Tom Cruz

Retired Army First Sergeant Tom Cruz experienced deployments in Kosovo (1999), Iraq (2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008), and Jordan (2017). Over his 26-year military career, he was stationed at U.S. locations (including Fort Bragg; Fort Campbell; the Maryland/D.C. area; Tampa, Florida; and Puerto Rico), as well as Belgium.

Cruz was a soldier who thought he could take care of his mental health issues alone and help others remedy theirs—until November 3, 2010, when that came crashing down. That day changed his life and the lives of those around him forever. On that day, there was one person who stopped him from not going through with what he had planned. That one person involved in the incident used interpersonal skills and empathy to rewrite the ending.

In an effort to be that one person for someone else who is struggling, Cruz has gone through multiple suicide prevention trainings. They include the U.S. Army Master Resilience Training Course (MRTC) Level One, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), ASIST Training for Trainers (ASIST T4T), Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), the Army ACE Suicide Intervention Program (Ask, Care, and Escort/ACE SI), and Suicide Alertness for Everyone (safeTALK).

Over the past 12 years, Cruz has been involved with several organizations, including two he helped found that provide suicide prevention resources and support via social media. He now works with veterans and civilians getting their lives on track after incarceration.