Quantico, Va. --
Master Sgt. Clifford Farmer is no stranger to the recovery process — and he knows it’s not an easy road.
Farmer, an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician with four combat tours under his belt, joined the Marines after high school when he knew the college route wasn’t for him. He briefly left the Marines, but joined again after Sept. 11. From that point on, he was on what he calls the “EOD rollercoaster.”
“I was able to deploy as an EOD technician in the most genuine deployment environment. I was able to jump right to the fun aspects of the job — working independently and taking care of missions,” he says.
Deployments and supporting the mission with Marines’ lives on the line were where Farmer thrived. But when his injuries began taking their toll and exciting deployments turned into a desk job, it was his mental health that suffered.
“I just felt off. I tried to ignore it at first. Some friends recommended having my testosterone checked, but when that all checked out I was referred to behavioral health, but I didn’t want to go there,” he says.
But he did go — and it eventually saved his life.
“Even with counseling and medication I still wound up suicidal. I had everyone fooled — no one knew I was down that low. I had a plan and I was ready to execute,” he recalls.
However, Farmer also knew deep down that suicide wasn’t the solution. He went back to the clinic to see if his medication was off and admitted he was having suicidal thoughts. He then attended an in-patient recovery program.
During his recovery, the medical case manager assigned to Master Sgt. Farmer got him in touch with a recovery care coordinator (RCC) at the Wounded Warrior Regiment (WWR). Although never assigned by service record, Master Sgt. Farmer was supported by the WWR while he remained with his parent command.
RCC’s work closely with each service member, their family, and recovery team to develop a Comprehensive Recovery Plan (CRP). This plan identifies the service members’ and families’ goals and the resources they need to achieve them, such as assistive technology, education, employment, or housing. The RCC uses the plan to guide service members and their families along the road to recovery, rehabilitation, and return to duty or reintegration into the civilian community. Through the help of his RCC, Master Sgt. Farmer is now preparing for his medical board and retirement.
If he could share any advice with his fellow Marines who may be struggling, it’s to get the help you deserve:
“Twenty years of suicide awareness briefs let me hide my symptoms of suicide. I know you can hide — I ask you not to hide. Get the help you deserve. You might not feel like you deserve it — like you need to suck it up because someone has it worse. That’s not reality. No one’s situation is the same.”
If you or someone you know needs assistance, please contact the Sergeant Merlin German Wounded Warrior Call Center at 1–877–487–6299 or send us a private message on Facebook: www.facebook.com/wwr.usmc. We are available to assist you 24/7.