Seven of the defendants were linked to a militia group called the Wolverine Watchmen. Don't feel pressure to try to pull it all together just yet," U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker told jurors March 10. Were just two parents trying to make a difference. So, yeah, its been almost four years that thats what weve been doing.. Although well never get Brandon back, his legacy will be the lives of many more great Americans he saves through this bill, and Im proud of his parents who have fought so hard to tell his story and make this change.. Day or night, rain or shine, he was always there," hometown friend Destini Mohn said in a Facebook post on his memorial page. Gretchen Whitmer (D). If this shit goes down, okay? The defense argues this video is " irrelevant,""unfairly prejudicial," and "has nothing to do with kidnapping the Governor.". The Casertas are so angry and distraught that they have offered a $25,000 reward to anyone who will come forward with information that "would lead to successful prosecution of individuals in their son's chain of command.". The lead petty officer remains in the Navy, never having received punitive action. He enlisted at age 17 with dreams of becoming a Navy SEAL. His parents later discovered notes describing hazing and bullying from some members of his squadron. Lawyers have signaled an entrapment defense, claiming the men were cajoled by undercover FBI agents and zealous, greedy informants. But the jury returned several hours later to say they were still unable to reach a verdict on some counts. Peoria parents hope military mental health act spares others their pain He pressed Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown for his support and added that the Defense Department does not favor the proposal. Shortly after asking for help and after his wife filed an inspector general claim a captain from the HSC-28 command woke up her husband in the middle of the night and berated him. The Brandon Act is a step in the right direction.. Brandon Hudson has more reaction after the court decision that found two suspects acquitted and two receiving a mistrial in the alleged plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer. The DOD report cites a number of risk factors, including relationship and financial problems, ineffective coping skills, access to lethal means of injury and reluctance to seek help. They volunteered. 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.". 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. President Joe Biden, for those fortunate enough to have missed it, made a "Dark Brandon" joke Saturday night at the White House Correspondent's dinner. "And when you have harassment, or bullying, what that does is it takes a person and singles them out, which makes that service member feel like they are not a core part of that tribe. The tragedy drove the Casertas to lobby Congress for legislation to expand mental health services to members of the military. I just remember him being really upset, Clemons-Etheredge said. The last time Patrick and Teri saw their son was when he was on leave during his birthday week in late May 2018. Operational leaders, he said, should not rely on "the boot camp strategy of breaking people down to build them back up. Jurors reached a partial verdict Friday in the case of four men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. In its annual report, the Department of Defense said it has taken steps to address the issue of suicide in the ranks. Caserta is one of five men facing federalconspiracy charges of plotting to kidnap Whitmer, largely fueled by anger over mask mandates and state restrictionson business and travel during the pandemic. Military leaders push back on 'woke' military narrative in - CNN (Sen. Mark Kelly's staff/Sen. Indeed, the command investigation concluded that Caserta was "suffering from a number of stressors, including a feeling of worthlessness since he had dropped on request from Special Warfare training and dissatisfaction with the Navy.". And the command isn't going to admit there is a problem. And these are the guys who are actually doing it. "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. While details of the plot are still scarce, the FBI did release the names of the men behind the effort. So they build a median that goes over to the right, on a one-lane road, so that you can goaround them. Or, if sailors do bypass normal routine and report straight to a mental health official, that mental health official has an obligation to tell their commanding officers. He was incredibly in shape, Patrick Caserta said. 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. 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.". 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. Another f------cop pulled me over on my way home from work, on my way home from work and f------robbed me again dude. He deserves to save lives. Whitmer's statement, which will be disclosed in federal court filings next month, included the following: Weve come to a dangerous moment in our nation where its not just about disagreement," Whitmer told Newsweek. When youre in the military, you have this part to play. Navy policy states that the command should provide round-trip travel and allowances to family members to attend a command memorial service. Follow her on Twitter at @patriciakime. Caserta's was one of three in Norfolk-based helicopter squadrons in the first half of the year alone. "The plan was utter nonsense. Newsletter: Video declaring the easiest job in the world goes viral, Fake TikTok of Boston Dynamics robot fighting racks up millions of views, FTC chair warns AI can turbocharge fraud and discrimination, *First Published: Oct 8, 2020, 11:29 am CDT, How South Carolina became a troubling new hub for QAnon. The stalked and surveilled Whitmer in an effort to help violently overthrow the government. 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. Fox twice traveled to northern Michigan to scout the area. 2023 Cronkite News. I mean we had volumes and hundreds and thousands of hours of recordings, and it just wasnt there. So, I know the occupational phenomenon that the command can absolutely burn you out, to make you quit. All rights reserved. The Casertas invited Cronkite News into their home to talk more about Brandons experience in the military and the son they adored. "Those who serve in the military are people like all of us, and they come in with different experiences, and the traumas that they have during their time in service are not just about the things they see and do during combat deployments," Springer said. Boogaloo Boys are known to wear Hawaiian shirts to showcase support for the movement. 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. A self-proclaimed anarchist, he was accused of participating in the thwarted plot to kidnap 49th Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer while the world was battling the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. He took swim lessons, joined the USA Swim team and swam for his high school. Last year, 580 service members died by suicide 384 active duty members, 77 reservists and 119 National Guard members. Adriana Gonzalez-Chavez expects to graduate in May 2024 with a bachelors degree in journalism and a minor in communication. "They killed him," he told Military.com. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He touched so many lives in such a short time. Adam Aycock, who managed to complete his command tour, was found to have overseen a ship in complete dysfunction, his leadership threatening the ship's readiness by causing exhaustion, despair and suicidal thoughts among sailors, according to a report in Navy Times. . Whitmer conspiracy allegations tied to 'boogaloo' movement - NBC News The trial is scheduled to resume Thursday in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan. "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. But we were tasked with the simplicity that other parents face: Either you are against it and when he's 18, he joins anyway, or you support him and give him everything he needs to succeed, and we chose that route. He was always on the go. Who are Brandon Caserta, Barry Croft, Adam Fox and Daniel Harris -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. The Brandon Act is designed to protect service members who experience mental health emergencies and reduce the stigma around reporting. However, other videos of Caserta show him armed with a semi-automatic rifle wearing a shirt that says Fuck the Government.. 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. Thanks to the tireless advocacy of Teri and Patrick Caserta, and bipartisan support in Congress, our efforts will help us confront military suicide head on and save the lives of other young servicemembers." Brandon Caserta died by suicide on June 25, 2018 on the flight line at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. The words could easily be attributed to a sailor angry at the system, unhappy with himself and frustrated with life. 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"If you ask sailors in general why they wont speak out, theyll say that theyre afraid of retaliation," Clemons-Etheredge said. 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. "We are all scared that we will get into trouble. Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were acquitted on all counts: On Count 1: Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping: Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were both found NOT GUILTY. This needs to change.". Posted on Oct 8, 2020Updated on Oct 8, 2020, 3:05 pm CDT. And that smile right there is always smiling on us. ", In the last weeks of Caserta's life, his parents became so concerned about his welfare that his father called the command, hoping to speak with the command master chief. Even today, Teri regularly gets messages from relatives of other service members who are struggling. They directed him to fork over $12 for a duplicate copy and told him they were sending him to a disciplinary review board for hiding the fact that he had a license. Caserta's death was one of 68 Navy suicides in 2018. 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. Hecht said HSC-28 required Caserta to get his qualifications because in the Navy, to be recommended for any special program, including aircrew transition, "the expectation is that sailors are excelling in their current positions and meeting all the necessary requirements.". Service members who experience mental health issues would receive care without having to notify their command. He teased Caserta as a "BUD/S dud" and once intentionally dropped one of Brandon's care packages in front of him to watch the sailor's reaction. She has a niece in the Army and nephew in the Marines. "Its about threats of violence.. And my (expletive)was clean bro. Christine Clemons-Etheredge recounted multiple stories in which her husband, a former HSC-28 sailor, encountered similar issues. "And in some cases, people who are ridden hard can't take it. Here's How. When she swung by the house, she learned that one of her husbands peers, Brandon Caserta, had died by suicide. 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. He could not get the help he needed. The bill is named forNavy Aircrew Aviation Electrician's Mate Striker Brandon Caserta, who died three years ago this month by suicide in Norfolk, Virginia. This was no surprise. His chiefs told him that he couldn't reapply for aircrew until he completed the qualifications, and they also handed him a new requirement: get a driver's license so he could be cycled into the duty driver schedule and operate vehicles on the flight line. In the Whitmer case, Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. ", Although not particularly familiar with the Brandon Act, Springer did say that it "may offer a critical pathway to ensure that people can step forward and get support in a truly safe and confidential way.". "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. 85 reviews #3 of 21 Restaurants in Niederkassel $$$$ European Contemporary Central European. Desperate for answers on their son's death, the Casertas reached out to Brandon's NCOs, the friends he left gifts and notes for and those he had spoken about in texts. We chose to support him, and I helped get him a SEAL contract.. Caserta's LPO often "screamed, yelled and name-called" when sailors forgot to do something or made a mistake, and he would "throw fits worse than my toddler.". 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. Recommend Disciplinary Review Board," stated his counseling record from June 22, 2018. His favorite sports were karate, swimming and tackle football. We want to make things better for future generations.. ", " Ah, the guy saw me at Joy and Haggerty. "There are all of these potential consequences, and while they are not common, they are common fears. @NotRadix and I are working on a documentary at this very moment, and we are exposing the injustices by these prosecutor's judge's cops and politicians. Brandon left behind a suicide note in which he faulted the Navy. 'Brandon Act' Named for Sailor Who Died by Suicide Gains New Supporters Its a matter of life and death," Patrick Caserta said. Neither do his alleged cohorts, who are fighting to keep the jury from hearing those comments, which are part of avideothat prosecutors want to show jurors when the case goes to trial in October. She noticed something was wrong after her husband texted her while he was at work one day in late June 2018. Disabled Veterans Sign up for a Career Change. 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. Two other defendantspreviously pleaded guiltyand cooperated with investigators. Brandon did not like swimming at all at first but then he learned the breast stroke and that was his favorite stroke. "I've learned that my voice and my knowledge can help somebody else," Clemons-Etheredge said. Letthis (expletive)go down. I knew this kid, he was so young. But the fact that we respond and care, that just carries so much weight with people. He died soon after that, on June 25, 2018. Duane Whitmer on June 18, 2018, showed the abuse hadn't stopped. Read Next:Troops Can Finally File Medical Malpractice Claims Against the Military. This is personal, James said. He's just playing his game. The four members of anti-government groups are facing trial on federal charges accusing them in a plot to abduct Michigan's. An investigation found that leadership at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 in Norfolk,. He was running 20 miles per day in SEALs, and all the other activities they'd do, with a broken leg for several days, Patrick Caserta said. Caserta is one of five militia members who were arrested in the fall of 2020 in an FBI sting outside an Ypsilanti warehouse. He also ranted about getting robbed by government thugs for some made-up traffic violation after receiving a traffic ticket. So this legislation would make it anonymous. Brandon was in karate for 17 years. Tragically, this system failed Brandon.". On Friday, a federal jury found him not guilty on the charge, which could have carried a sentence of life in prison. Heerstrasse 2A, 53859 Niederkassel, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany +49 2208 94800 Website Menu. It amazes me that people actually, like, believe that when hes shown over and over and over again that hes a tyrant. His death was one of 325 suicides among active duty personnel that year, including 68 in the U.S. Navy. Many want . Gretchen Whitmer railed that President Trump was a tyrant and called all government workers your enemy.. When they met, they ran into each others arms, hugged and cried. One suicide is too many. So we know hes happy with what were doing. At a press conference on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Moulton said the Brandon Act would empower service members to manage their mental health during a crisis. 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 Boogaloo Boys are known to have a presence in Michigan. This story has been shared 597,292 times. After two men were found not guilty of kidnap conspiracy charges, FOX 2 legal analyst says the federal prosecutor will likely not try the other two men. He asked, in writing, for us to do it. All rights reserved. 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. That's exactly what they did to Brandon., After meeting with Patrick and Teri for the first time last year, Romero said she thought, Wow, I went through the same things as him.. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, here are some available resources: 2023 www.azcentral.com. Don't even f--- with me. He "treated his workers worse than garbage" and "like dogs. And theyre treated like this? "We believe if it's presented to them properly, theyll want to get involved.. Brandon Act to Change DoD Mental Health Policy, Pay Tribute to Fallen It was the happiest we'd ever seen him, Patrick said. Period. He asked for help many times. Could GhostEzra take QAnon to an even more disturbing level? When Brandon started SEAL training in San Diego, he excelled. A man accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. The LPO officer and some of his peers also didnt take to his happygo-lucky attitude, Patrick said. "Make no mistake, HSC-28 murdered our son Brandon. (Photo by Madeline Bautista/Cronkite News). Years Later, Some Are Saddled With Debt. He deserves to have justice. Patrick Caserta said the family was excluded out of sheer pettiness. Acquitted defendant Caserta will not testify at Whitmer kidnap retrial 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. Brandon, you will be missed by so many and we are so proud of you. Editor's Note: This article contains a description of suicide. Claimed. That includes addressing violence and threats to our democracy. 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. Hecht said manning issues did not play a role in any of the command's decisions. "There's one lead petty officer who is pretty good. 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. Eventually, the friends stopped responding. (Photo by Madeline Bautista/Cronkite News). He is particularly interested in hearing any tips you have. Hills said Kaleb Franks and Ty Garbin, two other suspects who were charged with the same crimes but pleaded guilty earlier this year, acted too fast. 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. She feared losing rank and the stigma. 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. Gretchen Whitmer could be lengthy. "They aren't leading anymore. The Brandon . You just arent supposed to show those emotions. My ears popped on the way down. In fact, his parents Patrick and Teri said he had a phobia and hadn't been behind the wheel since taking a driver's course. As you know, weve got a high rate of suicide in the veteran community and active duty. The Navy, they say, should find the toxic leadership of the LPO, and the subsequent failure of the command to stop the harassment of Caserta and other sailors, reprehensible. Bro, Im tellin' you what. Yet the move, according to his counseling record, was "not punitive," and "was going to happen anyway due to all the detachments that are underway to mitigate our manpower shortfalls," the record noted. You knowwhen youre driving on a one-lane road, OK and someones in front of you andtheyre turning left up on a street, like a blinking yellow light. 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. CLOSTERMANNS HOF $79 ($127) - Prices & Hotel Reviews - Tripadvisor Since her husband told her about the HSC-28 command, Clemons-Etheredge joined Mission 22 as a crisis and trauma counselor. The plot to kidnap and kill a governor may seem like an anomaly. 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. On June 25, 2018, Caserta left notes to several friends and his parents, walked out on the flight line at Naval Station Norfolk and hurled himself into the spinning tail rotor of an MH-60S helicopter. That proposal, named for their only child, is part of the new National Defense Authorization Act. 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. "The governor remains focused on her work on behalf of Michigan and all Michiganders. The charges against Adam Fox and Barry Croft, Jr. were declared "no verdict" and Judge James Jonker declared a mistrial on those counts. Brandon would work out for hours and that was after riding his bike. Related: Military Deaths by Suicide Rose 25% at End of 2020. 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. It gets ingrained, Kolata said. Boogaloo Boys are known to. 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.". The Casertas are focused on the widespread issue of suicides in the military. "The plot to kidnap and kill a governor may seem like an anomaly. Patrick Caserta seriously doubts that. "He didnt get to see the discovery of how, what a predator (FBI agent) Dan Chapel was and what a predator (FBI informant) Jason Chambers was to these folks," Hills said. So, she reported them. He whipped around and started following me. After the acquittal, Hills spoke briefly to the media outside of the federal courthouse in Grand Rapids and said the evidence was never strong enough for a conviction. "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. I went through that. Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were both found not guilty. The agency is piloting a program in which service members complete an annual wellness check with a trained counselor, and its expanding another effort aimed at reducing stigma and barriers around seeking help. Rodrguez currently also works at Arizona PBS. The Daily Dot has reached out to Facebook as to why. The tirades of Caserta's LPO were well known in the command. When Tony Finau was stacking . 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? MacMillan said he saw similar behavior at HSC-28. Bautistas work has been published in The Daily Independent, Glendale Star and the Downtown Devil. The effort is in honor of their son, Brandon Caserta, who took his own life in 2018 while in the Navy. In a TikTok posted Wednesday, Caserta is shown wearing a Hawaiian shirt, which could be a signifier of the Boogaloo Boys, a militia bent on starting a second civil war. This year, the Philippines agreed to give the U.S. access to four more bases on the islands.
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