19/07/2025
NEWS FEATURE
“Gets Kita, Kasama Mo”: 6Mech “Salaknib” Battalion Takes Bold Step Toward Mental Health Awareness
Pigcalagan,Sultan Kudarat
By:FNO
In a time when courage is often measured by silence, the 6th Mechanized Infantry “Salaknib” Battalion broke that silence—with compassion, courage, and connection.
On July 18, 2025, the Battalion held a Mental Health Awareness Lecture under the forward-thinking and compassionate leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Florencio Zambo V. Taguba Jr. The event, attended by 89 soldiers both in-person and via video teleconference (VTC), brought soldiers together from different fronts—not just to listen, but to reflect, relate, and reconnect with one another.
The lecture was led by Dr. Prof. Liezel M. Miso, a lpsychologist and mental health advocate who served in one of the largest neuro-psychiatric centers of the Philippine Army in Mindanao. A former field practitioner who knows the battlefield not just by terrain but by trauma, Dr. Miso spoke not only as a professional—but as someone who understands the soldier’s heart.
Her talk covered real and raw topics: stress, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emotional regulation, psychological first aid, and the emotional toll of life in uniform. But it wasn’t just theory—it was full of stories, reflections, and strategies that resonated deeply with those present.
Central to the session was the ACT Framework—Approach, Connect, Talk—a simple yet powerful reminder that support often begins with a conversation. Soldiers were encouraged to reach out to one another, not with solutions, but with presence. It was a message that said: “You don’t have to carry this alone.”
Dr.Miso also introduced the “Buddy Check” approach, urging soldiers to keep an eye on one another. A simple phrase became the battle cry of the day:
“Gets kita, kasama mo.”
(“I get you. I’m with you.”)
Words that might seem small—yet for someone silently struggling, they can mean everything.
“Mental health is not a weakness. It is part of our strength. This lecture reminds us that we are not just fighters on the field—we are humans with hearts, and we must take care of that too,” shared one soldier after the session.
LTC Taguba closed the activity with a strong message of support. He emphasized that under his command, mental wellness is not optional—it’s essential. He committed to integrating mental health programs into regular training and leadership development efforts, making it clear that the mental readiness of troops is as vital as their tactical capability and also introducing soon the family engagement bonding.
“Let’s keep showing up for one another. We win battles not just by force, but by brotherhood. When one falls behind, we don’t leave them—we go back and carry them,” he said.
The impact of the session rippled beyond the lecture hall. Soldiers opened up. Conversations began. A sense of shared understanding spread—a reminder that strength is not always about standing tall, but sometimes about standing together.
With this initiative, the 6Mech Battalion leads by example. They remind us all that in a force built on discipline, strategy, and strength, there is also room for empathy, healing, and hope.
Because at the end of the day, every warrior needs a moment of peace, and every heart deserves to be heard.
