Friday, June 08, 2012

One a day: Combat deaths far outpaced by military suicides

The raging storm of the past decade that has been going on as most haven't paid it heed and will only intensify, DeJa-Vu all over again but more intense this time!

The multiple tours for many in one or both occupation combat theaters, less then one percent of population serve along with their families for many! The repeat of the storms on many issues from another long occupation combat theater that rarely brought a blink of an eye as the country ignored the many long term results issues of that conflict, combat PTS the long known issue of the constant stresses of war, illnesses from Agent Orange and so many more, carried into similar more recently leading to these two as to Desert Storm and Gulf War Syndrome then into the many issues related to and growing from the present occupations, Iraq officially over, Afghanistan's main missions abandoned years back and now winding down. The collapse of an economy that was once vibrant not long back but changed in the definition of capitalism in sharing the fruits and success from the labors to free market capitalism sold that those getting wealthy off of, as workers wages and benefits stagnated or dropped, would consistently be investing in economic growth here, the con they won over the masses with and those masses bought with easier ever changing credit and investment scheme's created to make most feel they were successes in their lives. On employment, word is coming out employers shy away from hiring National Guard soldiers, their in state regulated militia that are there in emergencies, because they now fear deployments that might come. Adding a way too expanded treatment regimen of many drugs and calling them cures, ask older vets, drugs don't work, from alcohol to legal prescriptions to illegal drugs, they compound as individuals try and bury the living nightmares of their experiences, totally different but reality then what they were brought up to believe. Once again coming home to a grossly underfunded Veterans Administration that should be prepared but isn't for the results of the countries wars of choice, and getting blamed for not being by those representatives of the people, states and especially federal, with sames blessings even other veterans, charged with making sure the country provides all that is required and due for their sacrifice as to the results of sending the few into conflicts and long occupations!

AP IMPACT: Suicides are surging among US troops
{click on graphic to see larger view}

8 June 2012 - Suicides are surging among America's troops, averaging nearly one a day this year — the fastest pace in the nation's decade of war.

The 154 suicides for active-duty troops in the first 155 days of the year far outdistance the U.S. forces killed in action in Afghanistan — about 50 percent more — according to Pentagon statistics obtained by The Associated Press.

The numbers reflect a military burdened with wartime demands from Iraq and Afghanistan that have taken a greater toll than foreseen a decade ago. The military also is struggling with increased sexual assaults, alcohol abuse, domestic violence and other misbehavior.

Because suicides had leveled off in 2010 and 2011, this year's upswing has caught some officials by surprise.

The reasons for the increase are not fully understood. Among explanations, studies have pointed to combat exposure, post-traumatic stress, misuse of prescription medications and personal financial problems. Army data suggest soldiers with multiple combat tours are at greater risk of committing suicide, although a substantial proportion of Army suicides are committed by soldiers who never deployed.

The unpopular war in Afghanistan is winding down with the last combat troops scheduled to leave at the end of 2014. But this year has seen record numbers of soldiers being killed by Afghan troops, and there also have been several scandals involving U.S. troop misconduct. read more>>>

Military suicides grow at sharp rate


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