By Jamie Crawford
Soldiers killed themselves at a higher monthly rate in July than any other since detailed statistics have been kept on the issue, the U.S. Army said Thursday.
A total of 38 confirmed or suspected suicides were counted by the Army last month in a tally that took into account both active and non-active duty soldiers who serve in the Army National Guard or Reserve. Three of those active duty soldiers were deployed at the time of their death.
Prior to the announcement, the highest monthly level suicide rate for soldiers was 33 in the months of June 2010 and July 2011 according to statistics released by the Army.
"Suicide is the toughest enemy I have faced in my 37 years in the Army. And it's an enemy that's killing not just Soldiers, but tens of thousands of Americans every year," 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. To combat it effectively will require sophisticated solutions aimed at helping individuals to build resiliency and strengthen their life coping skills."
To date, the Army has confirmed 120 suicides for both active and non-active duty soldiers in 2012 with 67 other deaths suspected as suicides, but still under investigation. Twenty-five of those were attributed to soldiers who did not have any previous deployments. The Army reported 242 suicides in 2009, 305 in 2010 and 283 in 2011.
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta told a Congressional committee last month that the U.S. military was facing an "epidemic" of suicides, and was in need of improvements in mental health services for active duty and returning troops.
In his statement, Austin noted that with Suicide Prevention Month in September, the Army must also continue to address the stigma associated with mental health issues in the service. "Ultimately, we want the mindset across our Force and society at large to be that behavioral health is a routine part of what we do and who we are as we strive to maintain our own physical and mental wellness," he said.
The White House lifted a ban last year on the sending of condolence letters from the president to the families of service members who commit suicide. It reversed a policy in place by previous administrations that had come under intense criticism as the country entered into its 10th year of war.
"This issue is emotional, painful, and complicated," President Barack Obama said last July when the policy was changed. "But these Americans served our nation bravely. ... We need to do everything in our power to honor their service, and to help them stay strong for themselves, for their families and for our nation."
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertise with us | About us | Help | Advertising Practices
My son is active military and has been suffering from PTSD for a few years, I finally called his SGT one night because I was afraid my son was going to take him own life. I have yet to see them help my son, thankfully he did not take his life but the nightmares he is experiencing are debilitating. I want the military to help these young women and men. What can we do to help our soldiers get the help and encouragement they need?
As an Army physician treating trainees and soldiers on a daily basis, let me give you folks the inside scoop. Army suicide is on the rise because the Army is recruiting soldiers already with mental illness. It is nothing for me to see 3 to 5 mental health issues a DAY and I am not in mental health. Let me give you an example. One of my patients the other day attempted suicide 3 times PRIOR to even entering the Army!!!! The trainee population is plagued with soldiers like this and the Army's solution is to send them to a unit, give them a gun, and fill a billet. The Army's solution to combating the shortage of Psychiatrists...they hire Social Workers in the place of Psychiatrists who can't prescribe medications so they refer the soldier back to the primary care doctor for meds. The primary care doc does not have the training to deal with these issues but prescribes anyway because of threats from the Army. It's CRAZY!!!
OMG! Not sure if you will be able to get to the truth about Army/Navy suicides but please Google "Dr. Turi NAVY/ARMY suicides Upsurge Predicted!"
The condolence letter policy change by President Obama sends letters to the families of those who die by suicide while in a combat zone. The remaining two-thirds of military deaths by suicide which happen outside combat zones, continue to not receive letters of condolence from the President.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THEIR U.S.ARMED FORCES, THEIR COMMANDER IN CHIEF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, THEIR U.S.CIVILIANS, THEIR ALLIED ARMED FORCES EX-CLUDING THE CANADIAN FOIRCES-REGULAR FORCE/RESERVES HAVE TO BE MORE CONCERNED WITH THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION;; OF THE HAMILTON POLICE FORCE, HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA, THEIR PEDOPHILE SATELLITE OPERATORS-"CHILD MOLESTERS"-"LOWDENS", "PHALENS", "VANDENBERGS", ""HILLYARDS", "ASSOCIATES"-WITH THEIR SPYING-"TREASON-ESPIONAGE", THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE-CANADA WIDE", THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT-POLITICIANS,THE CANADIAN FORCES-REGULAR FORCE/RESERVES, THE CANADIAN JUSTICE SYSTEM-SUPREME JUSTICE SYSTEM , CONDUCTING, DISTRIBUTING, DISPLAYING "HIGH TREASON, ESPIONAGE AND TREASON" UPON YOUR U.S.ARMED FORCES , YOUR GOVERNMENT, YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR CIVILIANS!!!
STRAIGHTEN THESE YELLOW CANADIAN PIECES OF SH.T MENTIONED, OUT, AS THEY ARE CANADA'S COWARDICE"!!!!
FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II/THE ROYAL FAMILY, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, U.S.ARMED FORCES, ALLIED ARMED FORCES, NATO-UNITEDE NATIONS, I REMAIN Brian "THE LION" Murza-R33894777, W.W.II Naval Researcher/Author, Military Protocol Analyst, "DISHONOURABLE CANADIAN POLICING PROTOCOL ANALYST", Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
WE HAVE READ YOUR COMMENTS ON YAHOO MILITARY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, FACEBOOK, YAHOO CANADA NEWS, ROYAL WEBSITES AND THE MILITARY PROTOCOL ANALYST KNOWLEDGEABLE, ETHICAL PEOPLE, ALLIED CIVILIANS REALIZE THAT "COWARDICE CANADA"; IS FU.KED UP!!!! U.S.ARMED FORCES, OR THEIR KNOWLEDGEABLE COUNTERPARTS; SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS "CANADIAN COWARDICE", AS CANADA IS NOT "APT" TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN COWARDICE; THEY JUST LIVE IN "THE YELLOW CANADIAN SH.T"!!!!!!!!
A MILITARY BOARD OF INQUIRY WITH A SUPREME CRIMINAL COURT APPEARANCES OF THE HAMILTON POLICE FORCE, FROM HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA, THEIR RIGHT HAND CRIMINALS "THE PEDOPHILE SATELLITE OPERATORS"-"CHILD MOLESTERS"-"LOWDENS", "PHALENS", "VANDENBERGS", "HILLYARDS", SHOULD BE APPROPRIATE!!! THIS SHOULD BE VERY SOON AS NO COUNTRY SHOULD ALSO HAVE TO SUBPEONA THE DISLOYAL R.C.M.P.-CANADA WIDE, CALEDONIA O.P.P., CALEDONIA, ONTARIO, CANADA, THEIR CANADIAN "COWARD" FORCES, THEIR CORRUPT CANADIAN YELLOW PIECE OF SH.T POLITICIANS-GOVERNMENT, THEIR CANADIAN FUC.ED UP JUSTICE SYSTEM, SO "TAKING THE 800 YELLOW CANADIAN PIGS-THE HAMILTON POLICE FORCE, WITH THEIR ALLIED PEDOPHILE SATELLITE OPERATORS" WILL "KILL TWO CANADIAN FLOCK OF STOOL PIGEONS,, INSTEAD OF ALL OF THEM-WHICH IT SHOULD BE", WHICH IS BETTER THAN NOTHING"!!!!!
Not only, due to the fact that the U.S.ARMED FORCES is Canada's ally, though due to the fact that U.S.ARMED FORCES is the superpower of the world and is "COWARDICE CANADA'S NEIGHBOUR"; is more than enough ethical knowledge, human interest and "RESPECT", is the many of "REASONS" that "CANADA'S COWARDICE" should not be "ACTIVE"!!!!!
When you have a country, whose "PEOPLES IN POWER"-Hamilton Police Force, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, The Disloyal not Royal Canadian Mounted Police-Canada wide, Caledonia Ontario Provincial Police, Caledonia, Ontario, Canada, The Canadian Forces-Regular Force/Reserves, Canadian Politicians-Government Officials and your Prime Minister Stephen Harper, CanadianJustice System-Supreme Court, have beebn "BRAINWASHED" by "CANADIAN COWARD CIVILIANS"-"THE PEDOPHILE SATELLITE OPERATORS-"CHILD MOLESTERS"-"LOWDENS", "PHALENS", "VANDENBERGS", "HILLYARDS", "ASSOCIATES", who have been and are operating illegal, criminal satellites, which ALLIED MILITARIES, CIVILIANS, OUR ENEMY-TALIBAN, are more than aware of, with no "CANADIAN COWARD POLICE FORCES MENTIONED", who patrol their vicinities, are "APPREHENDING" their criminal activity of "HIGH TREASON, ESPIONAGE, TREASON, CHILD MOLESTATION, RAPE, PEDOPHILIA", makes the "CANADIAN PEOPLES IN POWER" guilty of Breach of Trust, "HIGH TREASON, ESPIONAGE AND TREASON", as your "CANADA'S COWARDICE", has been distributed "WORLD WIDE" from 1998-era unti August 24, 2012, with many of the world's knowledge!!!!!
Obviously, as the "CANADIAN PEOPLES IN POWER" think that this is not "CRIMINAL ACTIVITY", "COWARDICE", "CORRUPTNESS", "BRAINWASHING"; something should be done by their "ALLIED MILITARIES', or our "SUPERPOWER"'; the U.S.ARMED FORCES!!! To "WATCH/LISTEN to ALLIED MILITARIES in Combat Operational Areas and broadcast their movements to the TALIBAN-ENEMY, and to civilians "WORLD WIDE"; is the crimianal offences of "ESPIONAGE/SPYING AND TREASON"!!!!!!
To conduct, distribute this similiar materials, either "WATCHING/LISTENING" to QUEEN ELIZABETH II/THE ROYAL FAMILY, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, HEADS OF OTHER ALLIED COUNTRIES,in their "PRIVACIES" is the criminal offence of "HIGH TREASON"!!!!!
To sickly conduct this same material, with WATCHING/LISTENING to children in their "PRIVACY"; bathing, changing diapers, living in their domiciles in the nude, is the "CRIMINAL OFFENCES" of "CHILD MOLESTATION, PEDOPHILIA, ETC.
Seeing the Canadian Police Forces mentioned, cannot "HONOURABLELY" conduct duty, and have CANADA, COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES, U.S.A., THE ALLIED WORLD, living in this "CANADIAN COWARDICE"; as the PEDOPHILE SATELLITE OPERATORS DOMICILES, SATELLITE, COWARDICE, is being CANADIAN POLICE KNOWN operated from Canada, hopefully our "SUPERPOWER ALLY U.S.ARMED FORCES", will put a "HAULT" to the "YELLOW CANADIAN PIECES OF SH.T MENTIONED", corrupt, illegal "COWARDICE"!!!!!!
By now the "WHOLE WORLD" has to know about this "CANADIAN COWARDICE ". If any "CANADIAN, AMERICAN, ALLIED CIVILIAN" would like to be a man or woman, and face to face confront me on this "CANADIAN COWARDICE"; please feel more than free to do so!!!!!!!!!
Brian Murza, 79 James Street South-Y.M.C.A., Room 249, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II/THE ROYAL FAMILY, HER MAJESTY'S ARMED FORCES, U.S.ARMED FORCES, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, ALLIED MILITARIES, NATO-UNITED NATIONS, , ALL CHILDREN WORLD WIDE, WOMEN WORLD WIDE, I REMAIN, Brian "THE LION" Murza-R33894777, W.W.II Naval Researcher /Author, Military Protocol Analyst, "DISHONOURABLE CANADIAN POLICING PROTOCOL ANALYST", Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
"COWARDICE FROM ANY MAN/WOMAN, COUNTRY, MILITARY CAN RUIN A NATION AND ALLIED WORLD"!!!!
The "PEOPLES IN POWER" of the Country of Canada, must "NOT ONLY" correct, apprehend, punish the 'CANADIAN COWARDS" that are involved in the "CANADIAN COWARDICE"; committed upon the U.S.ARMED FORCES, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, AMERICAN MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS, they must also be "LEGALLY PUNISHED" themselves, as they were "BRAINWASHED" to have committed these "COWARDLY CANADIAN CRIMINAL OFFENCES" against their "ALLY, NEIGHBOUR and SUPERPOWER" of the "WORLD" in the first place!!!!
The "CANADIN COWARDS"-"PEDOPHILE SATELLITE OPERATORS"-"CHILD MOLESTERS"-"LOWDENS", "PHALENS", "VANDENBERGS", "HILLYARDS", "ASSOCIATES", and their "CANADIAN COWARDS"-"PEOPLES IN POWER", should have "NEVER" gotten away with this "CANADIAN COWARDICE"; as "SPYING", "ESPIONAGE" your "ALLIED ARMED FORCES", in which they relay "MILITARY" privacy to the "TALIBAN-ENEMY", is against "MILITARY LAW and CIVILIAN LAW" also!!!! These "YELLOW CANADIAN PIECES OF SH.T", would have been "EXECUTED" during W.W.II-1939-1945, and "SHOULD NOT" be getting away with this "COWARDICE" today!!!!!!!!
What is this "COWARDICE CANADA" going to do if W.W.II arises?
FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II/THE ROYAL FAMILY, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA , HER MAJESTY'S ARMED FORCES, U.S.ARMED FORCES, NATO-UNITED NATIONS, I REMAIN Brian "THE LION" Murza-R33894777, W.W.II Naval Researcher/Author, Military Protocol Analyst, "DISHONOURABLE CANADIAN POLICING PROTOCOL ANALYST", Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
In "ANY ALLIED MILITARY" the saying most seriously goes as "DUTY, HONOUR, VALOUR" and another saying as "WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING"; not the "CANADIAN COWARDICE" SAYING OF "DISHONOUR BEFORE DEATH" !!!!!!!!
Someone who "CAN ASSIST" in "HAULTING" this "CANADIAN COWARDICE" being committed "PLEASE" contact Brian Murza, Y.M.C.A., 79 James Street South, Room 249, Hamilton , Ontario, L8P 2Z1, Canada.
Bottom line, Army suicide prevention videos plant the seeds of suicidal ideations. We get so much suicide prevention training, we get it drilled and drilled into us how to keep our buddy from killing himself, but no one has stopped to consider that maybe the reason we still have the suicides, is that we talk too much about it. People might have never considered it, and then they see some guy in a suicide prevention video telling all about how and why he was going to do it, and all of a sudden it puts the idea out there, and it suddenly doesn't seem so far-fetched any more.
Just wait. Soon you will start hearing the same over the top briefings about PTSD until everyone thinks that they have that too. Over and over again...
There is a correlation between brain injuries, like those you get when you are near an explosion, and mental illness. There are no visible scars, and it sometimes take years for symptoms to show. There should be a follow up report and training for everyone that is near an IED explosion or artillery fire.
if scott taylor and his anti american coalition does not shut up there will be no secrets
Anyone willing to risk their life for their country should not have to pay a cent for any medical attention they require, physical or mental, ever again.
i pray for them and their families... the Governental WarLords & Co. have engaged them in a senseless 10+ year war, bulldozing from country to country in the Middle East and slaughtering everything they see – because they are following 'orders'. it is sickening, sad and shameful. i pray that the good souls out there will step up and help them rehabilitate to save themselves and their families.
I was in the Army at one time, and was surrounded by young enlisted people who came from poor, dysfunctional families to begin with. I would say most of them were kids that never even left their home states until they went to Basic Training. Being in the military is a completely different world, and you are a piece of equipment, though able to move on your own and speak when spoken to. You are not an army of one, you are a cog in the machine. Nobody is going to comfort you and treat you special, especially if you aren't an officer. (Though I must admit officers can have a whole set of different stressful factors coming at them because they are expected to be better people because they have college diplomas). Bottom line is, the military can train someone who is even borderline mentally challenged, but they can't train someone to have strength of character. That's something you have to have within yourself going into it, or else you will be crushed up and spit out. Its not for the faint of heart, and its not for the ego-maniacs either (though there are plenty of both wearing uniforms).
More relief times for these soldiers to visit their loved ones would go a long way to preventing suicides, at the very least it would give people outside of their work environment a chance to observe and see how they are really doing.
I like how the good General spun the issue of "military suicides" into suicides in the non-military population. Weak.
Lets see. The military is really the only profession where if you don't care for your job that much, you Can't just quit. many young adults see that sign on bonus or the recruiter blows smoke up their a#$ about the luxuries of being in the military. many young members see that their only way out is suicide. You can fake a crazy episode but then what, you get out with a B.S. discharge. oh and don't forget, you can go see mental health clinics on base and it won't reflect nagatively on your career-–that is about the biggest crock of fecal matter. you seek help, you get screwed-you don't ask for help and "screwed" is inevitable.......c'mon military-when are you going to make things work and not just talk about how asking for help wont put your career in jeopardy.
Our soldiers are the ones paying the price for Bush and Cheney's wars. In 2008 Obama promised to stop this war,and it's still going on. Then we have Romney and his 5 sons, who never spent 1 day as a soldier. Romney gave 2 years of his life to the Mormon Church and also received 4 deferments during the Vietnam war, but now he would have no problem sending someone else's children, to fight this stupid war.
Very true, sadly.
God has blessed human beings with this beautiful world where we through true human wisdom can find all comforts of our life and can make it an earthly paradise which every contemporary religions have been advocating for since centuries. Today every state being a signatory to UN charter is committed to save succeeding generations from the scourge of wars but despite all consensus world is moving towards the third world war and its main reason is what President Eisebhower had already predicted in 1961. So friends instead of emotionalism we should be realistic in approach while analyzing ground realities which leave no doubt that MIC being a manufacturers of weapons are behind manufacturing of reasons for wars at home and abroad. How WMD was a manufactured reason for attack on Iraq and Alqaida for Afghanistan. So instead of blaming others for such unfortunate incidents it is better to look for the actual reasons and put own house in order.
Thank you for saying this. It is true.
Does include homeless vets that live pillar to post.
If a 61% reduction in suicidal ideation is of any interest, simply look up "military PTSD group study." on any search engine. There is a solution.
The number doesn't include those separated from service, so it's probably higher.
I hate to see our armed forces committing suicide, but this is yellow journalism.
The suicide rate in the United States is 11.8 people per 100,000 population. The number of soldiers we have, counting active, inactive, and reserves, is close to 3,000,000. National averages, when applied to that number of people is slightly above 350 suicides per year. That should be an average of 29.5 per month. Suicide rates are highly seasonal (33% occur in spring, 29% in summer, 18% in fall, 20% in winter). Applying proper statistics, these numbers are almost exactly what one would calculate as "normal" suicide rates for an American.
Sorry, Archimedes, but the two populations you describe should not have the same per-capita rate.
The general population includes all people too sick, lazy and crazy to be accepted by the military, over 90% of the population. The military is taken from the top-10%, yet has a worse per-capita rate. AFU.
Actually the two population groups (service members vs civilian) are not that different. The military draws from the general population so it has the same issues that the general public has....but with low testing requirements allowing to fill the manning requirements of an "all volunteer military" we tend to pull more of the GED/Low GPA/economically poor personnel since they cant get good jobs or afford college. With that we get a disproportional amount of issues. I know, I led Marines for 21 years and witnessed it daily. Not to bag on the Army, but they have the lowest ASVAB score requirement of any branch of service, needing only a 45 to qualify. I scored a 98 in highschool and I had a 2.6 GPA at the time.
The military rates are skewed downward, just like unemployment is.
The AMerica publioc is being misinfomred aat such a grand level, there eventrying to raise the cost of tricare. se the generlas war toys, keep going but programs for the enlisted get cut from promotions to manning levels, but the MONEY for war and the toys continue, close bases overseas, we do not need all these bases. end the wars by bushes treason and continued by Obama wrong and there still trying to start more wars and they can't even take care of the veterans they have -900,000 claim backlog at the VA. If we sealed our borders and stop giving terrosit American visas we wouldnt had terrosim like 9/11 are borders are wide open and no one is doing didleybecause both parties is owned by the NWO elite, that is destroying this country. The terrosit we did have all had visas, it is to scare you to bring on the police state this NWO is trying to set up. Our media is owned by the NWO elite globalist and they are very anti american. Send our troops home , let china and russia who live over there handle the problems, we are broke 15 trillion and growing, our infrasture is falling apart we have the worst drought in years, yes god is trying to tell us something.. AMerica wake up!
The reality is there not helping veterans at all and there even giving them more RED TAPE nightmare to hurdle over. Oh yeah the media and government will tell the public all kids of misinformation, the Facts are veterans have no rights, soldeirs have no rights. My records were lost by NPRC and they admit it, the government admits in writing. The VA says to bad you have to wait for a board hearing they dont even know when its going to happen, I been waiting 6 years for justice. I have written all my state polticians and even the WHite House and nothing, We need RIGHTS, this is why we have to start agencys like DAV to NAUS to help us boat through the manure, it is another war when you get back. Oh I'm sure if you were one the elite kids, your claim and you would not have any problems. he best thing I can tell yo stop sending yor kids, fathers sonds daughters until they send romneys boys or clintons dauther bsuhes daughters and see the mess they have to steer through nothing is getting fixed. start the draft, no more elite draft dodging. Its there wars and there the ones profiting from them. Froma women veteran who has been waiting 6 years for her VA clais to be approved because the governemt admittently lost her reocrd-6 years and still waiting. they know why soldiers are commiting suicide and they are doing it intentally
Would love to speak with you to talk about all of this for a segment I am producing for HuffPost Live – want to see if there is a correlation between the suciide rate going up and the fact that there was no draft. Hoping that I hear back from you! 323 202 7542
Thats a easy one Catherine we should have had a draft back in 2004 when we knew the all volunteer military would be stressed to the limits when we invaded Iraq a year after Afghanistan.This would have taken the stress of war off these kids doing 2-3 tours. Take it from a guy who signed back up at 45 to go back into Iraq they were taking anyone with prior service who was healthy.The problem was the president at the time with No military training sent the soldiers into war told the rest of america to go SHOPPING? No politician today has the balls to call a draft which was the only solution back in 2004.Now we are all paying the price because I guess the people who WENT SHOPPING forgot that sooner or later these kids are coming home to live next to them and are broken and suffering deeply.
The Government already knows what is behind these MILITARY SUICIDES, and the reason they are hesitant to do anything about it, is because it's them. Our government will use it's soldiers to protect this country, to fight for them and the people who live here, and then crap on them when they are injured mentally and/or physically doing that job. why don't they look at and publish the suicide notes? I'm sure as a former veteran of our American Armed Forces, and as Disabled Veteran of the U.S. Army, plus a Medically Retired Employ of the Veterans Administration, I have known veterans who either contemplated suicide, or have commited sucide. All have stated that government red tape for benefits and so called programs are thier problems..AND who are behind these problems? OUR OWN GOVERNMENT who we can't bring charges against, and can admit that there is a problem within it's system...YET sits on it's ass and still does nothing, but more gum flapping. Adding more to the problem. Do you see the circle that is formed?
It feels me with immeasurable sadness to think that some of our nation's soldiers – men and women who sacrifice so much to preserve our American way of life – feel so devalued and under-appreciated, so worn out from what they have seen, that they take their lives.
It's time we honor the men and women of the military and give them the support they need. The support they deserve.
So many suffer with illnesses and injuries obtained from their time in service. I wish I could reach out to them and tell them how much I care.
During the Vietnam war the US soldiers did not kill themselves so much rather they started to ruthlessly murder their own officers. The term 'fragging' common in computer game parlance originates from the practice of US conscripts throwing bundles of frag grenades into their officers tents during the Vietnam war. This is the main reason that US officers managed to have life expectancies in battle of often less than one minute. Their own troops would gun down their officers first, then return to base. This rebellion deeply undermined the Vietnam war effort. Today they are more depressed than rebellious, an inferior state.
Jannai, do you know the reasons these fragging occurred against Officers? It was because our Army pushing stupid inept officers who knew very little about leadership or the Vietnam situation, and were willingly sacrificing good soldiers for thier own stupidness. The soldiers in Nam were there for each other, not to win a war that wasn't win able the way it was being fought, They were there to survive 365 days and go home to a country and government that didn't care about them idividually.
the feeling of guilt is killing them!!!
so everyone that killed themselves in the army were atheists??and your proof is where?? seriously why are Americans so dumb??
This is all about the volunteer army where misfits flee to to avoid responsibility in civilian life. The misfits are a minority but claim the most notorietyl.Abolish the volunteer army and end unjust immoral wars.
If you call yourself an American, you are sadly mistaken. You are trash for saying what you have. I have only served for 7 years and deployed twice but I can tell you about the sacrifices made by my brothers in arms- so you can sit on your sorry @$$ and make those comments. There are fuct up people in all work places....this is a fact. When you categorize everyone involved in the Army or any certain group by your opinion, you are stereotyping and being an a$$. Just want to add, with this war ongoing, nothing you post on any website will get our troops home any quicker. Call/write/email your congressmen/women.
kiran chetry s return to cnn isnt helping the cause.....her feministic manners are quite a blow to swallow.
Suicide is a desperate decision every family needs to detect immediately. Don't let any hand blind you apart – neither from out nor from within. Thank you for your service.
I can't wait for us to invade Iran so we can another ten years or so fighting there, by the time we are done we will have tens of thousand comitting suiside. Isn't war so sweet? Jesus said I have come not for peace but brought you a sword, the thing about the sword is it cuts two ways, one edge will cut the enemy and the other will cut the holder of the sword. Long live sword and long live war...bring it on man. LOL
The problem is that in order to fill quotas for the volunteer army standards have been so drastically reduced for enlistment that wackos are being accepted and the result is suicides among other problems such as rape of females and desertions.
What a load of garbage! There is a very intricate screening process and many types of people WILL NOT be accepted into the military...period. You overestimate what sort of leniency the military might have had at one point which it no longer allows due to cutbacks. All those people with a little health issue here or there such as bad joints or whatever will NOT be allowed to stay in or join the military anymore.
Perhaps the hippies got it right...GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!
It will take America decades to recover from Bush/Cheney. Tragically, many lives have been lost and will never get the chance to recover.
Either way, the residents of the patriotic america will never be duped by european socialists. We are not fly over country, we are the armed backbone of this nation. We are the people who bled for your right to sell us out and mock us.
Three more people killed themselves just listing to your dribble.
You have much blood on your hands, cnn. You and all of the media. Your narratives encourage killers, and your opinion articles incite animosity between americans with differing views. You are incredibly biased, and everyone knows it.
Are you listening, cnn? You're not the only one in the room with a microphone, you know? Why don't you post a portion of my comment? Piers morgan's IQ is lesser than my own. You open these forums and you ignore all the hate speech about Christians? We're a minority these days, you know?
READ:
Soldiers returning from the war are in desperate need of redemption, forgiveness, and indeed atonement. Atheists lack this key component, they have nobody to turn to for this. Either you provide it for them, or God would.
Hey, Joshua. I know where you live. Your days are numbered.
WOW CNN. You post obvious threats but when I call our President a Mafia president I can't get my replies posted. Hypocracy at its finest. If you don't allow people to commit on how they feel but post threats why have a forum to commits?
Josh.. I am an athiest..l you cannot tell me what i have or don't have, how I think or don't think.. You have an agenda and it is blinding you ..you left " compassion" off the list we are not supposed to have. Get free of your ignorant judgements of people who arent like you
Josh, I'm not sure what you mean about atheists lacking a key component. Atheists are more likely to seek practical and objective means to address their depression, and in so doing do not risk the "judgement" of a god nor the tenets of any particular religion. Furthermore, while atheists likely have as clear a sense of right and wrong as anyone, they are not burdened by the concept of sin, and thus do not need divine redemption and are obligated to atone to no one. They suffer their guilt, sorrow, anger etc; find sensible, grounded means for addressing those feelings and they move on.
IT'S NOW OR NEVER !!! WE ARE NOT EVER, EVER, going to change anything in those countries that we have sent our youth into "in order to change them", and help them !!!!!!!!!!! Those folks have been killing each other for centuries, and will continue to do so for centuries after we "PULLOUT" !!!!!!!!!!!!! Not to mention that THEY will kill as many U.S. military AS THEY CAN, prior to any U.S PULLOUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are truly heathens in the EYES OF GOD, and nothing on this earth will change their HATRED, for U.S., and their fellow countrymen !!! The CARNAGE thus far, for our Military, is some thing that every American should be ASHAMED of, because IT WAS ALL IN VANE !!! FOR NOTHING !!!!! The current butchering in Iraq is a prime example of what is to follow in our useless efforts to help those in the surrounding countries !!! And yes, Obama put more gas on the fire, however, the current congress, the senate, and yes, THE WHITE HOUSE, should hang their heads IN SHAME, until they take their last breath !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After 30 years in the U.S. Military, I can honestly say that I'm ASHAMED OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LAST DECADE, OF THIS ONCE GREAT COUNTRY !!!!!!!!!!!!
Get your head out of your 'donkey' and smell the roses. The US doesn't go to war in any country to help out its people. It goes in for its own economic and strategic interests. Period. If the US was about helping people, they would have been in Syria already, they would have been in Rwanda, they would have been in Burma. The fact is the US gets involved when it has something to gain.
and yes, I am more intelligent than you.
You are no more intelligent than an average rock. Spewing religious opinions and speaking from a perspective you've never lived. Try again troll.
If you have to keep telling people how intelligent you are, you aren't, and it cerainly doesn't show.
Didn't anyone tell you sentences begin with capital letters Josh? Your drivil doesn't reach normal standards let alone intelligent.
When you work for the thugs of the american government such as obama – the tyrant king propped up by cnn – bad things happen. Atheists kill themselves for doing wrong because they have nobody to forgive them.
It's actually very similar to a survival mechanism. If you perceive that you have committed a certain atrocity – it is necessary for you to seek redemption and forgiveness so that you may continue on. Atheists lack this key component in there psyche. Hence the suicides.
Ahh you must have served in the military and had to endure all the pain of life threatening situations and morbid atrocities. You seem well connected to what its like to live with pain. But wait so soldiers committing suicide under bushes terms in office is different? When a soldier commits suicide under bushes terms in office its acceptable because he is bush? Yet when Obama is president its different. Yet Bush was the one who took us to war and cut the VA budget. Wow you obviously don't know what it mean to truly serve your country do you? Why don't you go serve over there and watch people die and get shot at and almost killed then come back and talk crap.
Assumptions that every one who served or serves in the military has witnessed atrocities is nonsense. Merely one eighth of active personnel have served in combat. Get a life or at least another hobby.
the soldiers are given 30 or 60 day supplies of antidepressants and anxiety pills with little or no diagnosis, they take the pills and run out or the they have adverse reactions on tour and bam, Tom may have been right.
We need to demand beer for our troops. They're stuck over there, few women, no idea who to trust and they can't even have a drink when they go off duty. I'd be depressed too.
beer, beer, beer said the private
Freaking moron. Just get drunk in a warzone? That will make EEEEVERYTHING better. SMH. Suicides don't just happen downrange. In fact, most DO NOT happen downrange.
Those guys that committed suicide must have been watching Barack Obama laugh at them still being shot at in Afghanistan and Iraq after he said they were safe because he ordered them to be listed as non-combatants- even Obama thinks we are fools to believe him. His happiness does not help the suicides or their families or the rest of us that he lied to.
Unfortunately until the masses are forced to see war first-hand, nothing will change. Most have no idea what's happening in this war and couldn't even fathom what these soldiers are doing (redrum) so they completely ignore it all. The media reports very little and most of the people I know want nothing to do with the conversation at all.. Out of sight, out of mind... Busy on xbox live. When people are forced to fight (like the draft)... things may change but as long as we pay people to kill and its voluntary (mercs).... well, there will always be people willing to do that. Takes all kinds! They'd have to drag me out at gun-point to get me to go. I will not kill for politics.
The sad thing is media outets..like CNN.. are more concerned about what George Zimmerman buys in jail than stuff like this. CNN is no longer a news site...its more at reporting what it wants you to believe and go after. CNN is a joke. That only wanna report what they are paid to report.
As the General said it's not just the Army it is tens of thousands of Americans every year! ??????????????
Yeah, you come home after going through years of sacrifice to a country filled with liberals who say youre a murderer for Haliburton and the illuminati with an economy wrecked by the liberal social engineering Freddie Fannie fiasco, your probably not gonna feel very good.
BRING THEM HOME!...which part Gov doesn't understand
The gov't doesn't care about what you or I say...they will continue to fight their dirty little wars irregardless.
Did you really just say 'irregardless'?
the part of the gov't that realizes if we don't finish the job over "there", that will will have to finish it over "here".
-TheBigSarge
Yup, clearly the fault of Bush and other Republicans...typical thought process of the critical "thinkers" around here.
So the endless wars so beloved by Republicans (Only when a Republican is president, though, that's very important) can't be sustained by the troops? Sign a few more Republicans up for the wars they love. Lower the standards for getting in the military, which is what keeps most Republicans from joining. The bar is already low, but there's nothing a Republican can't bring down with its presence.
You do realize who the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military is these days, right? Hint: Not Bush.
I am pretty sure he was talking about who started the war also the war was going on for 6 years of the bush presidency which obama inherited and is working on getting them out of there
Bill, you're so cute. The Democrat-controlled Congress has been in place for a number of years, and Obama took office. So 6 years of "Bush-war in Afghanistan" can't be tempered by 5 years of Democrats running the show?
If leaving Afghanistan was so important, you'd think Obama would have handled it by now, right? I mean, he personally slit Osama's throat, right?
it's real simple
when you build a submarine you test it to a depth, then you don't take it past that depth
when you build a tank you test it's armor to a certain level, and you know if it is hit with a shell above that level it's toast
if you don't keep an M-16 clean it will seize and not fire......
there are a million examples of this very simple concept
your asking more of people than they are capable of
and it is stooooooooopid
bring our people home!!!
f...... afghanistan
f....... Iraq
F.... the entire muslim world
and especially f..... all you nuke em all and let god sort them out americans
serving as a soldier is special, letting our pols abuse them is very wrong
we're the USA dammmmmit, we should be doing what is RIGHT
and this continuous war is wroooooooong!
Over a 100,000 suicides from the Vietnam war. This mess from the wars in Iraq and Afganistan is just starting! We are at the start of a bell shaped curve that will peak in about ten years.
Get over yourself. The US has never been about what's right. All that is propaganda and cartoon themes. America is a country that made part of its population use a different washroom and sit in different chairs because of the colour of their skin, America is a country that hadn't let their women vote until 1920, America is a country that nuked civilians TWICE in WW2, America is a country that hasn't signed the treaty to join the International Criminal Court, America is a country, America is a country which invaded a country on lies, America is a country which fights proxy and shadow wars to influence the economics and politics of developing nations.
One reason for this is that the idea of killing people who don't deserve to die might have gotten to them somehow. The idea of starting a war in order to gain control the natural resources of another country has always been and always will be a terrible idea, no matter how you slice it!!! We need to vote these stupid right-wing politicians out of office, the sooner, the better!
I couldn't have said it better. it's a shame we glorify war so much in this country.
I got shot at in Korea and came home with PTSD. before it had a name. If you really want to know about war and it's effects on humans, read the book "On Killing" it will blow your mind.
WAR=. Make the rich more rich... Thats what its for
Actually the main reason is stress at work (deployed or rear detachment), finances, or your significant other. Its even gotten to the point that when you deploy some members in your unit advise junior soldiers to not leave everything to their spouse to but split it between the spouse and the parent. There's been many incidents of military spouses blowing their cash while their deployed on a new car and a new boyfriend/girlfriend.
Don't make this about politics. I am a recently retired vet and had one troop commit suicide and one try. Both times it was over a girl. My son is now in the army and I am proud but he knows what he got his self in to and he is is deploying in October and wants to. I don't think he will ever blame democrats or republicans for having to deploy. He is proud to do it
Only rear echelon wadckos believe like this.
This was common back when we had the draft. The first thing that happens when you are drafted is that you receive a "dear John letter" – and then it's down hill from there. Wonder how many of these soldiers received a dear John letter.
This isn't a new problem. This country has been screwing over veterans since the Revolutionary War ended. Look up "War Is A Racket" by Smedley Butler. He was a general in the Marines, and one of very few people to have been awarded the Congressional Medal Of Honor twice. He was also a figure in other very interesting events in American history that everyone should know about.
wah
Suicide is a complicated issue. Each case should be looked at individually. Some could be prevented more easily than others. There have been efforts to combat suicide; however, some of these efforts have made suicide seem like more of an option for Soldiers.
Some of the changes from the past few years include $400,000 life insurance and the combat death gratuity being provided to a Soldier's designated surivors. Awards being posthumously presented. Allowing burials and ceremonies recognizing the Soldier's service. Condolences from leadership and potentially the Commander In Chief.
Unfortunately, some of these efforts are considered incentives (by some) to consider suicide.
Not positive but I don't believe the military pays out on suicide.
What exactly do you expect when these kids are doing multiple upon multiple tours of duty with the Bush nonsense of invading Iraq under false pretenses. When they return from duty, they are cast aside without any help or treatment.
Not accurate. Might apply to some cases but not most.
Oh...Care to elaborate why it is not accurate? So many of our kids did not serve multiple tours of duty?
I'll step in... in this article, it states that 25 out of 38 cases this month were from non-deployed soldiers.
I'll step in. Non-deployed doesn't mean the soldier never deployed. It only means the soldier wasn't deployed at the time of the suicide.
I see what you're saying. My chaplain (again, take his presentations with a grain of salt considering his job) at our last training stated that soldiers are more likely to commit suicide before ever being deployed than those who have deployed.
Iwillnotbeashamed stepped in, but without relevance. The article specifies they hadn't been previously deployed. Somebody's here to correct people without reading the article.
That's just how bad TRADOC is.
You guys are gonna ride that Bush train as long as you can aren't you? Not a single original thought comes into your mind I am guessing.
Stop this "kids" crap. Does referring to adult millitary as " kids"" float your boat?
Yeah.
Not true, the Navy suicides are due to the immense hypocritical atmosphere. The Evaluations are Utterly meaningless, the Awards are even more hysterical. The people who do the least get the most recognition, the people who do the most are taken advantage of and outcast, if they are not in-bed with their Superior and win their favor. There is so much hypocrisy in the Navy it makes your head want to explode! Everyone is lazy, and doesn't want to do anything, and tries to get out of everything. They have the one person they can pick on the most do all the work, like taking out trash, etcetera. And, the way they treat their people...I've never seen grown men break-down and cry like that. Both from the Overwhelming levels of hypocrisy, and the overall way that they're treated most often. Not, to mention, have you ever been on any of the U.S. Navy bases, lately, they all smell like Raw Sewage!! I don't even know what's up with that. All I know is my heart really goes out to those poor folks!!
"The people who do the least get the most recognition, the people who do the most are taken advantage of and outcast"
This is the truest statement ever. When i was in the Air Force, people who did all the little pet projects on the side for the booster club or some other thing got all the recognition as a stellar performer. What they didn't say was, while that person was out of the office making himself look good, the others were picking up his slack and recieved no recognition.
Half of our "volunteer" army is made up from young men who had nowhere else to go. Then they discover the futility of their foolish step. Defending our country is one thing but fighting some so-called enemy 8000 miles away is not it. Afghanistan, Iraq never posed danger to the US. 9-11 was caused by our "friends" the Saudies. Our leaders are corrupt.
Coo Coo
You You.
Okay, Mr. Mark. If you're half as smart as you Think you are, how about YOU explain how world trade center building seven, which was never hit by any airplane, was slowly demolished down to the ground??
Wait, don't answer that first part of the question!
Sounds like you just got served Mark
Nowhere else to go? LOL! Yeah, we're just pathetic people with no other option. What would we have ever done if Uncle Sam had not came in a scooped us up? Patriotism eludes some people I guess.
NAVY/ARMY suicides Upsurge Fully Predicted! Google Dr. Turi newsletter
Real soldiers understand that it is against code to commit suicide and thus if all mental intuition fails regulation and following of orders should keep our good men and women alive. -From a person who left for war only to come home to find his pregnant wife miscarried, lost a close relative to cancer, was told by local base medical staff that the military could not afford medical requirements needed for he and himself to have children, then divorced, came home again to bury his father then while counting down the days until discharge was confronted with the prospect of war. Following orders will keep our troops head strong while serving. Cold but true
This is about my family and what this President has done and it has destroyed my family through suicide. Yes I say the President because he is not directly to blame. But because of his policies it made our lives particularily hard. We were staunch Obama Supporters. This go around I will go against anything this President does because I have seen first hand knowledge of what he has done to families. Not only that because everyone is unemployed he has a Affordable Care Act that no one will be able to afford and there again mounts the stress more and yes more families will suffer. This is the sad state of a vicious cycle when I voted for this President the first time around. I just know that we can do better and to reelect this President? He will just sit on his hands for 4 years while we all suffer. He has nothing to gain. He can only serve 2 terms. Just please listen to my story and maybe you can understand what happens to real families. Thanks
The Worst Years Of My Life
Just shave and ge a job . There is a severe shortage of truck drivers for low IQ people like you
What part of "Thou shall not kill" is it that you do not understand.Consequences for disobeying the Creator.Yahushua is His name.
What part of "Thou shall not commit murder" do you not understand?
With all due respect to the suicide prevention programs currently in place, most, if not all, are really suicide 'intervention'. In order to truly 'prevent' suicide our veterans (and others) need to get to a point where suicide is no longer an option for them – because they feel so much better.
Recovery International, a decades old self-help, mental health method developed by neuropsychiatrist Abraham A. Low MD–provides the means to go from 'simply existing' to living a full life again. I highly recommend it for anyone who is stressed, depressed, anxious, panicky, angry, or feeling confused, helpless, hopeless or alone in their difficulties. I, for one, am living, breathing proof that this time-tested system works – you can regain your emotional wellness.
The problem, officers give a speach on how the military is broke and kicking out soldiers that are failures or have poor reviews and then the suicide rate goes up.
Actually that isn't the problem. I have never seen a 'good' soldier kicked out. It is extremely hard to kick out the bad ones; so don't give me that crap. The problem with suicide is that we have a weaker society; people are always trying to find the easy way out.
You are about to start seeing good soldiers get kicked out.
Think like a GOP / GOTP .......... less GI Bill benefits to be paid out. And the gop/gotp get to keep their room with a view with Motel 6 rates ........
Life is good as long as you have the type of income that permits you to pay a 13% TAX RATE while the rest of the US middle class and soldiers suffer...
Just out of curiosity.
1. How much did you make last year?
2. How much did you pay in taxes?
3. How much did you get back for tax returns?
4. Determine your percentage.
This country and the people in it has turned to complete garbage, I find myself respecting less people each day. The elite are trying to enslave everyone and aren't even hiding it anymore. You can't find work, people who do have jobs work like dogs to stay afloat, even the army has high requirements now and ignores the needs of their own just as companies do the same with their own. When your life just continues to suck more than the day before it's not hard to justify doing something irrational.
Toxic Leaders,CO NCO Bullies, Meds (FOR MALARIA) The Military Culture, Deployment cylcle. Leaders fostering hostile work environments, break down in relationships. etc... All these things can contribute to someone wanting to commit suicide. Until the Army seriously address these issues Suicide will always be an issue. Not go thru the motions to cover that a%% but really address it. Until then everyone should question the Military's real motives and intentions. Cause if they really want to do something about it . They can. To say someone is weak, is ridiculous. Everyone has a breaking point. Be glad yo unever found yours, or be happy that someone was there to help you thru. But for those that felt hopeless WE SHOULD DO ALL WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THEIR DEATHS WERE A LESSON TO US ABOUT HOW TO SAVE OTHERS... SOME OF YOU PEOPLE ON HERE ARE JUST PLAIN SAD INDIVIDUALS.
The tragedy is the Iraq war was from a lie. 911 was done by a bunch of Saudis and their leader was hiding in Afganistan.
The greater trajedy is believing what you believe.
Thrown into harms way as political cannon fodder, now facing unemployment even if decided to stay in the military (they are fireing too) cuts in benifits and little to know future after all that $#%@ they had to go through. There really is no light at the end of this tunnel.
They take their lives because they found out we are the bad guys over there, just another warlord army with better weapons. The ones who don't have the guts to take their own lives end up as PTSD cases, hollow on the inside. The only ones who prosper are the truly bloodthirsty, ignorant thugs who are untroubled by morality.
That could be the most stupid and completely baseless comment I have ever seen.
my uncle threw himself in front of a train after korea. I blame nobody.He did what he felt he had to do.
they know is wrong...it is against nature! they are our kids that we raised in Chucky Cheese, and video games and mommy and daddy being there for them. It's very clear the stress they were under, and we ask why? I know why...poor kids. I'm sorry they did this to you!
Hatred and self-loathing are the enemy. How can there be pride in killing people so that the rich can keep drinking their scotch, smoking their cigars and going to spas to try to undue the way they mistreat their bodies. The whole system is corrupt. Humanity has to do a major clean-up and get back to truth and integrity. Without dignity we live fearful, ignoble, ugly, lives. War is hell. Its time to turn the Earth around and start creating peace and joy.
Ya my brother use to do missions and kill pirates and when he brought Colombians back to their shots for drug trafficking and the moment he handed them over the other side shot the prisoners all in the head in front of him. He felt bad that he just handed theses guys over who some or a lot are force to move cocaine if they own a fishing boat and our Navy and Special Forces raid the boats. We keep the cocaine and they get the prisoners. Now why do we hand over prisoners knowing they will be shot unlike a lot of other countries will not extradite someone if they are going to be killed from their home nation. We expect our guys to kill all day everyday and wonder why we see them doing roght things like peeing on dead bodies are collecting body parts. My brother got combat discharge last year from going in to Libya and when he got out he got jack. They told him he had to move with out even a real notice just oh your time is up get out. He had to fight to find a job bec the vets could not do anything fast enough and their is little help with Therapy and anything once you get out its a joke. I also know a Medic that was going to Vietnam and was practicing throwing a grenade and part of the shrapnel hit him and he had to get discharged and never got crap help. . I mean I honor my brother and anyone that served for this country I just wish more could be done to help these wonderful men/women even the Military. needs to def step it up for the troops.....
The Unseen Wound
http://www.theunseenwound.com
By vets, for vets. Check out the website and the "Ocean Healing" program. It is certainly not a cure for PTSD, but your brother can face it with us instead of alone.
Well, let's start by looking at the recruiting commercials the army is using. Ask anyone who's gone through basic just how much reality there is to them. I love those commercials that show smiling happy afghan children waving at American troops, trying to convey a sense that something good has happened. Those concrete barriers in the picture at the top of the story aren't there to sort the happy afghans into lines. People go in expecting something that isn't real, and then realize that they cannot get out. You can still be recalled, even after your period of service is finished. Next, let's talk about sense of mission. Is it just me, or does it seem like we have stopped all conversation about exactly what our mission in Afghanistan actually is? Let's talk about mission creep, let's talk about leadership failures at every level, starting at the White House, and working down to the "Yes men" at the field level. Let's talk about lack of hope, let's talk about duration. Ten years later, and we are still there. Let's talk about what happens to military families in an economy that's already bad, even if their loved one returns. Let's talk about another number, a number NO ONE wants to talk about: let's talk about the vast number of horribly injured soldiers and the medical and mental health care they are going to need the rest of their lives. Now I've never been against the war in Afghanistan; the way I see it, we either fight them there, or fight them here. But I think if we're going to be at war for over a decade, there are questions that need to be asked, and we need to hold our elected leaders responsible for the answers, or lack thereof, that we receive.
Great point, well made.
"Fight them there or fight them here". That is the kind of crap that enables oliticians to wage immoral, unjust wars. Get a life you imbecile.
One of the issues that we face not only in the military but in civilian life is that our school system does not teach life skills.
Life skills are coping with economics, personal business decisions, being alone, common obstacles to life and consequences of following the wrong path. In our coddled society parents are equally to blame.
Coddled society? Is a nation desensitized to violence and war a preferred way of living?
It just amazes me that they do not want to study the side effects of the Anti Malaria medication. It has severe side effects and they still give it!!!!
saeed stop crying for attention we all know ur a baby who didnt get enough love as a child. Everyone pay saeed no mind he or she wants the attention
Folks lets try and take all things in consideration. This Saeed or whatever his name is not necessarily a muslim. It can be anyone wanting the world hate muslims. Those who start fights and kill innocent people in the name of "God" are only few brainless miserable selfish dick-heads. I am a muslim, and in my world all the people of all faiths and beliefs can find a shelter. We muslims don't hate people, we hate the hatred. Don't give in to baseless gibber of two-faced idiot. Life is short, what can't we share in this world.
maybe there is secrets noone knows about
The secret that they said to me is no weak soldiers in my ARMY and since my son attempted suicide he's weak.
They don't inform them of potential problems when they leave for combat and the debriefing when they come home is worthless and told to not have any problems.
I served as a medic in Vietnam. Some of us were trained almost a full year to go to war, but in the end, they took your gear, put you on an airplane, and 18 hours later your were walking the streets of downtown America. No one trained us how to come home.
I am sorry for your loss and will keep your family in my prayers.
The Unseen Wound
http://www.theunseenwound.com
By vets, for vets. Check out the website and the "Ocean Healing" program. It is certainly not a cure for PTSD, but your brother can face it with us instead of alone.
rodger.l.morris@gmail.com
Oops!!!
I meant to say "son", vice brother.
I am part of the team that is putting together the first "Ocean Healing" event aboard Schooner Bill of Rights. See:
http://www.theunseenwound.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ocean_healing.pdf
I encourage your son to come sail with us.
They want to address this now? They denied there was ever a problem with our soldiers. I had many conversations with my son's CO's about my son's well being. They stated he was a weak soldier and they do not want weak soldiers in their Army. My son was heavily medicated while on tour and after his return from Iraq. He attempted to commit suicide while still active. I called his post where he was to be working and they couldn't tell me where he was. When I told them his girlfriend called me to inform me he was trying to kill himself. I told them where to look for him. They called me after they found him and I said he overdosed and they didn't believe me until they looked at his medication and then after much insistance from me took him to the hospital. He suffers from severe PTSD which they said he didn't have after his discharge. I was yelled at and informed that my son is weak and he isn't soldier material. They don't help our soldiers but they do push our soldiers to killing themselves. Of all the suicides how many tried to get help and told they don't have any problems, or were bullied to not report any issues in fear they will be kicked out of the military, or were giving more drugs to mask the issue? Alot and alot still alive. How many soldiers die from suicide after they leave the military? Why is this not a problem they refuse to fix? Again, no weak soldiers in OUR ARMY is the response. I have names and dates of my many discussions on the phone with several of my sons CO's and the results of my calls. This needs to stop or we will lose more of our soldiers at home than we did in the War. SAVE OUR MILITARY from our MILITARY!!!!!
Listen lady, if your kid had real abuse being inflicted on him why didn't you tell him to go to IG? I dealt with that at my first duty station, deployed with them, and since moved on. It still bothers me every now and then, but I didn't let it ruin my life. You sound really overbearing; I'm sure your son has legitimate complaints, but it isn't anybody else's fault but his if he doesn't do anything with the rest of his life. If he's still living at home, give him a few months to find a job and then stop supporting him. He won't starve to death, people have a way of taking care of themselves when they have too.
And the suicides, I don't see them as an army thing necessarily. I've witnessed one suicide and it was some guy who already had a reputation as a worthless soldier killing himself because he couldn't be with a married woman. That isn't the army's fault.
In this way, you add to her suffering, to your suffering, and to ours. Touch your heart. Rethink your position.
11BG1,
You apparantly do not have any children that had to endure what my son has. Overbearing? Try standing up for my child when it was obvious no one else in the ARMY was willing to do so. When they tell you your son is weak that makes one mad. How weak was he to get into the ARMY? How weak was he to be able to have a gun, drive a tank, go into violent combat and to have his truck blown up and still continue to complete his tour? He is a young man that hasn't had to witness the type of violence in America as he saw in Iraq. It was him that went to war for YOU.
He is a proud young man that wants to do things on his own. Yes, I support him but not by having him live in my home or support financially. You need to find out your facts before you make assumptions of what people do. If ever you walk in the shoes of parents with children that have been affected by the military then talk to me.
I'm probably younger than your son, and I've experienced the things you're writing about. Having seen it firsthand, I've also seen responses to it. My roommate claimed PTSD without ever really having any justification for it, and he was rightly seen as a malingerer for it; it also didn't help him that he had a was bad person in general aside from claiming combat stress. I'm sorry to say it, but PTSD is the new lower back pain and people use it to get out with disability checks. It's really overused and often by people who have no business claiming it. It has no set criteria, and it's impossible to prove somebody doesn't have it, and if they claim somebody doesn't have it and that person kills themselves or does something else that's stupid the army is liable to the storm that's sure to follow.
With your son, it sounds like you could have brought it up to IG and had action taken against his CoC. Why you didn't is a mystery to me. The military will act to protect itself if it thinks it can prevent a scandal, but it's also more than willing to sacrifice the guilty party and acquiesce if it realizes it can't prevent it. I don't know what else to tell you, other than it sounds like his army experience wasn't a pleasant one and I hope he can move on with his life.
Well I did go through the hoops I had to go through. I worked closely with an Ombudsman and if it wasn't for him it would have been worse. The end result was they fast tracked his discharge. He was told he did have PTSD by the hospital after his attempt but it was a civilian hospital and the Army doesn't have to go by thier diagnosis. I do know that at that time the Army was instructed to not admit PTSD. I agree that some will abuse it but those that do have PTSD are not being treated.
I think that it is impossible to talk to ignorance. So let's leave it at that.
What percentage of suicides were direct combat veterans?
Male? Female?
Do suicides occur more frequently in the war zone, or at home afterward? How long afterward?
Are suicides more likely due to fear of what might happen, or guilt and shame for what has happened?
What is it about the nature of modern warfare and modern psychologies that might contribute to suicide?
How do Standard Operating Procedures affect soldiers? What is it that we expect them to do contextually?
Is war always just war? Is it moral? Is it fair?
What color hats do we wear? Ask the soldier. Ask.
Might some soldiers kill themselves to prevent from being used in certain ways as opposed to self-purging?
Is alcohol and drugs, prescription or street, associated with the suicides?
How do soldiers become psychologically isolated?
What is the nature of obedience to authority? What are the options? Are there options?
Must soldiers bear the burden of war themselves?
Do soldiers know in their hearts that they will and can return home?
Do soldiers know where home is?
Does Command?
I think I can help on a point or two from your questions. From training conducted via our chaplain (so, take it with a grain of salt, mind you, considering his job) the vast majority of military suicides are Males age 18-27. They usually occur at home, though some happen in privacy overseas. Other than that... obviously i'm not directly quoting anything.
Also, they say more than 50% of suicides are from soldiers who haven't deployed yet.
Thank you for the kindness of your reply, Matthew. Knowledge and awareness lead to prevention and healing.
This is kind of reverse Vietnam. We have two useless objectiveless wars going on supporting governments we installed that are highly flwaed and corrupt. These guys can't feel good about what they are doing, but the Right has got us so twisted up politically it is hard to muster the popular support that finally ended Vietnam. God forbid we interrupt the business plans of the Defense Contractors and give them an earnings hit.
Project for the New American Century.
They have objectives, just not open and clearly disclosed ones, they are latent objectives I suppose.
Thats the thing, we are in the grips of a full-on military industrial complex. It was a fully-functional leg of our active economy. This country (US) spends more money on its military budget then the next 15 countries, combined. Google it.
I'd kill myself too if I was serving for a country like ours.
Feel free to leave this country any time if you don't like it.
So whenever someone criticizes their country, they're supposed to leave it? "He who fears criticism is hopeless," – Thomas Jeffersson
Josh – OR he can stop whining about it and try to do something about it. Either way, you're an idiot.
what someone should do is take a pistol to a head of a irish child a 1 year old irish baby and shoot bullet through that flat face boom boom kryptonite bullet.
Agreed.
Another insect that believes it's a deity.
Saeed, your comment defines you as an insect.
Saeed's comment may be poorly written, but maybe what he is trying to say is that if what happens to the enemy happened to us, how would we respond? If we are to heal, we must try to understand and hope for the best humanity has to offer.
No Steven, Saeed is just being a muslim.