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U.S. Army suicides at 3-decade high

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In movies and other forms of media we hear the term, "War is hell". I don't think a lot of people really take that to heart or maybe just don't remember those 3 words.

What's a real shame is that these are not considered deaths due to acts of war. It may be attributed that the rates of suicides are up during war, but they are not considered to be a result of an act of war. Their survivors are not attibuted the same benefits as those who fell from mortorfire.

Yes more psychiatric help needs to be given to the troops, but we've got to get out from under two wars. The demands on Marines, soldiers and their families is just too much especially considering the number of troops. We just don't have the number of troops to effectively fight two wars.

These men and women have fought for their countries admirably. We've just put too many demands on them.

I served and my comment is based on that background. Is yours? Just a question. < :-)

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Having served (not as a conscript) in a conscript army I have seen how the military can be totally without heart & understanding for it’s own.

It’s a machine that asks so much of young men (& women) & you better fit in or it will destroy you. And as adaydream says, add a war or two (too many) & it really can be too much for some people. What is really sad is that there are few armies in the world that even tolerate the idea of emotional problems. Getting past the culture of real men don’t need help will take years.

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They should establish the statistics of the US soldiers crime rate, like in Iraq, Japan or Phillipine etc... I think it would be record high as well.

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Interesting comment day dream, I served 13 years (9 on active service) before being pensioned off as TPI (totally and permanently incapacitated - helicopter accident). In terms of combat and seeing people get killed, it never really phased me. However, I must admit that I had trouble fitting back into society when it was all over. As in all wars, soldiers (and particularly the fighting arms - infantry, etc.) see and do a number of things that go beyond what society considers to be acceptable behavior. However, when it comes time to come home, it is often the case that so-and-so is not given any support to switch off all the buttons that have been switched. I know a couple of chaps who killed themselves after leaving the army. I believe they did so because there was nobody available to talk them down from the emotional coaster that is front-line service.

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Train surplus persons into life & property respecting policemen not soldiers killing unfortunates they don't hate for elites they don't love - so confused they end up killing themselves.

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