Christ First Forum

Army suicides hit record in July
By Greg Jaffe
The U.S. Army suffered a record 32 suicides in July, the most since it began releasing monthly figures in 2009.

The high number of deaths represents a setback for the Army, which has put a heavy focus on reducing suicides in recent years. The number includes 22 active duty soldiers and 10 reservists. The previous record was 31, from June 2010.

Army officials cautioned that investigations are still underway in most of the deaths to confirm the exact cause.

“Every suicide represents a tragic loss,” Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, the vice chief of staff of the Army said in a written statement. “While the high number of potential suicides in July is discouraging, we are confident our efforts ...are having a positive impact.”

Over the last several years, the Army has launched a major effort to institute new training to improve soldiers’ ability to bounce back from stress and setbacks in combat and in their personal lives. It has hired hundreds of mental health and substance abuse counselors and has launched a push to convince soldiers that seeking help for mental health problems will not have a negative impact on their careers.

The service also has tapped the National Institute of Mental Health to conduct a five-year $50 million study and statistical analysis of suicide in the Army, an effort that includes surveys, data mining and medical testing.

Chiarelli, meanwhile, has devoted hundreds of hours to studying the suicide problem and its possible links to post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries caused by battlefield explosions.

So far the efforts have not resulted in a significant change in the suicide rate in the Army. Over the first seven months of 2011, about 160 active duty and reserve soldiers have committed suicide, which is about on par with the number of troops taking their own lives during the same months in 2009 and 2010.

The Marine Corps, which does not release monthly suicide statistics, has posted annual suicide rates similar to the Army’s.

Senior Army officials had hoped that the slowing pace of combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan might reduce the overall strain on the force and help drive down the rate of soldier suicides. The extra time at home, however, does not yet appear to have had a significant impact on the suicide rate.

In recent years, the Army’s suicide rate has surpassed the rate for the overall population. Comparing suicide rates among soldiers is difficult because the latest national suicide statistics, which are compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are about three years old.

If the suicide rate among troops is compared to a population that is similar to the military in terms of age, race and sex, the rate in the Army and Marine Corps appears to be about the same or slightly lower than the population at large, according to the Rand Corp., a government funded think tank.

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I never had any desire to serve in any of the armed forces. I just don’t have it in me that I would be able use any kind of weapon or to be in such a battle. Even being the enemies it would hurt me inside that I had to do that. Or that I of course having feared to get killed. Thankfully to God I have had a few disabilities over the years that I did not get drafted even though I had to register at the post office.

There have been other reasons for not wanting to serve. Well for example in times that I was homeless I don’t like the way the citizens treated me. One terrible summer day for example I had a basket walking up and down on the side walk of on a certain street. All the cars just keep going by. No one ever could say to us to me and my girlfriend if we could at least have some water. I guess just in general the way people treat one another here I never had the heart to think about putting my life on the line for people who don’t care about their own citizens.

However Jesus is worthy enough that He also died for His enemies. But Jesus has a great plan dying for them. To try to bring them back to know God the enemies of Jesus can change their Life and become Friends with the Lord. This is the Battle of Salvation. The Toughest War still being fought. God never can lose but because He is concerned about mankind He intervenes in our Battles. The struggles we have with both the World and even with the Devil also. I don’t like being in the Battle of Life but I’m glad to know at least God has the right answers to help us to cope.

Not everyone who goes into the military has to carry a weapon and kill people. Of course, I suppose those in the Army and Marines are more apt to have to do that. I was in the Air Force and left as a sergeant. I am proud to have served my country and thankful I didn't have to carry a weapon or shoot anyone.

Carmela wrote:This is really sad. Hopelessness is epidemic.

Once a person loses all hope, they see no reason to continue living. However, I'm sure that those who are lost and commit suicide regret that decision immediately after death.