U.S. Naval War College Hosts 1° of Separation

NEWPORT, R.I. — The U.S. Naval War College (NWC) hosted 1° of Separation, a suicide prevention training program, at its Newport, Rhode Island, campus on March 13, 2026. The visit was coordinated by the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) at Naval Station Newport and funded by Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) as part of a five-installation tour of the northeastern region.

The 1° of Separation presentation combines comedy with life-saving education by having a team of professionally trained comedians provide mental health first-aid through demonstrations of what an open, supportive conversation looks like.

Allison Agnello, FFSC Newport director, said after Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic (CNRMA) reached out to determine interest in bringing the presentation to Newport, she reached out to the base and tenant command leadership to discuss the opportunity.

"I arranged two shows and worked with the Naval War College command master chief to use Spruance Hall Auditorium to allow for max participation for All Hands performances from the commands around base, marketing 1° of Separation endlessly to get service members there to hear their important message,” she said.

“The feedback was all positive, with an agreement that the comedians shed light on a very difficult topic, all while keeping the audience engaged and involved in learning how to have a sensitive and serious conversation about depression and suicide.”

1° of Separation's program has been recognized across almost all branches of the U.S. military, replacing traditional trainings with live stand-up comedy, peer-led conversations, and the "Five Questions" Mental Health First Aid tool. Their approach has reached thousands of service members at installations worldwide.

“The more resources we have to break down mental health stigmas, the better,” said Col. Elizabeth Hanson, U.S. Air Force Senior Service Advisor at NWC, who helped facilitate 1° of Separation’s visit to the war college. “Different trainings appeal to different people, and this training could help someone who is struggling realize that it is OK to ask for support.”

1° of Separation has been featured in national and regional media outlets such as PBS NewsHour, KCRA News, Capital Public Radio, and military press, and were keynote speakers at the 2023DoD/VA Suicide Prevention Conference. CNIC has brought the program to 27 installations to date.

Established in 1884, NWC informs today’s decision-makers and educates tomorrow’s leaders by providing educational experiences and learning opportunities that develop their ability to anticipate and prepare strategically for the future, strengthen the foundations of peace, and create a decisive warfighting advantage.