Lethal Warriors {UpDated}

Not a good report, but with the stress levels of multiple tours and possibly in two theaters, longer tours for much of the time our soldiers have been in both theaters, stress of conflict, family, experiences and much more, this does not surprise! Nor will it when it doesn't get the coverage it should among our talking heads and politicians, let alone a country that has pretty much forgotten both occupations.

Army: Soldiers in slayings faced intense combat

Soldiers from a Colorado unit accused in nearly a dozen slayings since returning home - including a couple gunned down as they put up a garage sale sign - could be showing hostility fueled by intense combat in Iraq, where the troops suffered heavy losses and told of witnessing war crimes, the military said Wednesday.

In what was billed as its most comprehensive study to date of violent crimes and combat exposure, the Army looked at soldiers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division - nicknamed the Lethal Warriors - who were accused in a spate of five killings around Colorado Springs, home to Fort Carson, in 2007 and 2008.

Six other slayings involving unit soldiers occurred in Colorado and other states since 2005

We've been hearing about a number of incidents, that is by 'we' those who use multiple mostly online sources and either accidentally find them or use the right search words. The MSM is virtually silent except when one or two who get it are brave enough to fight to get the reports aired!!

Army investigators compared the Fort Carson unit of about 3,700 soldiers with a similarly sized unit and found it suffered more combat deaths in Iraq and was deployed there longer.

"This deployment experienced higher levels of combat intensity," the report said, adding that the soldiers also faced "significant disruptions in family-social support."

Lt. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, the Army's surgeon general, said Wednesday the unit's crime cluster appeared to be unique among Army bases and that its combat exposure and length of deployments are just two factor officials are looking at.

"We're starting to look into the deployments and ... how it's related with attitudes and behavior," Schoomaker said.......Rest Here

Soldiers returning need not only more down time, between deployments, they should be serving one if any at all. They need time between deployments! They need the help they seek! They need to be understood when seeking that help!

The Military, and Veterans Administration, need the money, something always short of from this country as it finds nothing wrong with extremely bloated defense budgets, for the care of those who serve, not for outdated or not needed Military Procurements of Ordinance, Weapons or Systems to deliver same!!

And we Need to end both these conflicts soon, Real Soon!!!!

UpDate:

PTSD Ignored on Active Duty

Neglect, mistreatment and abuse are the norm for active-duty soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have thrown post-traumatic stress disorder into stark public light. As of the end of March, 346,393 US veterans were being treated for PTSD, and that number continues to grow rapidly.

However, PTSD symptoms don't always wait to emerge until soldiers return home. For active-duty soldiers like Airman Steven Flowers, stationed in Aviano, Italy, it can take years to receive even minimal care. And once treatment begins, the soldiers are often punished for revealing their problems........Rest Here

Suicides: Military and Veterans Of

Struggling with suicide
Story by Michelle Michael



AFN's Michelle Michael takes us inside the mind of a Soldier with suicidal motives after war. Here is the story of an Army captain who is going public with her struggles for the very first time.

American Forces Network Europe

Army Suicides Soar Past 2008's Pace

The day after the shooting at a combat stress clinic in Iraq, new data released to Salon shows soldiers committing suicide at a record-setting pace. Is combat stress the reason?

The Army is on a pace this year to shatter the record suicide rate set among soldiers in 2008, according to data released by the Army to Salon. And the numbers, obtained a day after a patient at a combat stress clinic in Iraq killed five, suggest that combat stress may be contributing to the spike in suicides.

Who Is Really To Blame

WHEN TROOPS "GO POSTAL?"

Exhaused and stressed troops are our responsibility. Trying to cheat them out of benefits or push them out into homelessness and unemployment after we have "used them up" is immoral, unpatriotic and wrong. It has to be stopped.

'This Is Mental Health, Military-Style'

But long-time observers of the U.S. military say the shooting shows all the signs of a soldier pushed to the brink of insanity by repeated and consistent exposure to war. The 44-year-old Russell had spent many years of his life at war when he allegedly opened fire and killed five of his fellow soldiers. Russell was drawing to the end of his third tour in Iraq and had also served deployments in Bosnia and Kosovo.

"It was tragic, but unfortunately it doesn't surprise me given the way we're recycling them in and out of war zones," said Shad Meshad, head of the National Veterans Foundation, which runs a toll free hotline for soldiers having difficulty adjusting to civilian life.

"We are not doing a good job of treating these people as they serve two, three, or four tours in a combat zone," he added.

When PTSD Comes Marching Home

There is disconnection between everything human and what has to be done in combat. Imagine being in an unimaginable situation and having to do the unthinkable. How can this be done? A detachment between everything human and having to do the inconceivable resounds in combat.

- PTSD: A Soldier's Perspective

Some may find these books very helpful, others should find to be useful in the educational quality of understanding and research, and not only for combat veterans but civilian suffers of:

I Can Still Hear Their Cries, Even In My Sleep: A Journey Into PTSD

Veterans's PTSD Handbook: How to File and Collect on Claims for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The War Comes Home: Washington's Battle against America's Veterans

Vets Under Siege: How America Deceives and Dishonors Those Who Fight Our Battles

After the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their Families

Life After Deployment: Military families share reunion stories and advice

Moving A Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning Troops

Iraq Vet in Pennsylvania Murders......

Was Radically Changed by War and PTSD

PTSD sufferers can't always leave the war behind.

Sergeant Nicholas Horner and his Wife
Tragedy and war-inspired Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can meet like a head on crash when the nation's care providers at the Veterans Administration, notorious for lies and deceit, deny our combat veterans the care they need.

This story of deadly, senseless shootings in Altoona, Pennsylvania April 6th is possibly the most tragic story I have ever reported, and if it isn't, it is among the very worst.

A close friend of Nick's, Tina Zahurak, wrote to Salem-News.com asking if I would pay attention to this case and help people understand how this veteran was part of the system that is designed to, yet fails to, adequately treat the unique and varying needs of combat vets.

She wrote, "This man was a good man, not a monster or murderer. He saw and was involved in situations that he should've never been in. This is the other side of PTSD, the dark side, the side where one is not treated suitably and fell through the cracks. I was hoping that maybe you or somebody could share his story, so those victims he killed and injured did not die in vain."

You can find the Rest Here with a Number of Back Links

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A short list of reading materials I posted recently

That some may find very helpful, others should find to be useful in the educational quality of understanding and research, and not only for combat veterans but civilian suffers of:

I Can Still Hear Their Cries, Even In My Sleep: A Journey Into PTSD

Veterans's PTSD Handbook: How to File and Collect on Claims for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The War Comes Home: Washington's Battle against America's Veterans

Vets Under Siege: How America Deceives and Dishonors Those Who Fight Our Battles

After the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their Families

Life After Deployment: Military families share reunion stories and advice

Moving A Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning Troops

Help Horner

This website is dedicated to helping Sgt. Nicholas Horner and all other soldiers who are slipping through the cracks of our military system. This story is a tragedy from all angles and our mission is to show you Sgt. Horner's.
After 3 deployments to Iraq, Nick, a highly decorated war veteran, came back a changed man. He was officially diagnosed with PTSD yet he had to fight to get any kind of treatment for it. Sadly, many of our soldiers are not getting the mental help that they desperately need. Doctors in the military are being told not to diagnose PTSD in an effort to deny our soldiers benefits. Because of this, soldiers are being released back into society with severe problems. In Nick's case, he knew that he needed help and he actively sought help. However, he was told he simply had an anxiety disorder. Yet this was so severe that the army discharged him early, even sending him home from Iraq.

Military Suicides

Redeployment sparks many suicides

The number of soldier suicides this year is most likely due to the redeployment of soldiers with psychiatric illnesses, a U.S. researcher says.

David Rudd, Texas Tech University professor and author "The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, said the more a person is exposed to violence or death, the more that person loses anxiety about death. This specifically applies to soldiers living in a war zone because the interaction with death makes it more probable that these people will kill themselves when they get depressed or anxious. >>>>>Rest Here

As many as 13 soldier suicides in March

As many as 13 soldiers are believed to have killed themselves in March, bringing the number of reported soldier suicides this year to 56, officials announced April 10.

None of the March cases under investigation have been confirmed, but about 90 percent of deaths involved in such investigations typically are ruled to be suicides.

The March total marks a decrease in suicides compared with the first two months of the year.

As many as 24 suicides were reported in January, but on March 4 officials removed one case because it was determined that the soldier was no longer on active duty when he died. Of the 23 remaining cases, 14 are confirmed suicides; nine are pending a determination. >>>>>Rest Here

Army: 24 Suspected Suicides in January '09

This is just being reported,

Army reports alarming rise in suicides last month

There has been a small sprinkling of reports about the Military Suicides in the last couple of months, most of those found only if one is hitting a number of news outlets but not making National News, even as those who serve do so for the Country not a Community located near a base or where their from.

The Army is investigating a stunning number of suicides in January — a count that could surpass all combat deaths on America's two warfronts last month.

According to figures obtained by The Associated Press, there were 24 suspected suicides in January, compared to only four in January of 2008, six in January of 2007 and 10 in January of 2006.

Questions, once again, and I say that as a 'Nam Veteran, we who've watched this all before, have been rising as to why the numbers are going up and the causes. As it says above we have Two Theaters of occupations ongoing, with multiple tours by many in both theaters, add now the collapsing economy, the still lacking help for trauma brought back from service in these theaters and stress of being away from family and home on extended tours over and over, the strains on marriages and the family as a whole, misuse of addictive substances to deal, and other factors I'm sure.

"The trend and trajectory seen in January further heightens the seriousness and urgency that all of us must have in preventing suicides," Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff, said of the new monthly number Thursday.

The 24 suspected January suicides include seven confirmed and 17 still being investigated. Usually the vast majority of suspected suicides are eventually confirmed, and if that holds true it would mean that self-inflicted deaths surpassed the 16 combat deaths reported in all branches of the armed forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and other nations considered part of the global war on terror last month.

Most of the reports one might catch rarely give a reason or cause, just that a soldier, or veteran, especially a young recent vet, has been found dead, rarely giving a followup or unless local to the original the followup is not seen.

The Military is Broken, that's not to say those serving are not doing so Honorably, but once again, because of Wars and Occupations of Choice, the systems surrounding those serving are stretched past the breaking point and only little relief is forth coming quickly!

These problems were forecast by many of us that they would occur, no one listened, no one took the lead in even bringing them up as the beating of the war drums grew and grew and we're now six and seven years still occupying.

Army official: Suicides in January 'terrifying'

Army Releases January Suicide Data; Re-emphasizes Efforts

Army sees significant rise in January suicides

Soldier suicides up for 4th consecutive year

Army suicide prevention

A Few Earlier Reports on Shinseki from today

Shinseki pledges top-down review, change

"I intend to ... demand the highest levels of integrity, transparency and performance in leading the department through the fundamental and comprehensive change it must quickly undergo," Shinseki said. "There's a long tradition of VA providing leadership in medicine, of setting standards in many fields. Where we lead, we must continue. Where we do not, we must regain that leadership."

Paperwork among VA chief's priorities

The newly appointed head of the Department of Veterans Affairs said Wednesday the department needs a fundamental change in how it handles its paperwork.

Eric Shinseki described a Sisyphean task for caseworkers trying to plow through the backlog of files to make decisions on veterans' claims.

Members of the committee peppered Shinseki with questions about the VA's handling of mental health issues. The secretary said that much progress has been made in understanding traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) since he served in Vietnam, but there is plenty more to do.

"I am now watching all of our efforts to understand PTSD, TBI, substance abuse amongst our veterans and have a better appreciation of what we put my comrades through when we came back" from Vietnam, he said. "None of these programs were available, in fact. None of these terms were in vogue then. We still don't understand enough. We are still learning."

The chairman of the committee, Rep. Bob Filner, D-California, expressed frustration that screenings for the disorders were done through a self-evaluation, rather than through medical examination, and he implored Shinseki to change that.

ABC News End of Last Month Report

Military Suicides at a 30-Year High


Suicide Rate Reflects Toll of Army Life

With Suicides at a 30-Year High, Army Vows to Address Problem

In 2008 alone, the Army reports there were at least 128 confirmed cases of suicide, more than a dozen of which are still under review.

U.S. Army Suicides Highest In 3 Decades

 

And this is just reports on the Army, nothing yet on any possible Marine numbers.

Bring Them Home, And Take Care Of Them When They Return, Full Care!!

Military Suicides Rise

Suicides continue alarming rise in military

Defense conference to tackle troubling persistence of untreated problems

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Suicide rates among active-duty U.S. military personnel are continuing to rise even as the Defense Department dedicates more resources to identifying troubled service members and getting them the help they need, NBC News has learned.

At least 125 soldiers were confirmed to have killed themselves in 2008, compared with 115 in 2007, 102 in 2006 and 87 in 2005, a senior defense official told NBC News. Last year’s figure is likely to rise even higher, because the Army is investigating at least 17 other deaths as possible suicides.

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Army suicides at record high, passing civilians


Graphic shows active duty Army suicides from 1990 to 2008

Stressed by war and long overseas tours, U.S. soldiers killed themselves last year at the highest rate on record, the toll rising for a fourth straight year and even surpassing the suicide rate among comparable civilians.

Army leaders said they were doing everything they could think of to curb the deaths and appealed for more mental health professionals to join and help out.

At least 128 soldiers committed suicide in 2008, the Army said Thursday. And the final count is likely to be even higher because 15 more suspicious deaths are still being investigated.

"Why do the numbers keep going up? We cannot tell you," said Army Secretary Pete Geren. "We can tell you that across the Army we're committed to doing everything we can to address the problem."

The PBS News Hour had a report on these Military Suicides on tonight. I'm going to try and grab the video report and transcript, probably be up by tomorrow w/video, it was in depth with Paul Sullivan of 'Veterans for Common Sense' on as well.

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And Domestic Violence As Well

The Hidden Casualties Of War
CBS Evening News Investigates Staggering Domestic Violence Numbers When U.S. Soldiers Return From Iraq, Afghanistan


Abused Military Wife Speaks Out
"Only On The Web:" Katie Couric speaks with dometic violence victim Jessacia Patton about the abuse she faced when her soldier husband returned from Iraq.
{There are two other video's at page link}

The Army is cracking down on sexual abuse in the ranks. One-third of service-women and 6 percent of servicemen say they've been victims. This week, the army said it will hire more prosecutors to bring perpetrators to justice. Meanwhile, critics say the military needs to do more about another crime women, being assaulted, beaten, even raped by their military husbands or boyfriends. A CBS News investigation finds more than 25,000 spouses and domestic partners have been attacked over the past decade. Nearly 90 spouses have died. The numbers are growing.
It can be as deadly as combat: Domestic violence in the U.S. military.

Nineteen-year-old Spc. Brandon Bare is accused of killing his own wife.

Jessacia Patton is a survivor.

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Two Wars, 400,000 VA Patients

Iraq, Afghanistan VA Patients Exceed 400,000

As the number of veterans seeking health care continues to rise, the VA is straining to meet demands.

Amid talk of a drawdown of troops in Iraq, new statistics from the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) show that US casualties are still climbing quickly. Iraq and Afghanistan battlefield injuries and deaths number 81,361, up from 72,043 last January, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by Veterans for Common Sense (VCS). Veteran patients - including those who didn't seek care until their return home - shot up to 400,304 (from 263,909 in December 2007).

For the thousands of soldiers flooding the VA, mental illness tops the list of ailments. Forty-five percent of VA patients have already been diagnosed with mental health conditions, including a startling 105,000 diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These data do not include the incalculable number of mentally ill veterans who have not received a diagnosis or haven't sought treatment at the VA.

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Army Recalls Body Armor

Army recalls body armor amid safety fears

Military takes action as precaution after audit highlights flawed testing

U.S. Army Secretary Pete Geren has ordered the recall of more than 16,000 sets of body armor following an audit that concluded the bullet-blocking plates in the vests failed testing and may not provide soldiers with adequate protection.

The audit by the office of the Defense Department inspector general, not yet made public but obtained by The Associated Press, faults the Army for flawed testing procedures before awarding a contract for the armor.

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Iraq Booting Blackwater

Iraq won't allow Blackwater to work in country
U.S. embassy told to find new security after contractors' 'improper conduct'

Iraq will not authorize Blackwater Worldwide, the U.S. Embassy's main security company, to operate in the country anymore, a senior Iraqi official said Thursday.

Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul-Karim Khalaf said his ministry's decision was sent last Friday to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and "they have to find a new security company."

Nearly 1 In 5 Vets Reports Mental Problems

Notebook: PTSD
A new study found that 1 in 5 U.S. troops suffer from depression or post traumatic stress disorder from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Randall Pinkston comments. |

PTSD Ignored By Military Brass
Soldiers diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder can cost the U.S. military millions each. So top brass are finding other ways to deal with the illness. Kimberly Dozier reports.

The Military's Showdown Over PTSD
Battle Between The Old School And New School Methods For Handling Troops' Mental Health

Inerview with Medic in above Video:


Eye To Eye: PTSD
"Only On The Web": Kimberly Dozier speaks with PFC Jonathan Norrell, a U.S. army medic who, despite being diagnosed with PTSD, was denied a medical discharge.

Veterans Families Speak Out
"Only On The Web": Chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian speaks to the families of five soldiers who, allegedly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, took their own lives.

The Site Pages With The Worded Reports plus The Video's

CBS News
FYI: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Nearly 1 In 5 Vets Reports Mental Problems
Study: 300,000 U.S. Troops Suffering From Depression, PTSD; 320,000 Have Brain Injuries

The Military's Showdown Over PTSD
Battle Between The Old School And New School Methods For Handling Troops' Mental Health

The Military's Showdown Over PTSD
Battle Between The Old School And New School Methods For Handling Troops' Mental Health

ABC News
Study Says 300,000 U.S. Troops Suffer Mental Problems
Researchers Point to Need for Additional Mental Health Resources for Returning Soldiers
Roadside IEDs Take Toll on U.S. GIs ABC Video Report
Nearly one in five U.S. soldiers suffers from PTS disorder or major depression.
04/17/2008

Still fighting war stress:

VA granting more first-time disability claims to veterans in their 80s than ever before

They beat Hitler, turned back the tide of Japanese imperialism and when the war ended, returned to civilian life to forge careers and raise families while seemingly unfazed by the horrors of combat many witnessed.

As World War II veterans have aged, and reflected on the dreadful experiences of war and carnage, more and more exhibited the symptoms of a malady unheard of when they went off to battle 65 years ago: post traumatic stress disorder.

Download and Listen to Report

Read the rest of the Report Here

Watch a Short Video with Report

Soldiers from Iraq, Afghanistan.......

Cope with Combat Stress

Soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan often face daily attacks and are under constant alert. Two counselors who work with traumatized soldiers talk about their coping mechanisms.

Lastnight, 8-31-07, on the PBS Newshour, they showed parts of this video report:

Inside The Surge


They than had a discussion with the two counselors who work with traumatized soldiers.

The Counselors:

Heidi Kraft
Psychologist

"This is something, unfortunately, that with operational tempo many times we're up against, but of course sleep deprivation and physical and emotional exhaustion all play into a person's ability to cope with stress."

And

Brian Butler
Pike Peak Behavior Health Group

"It has a huge impact on them, in terms of the existential anxiety and the confusion they feel in trying to do the mission as well as they can, but at the same time there's no clear-cut boundaries and there's no clear-cut enemy."

The transcript can be found at the above link as well as the audio, or you can Click Here to Listen in Real Audio

Also

Both Heidi Kraft and Brian Butler will be taking questions about combat stress in an online forum. To participate, go to this page at the NewsHour site

You can leave a question for these counselors, than return on Sept. 7th '07 for answers to your questions.

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From MSN - PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD can be triggered years after a traumatic event.