WATERS TO THE EAST OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA – Sailors aboard the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) have access to a full-time professional counselor while the ship is at sea.
Matthew Shannon, Ronald Reagan’s deployed resiliency counselor (DRC), is a licensed clinical social worker who embarks on Ronald Reagan to provide guidance and resources to help Sailors cope with the stress of being underway.
“As a counselor I see Sailors for a range of issues that include difficulties at work, depressive symptoms, marital issues, and anger and stress management,” said Shannon. “A Sailor might need someone to talk to other than their chain of command or a friend. I’m that third party who helps them get over whatever situation they might be experiencing.”
According to Shannon, he enjoys helping Sailors and giving back to our armed forces because of his prior military experience as a Navy operations specialist and Army officer. He added that he understands what Sailors go through because he’s been through it himself.
“I’ve been able to be a lot more resilient and flexible in the challenges I face in life because I’ve faced them in the military,” said Shannon. “The military gave me a good foundation on how life works and I’ve taken the things that I’ve learned from the military into my civilian world. I’ve been able to adapt and succeed.”
According to Shannon, his priority is to ensure that Sailors get the proper care they need.
“If a person has a clinical diagnosis, I refer that person to the ship’s psychologist who will take over the care of that individual,” said Shannon. “I also work with the chaplain service in teaching life skills classes and basic resiliency topics.”
According to Shannon, he makes himself accessible to Sailors who might need his services by reaching out to Sailors when he is not busy providing counseling.
“I walk around the ship sometimes just to see how people are doing in their work centers or on the mess decks,” said Shannon. “I put my name and face out where Sailors may congregate.”
Seaman Giovanni Garner, from Milwaukee, Wis., said, “I’m glad there’s a professional counselor aboard the ship.”
“Some people have trouble dealing with being stationed in another country and away from family,” said Garner. “The DRC office is definitely a place to go and talk to someone who can understand and relate to what you’re going through.”
Ronald Reagan and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.