chance, any of thesegang, f------criminal a--government thugs that rob people every day;ifyou're even going to give them a second to try to speak or tell their story,don't even f--- me, dude. She does what she can to help. We want to make things better for future generations.. Acquitted defendant Caserta will not testify at Whitmer kidnap retrial After returning to the Norfolk base about one month later, on June 25, 2018, Brandon Caserta jumped into the spinning tail rotor of a helicopter on the flight line. It requires a mental health evaluation for service members who self-report a need and allows members to seek help outside the chain of command and for cases to be kept confidential. Clostermanns Restaurant & Bar - Tripadvisor During a House Armed Services hearing on the Air Force budget Wednesday, Moulton said he is under "no delusions that the Brandon Act would solve all the military's suicide problems," but he called it "a step in the right direction.". While she was stationed in Germany, she was deployed to Iraq two times. Toxic command climate can most certainly trigger suicidal behavior.". I found strength in being able to advocate and lobby for change in others, James said. Caserta's was one of three in Norfolk-based helicopter squadrons in the first half of the year alone. 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. When she swung by the house, she learned that one of her husbands peers, Brandon Caserta, had died by suicide. They volunteered. 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." He knew what kind of parents we were. Dec 19 You must watch this sentencing hearing. Since Brandon's death, his parents Teri and Patrick have fought for legislation that would protect service members who feel abandoned by their leaders and need help. He deserves to have justice. "I do not recommend [mast] due to the fact that the member can refuse captain's mast enduring to a special or general courts-martial, further extending the timeline and exacerbating the healing process for all effected [sic] personnel," the investigating officer wrote. "Brandon was home for a few weeks [in May 2018] and he was happy, making plans for Christmas," said his father, Patrick Caserta, a retired Navy career counselor with 22 years of service. L-R: Brandon Caserta, Barry Croft, Adam Dean Fox, and Daniel Harris. Find out how your news organization can use Cronkite News content. The last time Patrick and Teri saw their son was when he was on leave during his birthday week in late May 2018. Today, a statue of an angel faces the peak, marking the place where his ashes were spread. "People need help. After withdrawing from the SEALs, Brandon was transferred to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 in Norfolk, Virginia. As tragic as it is, all we can do is use him and his story to save lives, Patrick said. Services also are available online atwww.veteranscrisisline.net or by text, 838255. Years Later, Some Are Saddled With Debt. Review. "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. I am the living version of Brandon Caserta, I am a living testament to the retaliation and harassment he faced, Romero said. While post-mortem analyses of suicides usually show that the victim faced major issues -- financial or relationship problems, medical issues, mental health conditions -- leaders can and do play a substantial role, according to research conducted by Dave Matsuda, an anthropologist at California State University-East Bay who studied a suicide cluster among soldiers in Iraq in 2010. This story has been shared 597,292 times. Brandon Michael-Ray Caserta is a white man from Michigan, United States. 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.. 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. "If you ask sailors in general why they wont speak out, theyll say that theyre afraid of retaliation," Clemons-Etheredge said. TONTITOWN, Ark. A Facebook page of his showcases his far-right bona fides. An investigation found that leadership at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 in Norfolk, Virginia . Former executive officer Cmdr. Save. 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. "The command disrespected him and they disrespected us," he said. According to the FBI, the men used social media to discuss violently overthrowing the government. But the fact that we respond and care, that just carries so much weight with people. They also would like to see the Navy implement Brandon Caserta's request in his suicide note regarding the re-rate process: that sailors who don't complete the training for the rate they initially sought be able to select any other training they qualify for with their Armed Services Vocational Battery Test results. Another sailor who asked not to be identified out of fear of retribution simply described the climate at HSC-28 as "terrible. But the investigating officer then recommended against mast, instead suggesting the aviation electrician's mate 1st class, or AE1, be transferred with a "declining" evaluation. The rise mirrors an increase in suicides among the general U.S. population, and suicide experts are struggling to understand why. Brandon was in karate for 17 years. This is more than an advocacy thing. Instead, he reached Caserta's maintenance master chief, who told him that "people in the squadron had to do two deployments because [Caserta] didn't have his quals.". 54 talking about this. Shauna Springer isa psychologist who specializes in suicides in the military. The Brandon Caserta Foundation - Facebook Donald Trump is a 'Tyrant' and 'Not Your Friend', Says Suspect in So we know hes happy with what were doing. Before his death, the report said, Brandon emailed two others, who were deployed at the time, wondering what was the meaning of life.. 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.". After work, her husband retreated to his parents' house. Military members who take their own lives are largely men younger than 30. Earlier in April, the Casertas joined U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., members of Arizona State University ROTC and representatives of the ASU Pat Tillman Veterans Center for a panel discussion about the Brandon Act, which became law as part of the larger defense measure in December. The LPO remains at a unit in Norfolk. Trevor Prouty is the squadron's new CO. Command Master Chief David Tokarski remains with the squadron. Patrick Caserta seriously doubts that. All rights reserved. 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. If he wasn't doing sports, he was working out. More recently, the commanding officer of the cruiser Shiloh, Capt. One count of kidnapping conspiracy and a count . 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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. The Casertas invited Cronkite News into their home to talk more about Brandons experience in the military and the son they adored. Services also are available online at www.veteranscrisisline.net or by text, 838255. This article may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. Except that Brandon Caserta didn't drive. These "toxic leaders," Matsuda concluded, can contribute to suicide decisions. . We cant bring him back. He would tell us things, but it was 100 times worse than he would tell us, Patrick Caserta said. 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. They printed brochures, handed out business cards, and created a petition. 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