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Army suicides hit terrifying peak

Published time: August 16, 2012 20:49
Edited time: August 17, 2012 00:49
Army suicides hit terrifying peak

The suicide rate among U.S. military personnel is reaching a new high, according to official statistics.

This year to date, 116 confirmed or suspected suicides have been recorded – twenty-one more than at the same juncture last year. In July alone, thirty-eight soldiers were either confirmed or believed to have killed themselves.

The self-inflicted death rate among active duty soldiers has increased by 22 percent this year, and for the first time, there were also more suicides among soldiers ranked sergeant or higher (excluding officers ranked lieutenant and higher), a military expert told USA Today.

“Suicide is the toughest enemy I have faced in my 37 years in the Army,” Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, vice chief of staff of the Army, said in a written statement.

“That said, I do believe suicide is preventable,” he added. “To combat it effectively will require sophisticated solutions aimed at helping individuals to build resiliency and strengthen their life coping skills”

More soldiers die by their own hand than are killed in combat or automobile accidents, according to Army chief of staff Gen. Ray Odierno. Since the start of the War in Iraq, the military suicide rate doubled. It stabilized in 2009, but the rise in suicides this year represents the first increase since then.

Comments (25)

cloudshe (unregistered) 14.01.2013 00:23

what manure.  this has little to do with the horrors of war/ptsd.  our leaders are hamstrung when it comes to Morale.  war has always been horrible, what has changed?  they have taken away so many opportunities for young people to connect.  "let's go have a beer" is now looked upon as just another way to screw up.  our clubs are either closed or mostly vacant.  the female factor has been a negative that no one wants to admit.  even our speech has become "PCed".  "it's not just a job, it's an Adventure" has become "we're a Global Force for Good",  what Bull.  get a clue Generals/Admirals, this PC military could drive Anyone to despair

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Kees 26.10.2012 22:01

Nothing is as difficult as training and preparing normal and well educated and raised young men for war and controlled violence. And no training program exists in which that young man learns to handle the horrible results of war. He has to experience it and needs all the psychological support after coming back and turn to normal life again. If that support is not available, he may break psychologically. In the US by means of veteran service, that support is available. But many refuse to use it. The story proves one thing. And that is that Wladimir Putin is right with him saying that one should stay out of wars that aren't his. National forces never should be used as for only one thing. Protect the own nation. KeesFormer chief instructor  

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Steve (unregistered) 26.10.2012 19:57

Fund more proxy military and revolts to let them do the bloody work.  Expand the use of drones to bomb them out first , then let the military go in and clean up the mess.  But then that kind of custodian job might be just as mind twisting as to drive one over the cliff, also. 

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