Couric & Co.
July 29, 2010 12:14 PM

Military Stress: Army Releases Report on Suicide Prevention

By
Mary Walsh
Topics
Notebook

With suicides at an all-time high, the U.S. Army released a report today blaming "a permissive unit environment" for high risk behavior.

"For some, the rigors of service, repeated deployment, injuries and separations from family resulted in a sense of isolation, hopelessness and life fatigue," Army Vice Chief of Staff Peter Chiarelli says in a letter accompanying the report.

In fiscal year 2009, 160 soldiers took their own lives. In addition, there were 1,713 suicide attempts and nearly 17,000 drug and alcohol offenses.

The report cites an increase in waivers granted to new recruits coming into the Army. Since 2004 more 20 percent of new recruits were granted waivers for behavior that otherwise would have kept them out of the service. "Of the 80,403 waivers granted," the report states, "47,478 were granted to individuals with a history of drug, alcohol, misdemeanor crimes, or serious misconduct (defined as a felony.)"

While waivers have been on the rise, the report says, there has been a decrease in soldiers being forced to leave the Army for misconduct. "This has resulted in the retention of over 25,283 soldiers who would have otherwise been separated in previous years," the report states, citing "an increase in tolerance, if not acceptance of high risk behavior."

Commanders may overlook misconduct when they are preparing their units for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, an Army official told reporters in a background briefing this morning. "When you go to deploy you want every soldier you can get," he said.

"We know that we are strained and stressed, but it's a highly capable force," the official said. The Army report contains 240 recommendations to get more counseling and mental health services to soldiers. "Just like (physical) fitness we're going to go after mental fitness," an Army official said.

Marijuana use is on the rise among soldiers, the report states, even as retention of multiple drug offenders continues. "3,000 soldiers are expected to test positive for the second or third time next year."

Watch David Martin's Report on Army Suicides Below

Add a Comment See all 19 Comments
by BeccaUSA August 5, 2010 12:10 PM EDT
BRING BACK THE DRAFT! That's the only way to stop these COWboys from advocating war. NONE of the "patriots" on my job have ever served one day in the military defending the country that they claim to be "THEIRS". They sit around and talk war all day, but are afraid to go and face America's so called "enemies" face to face. It's easy to talk tough and fight against other Americans right here at HOME. But, when it comes time to really put it on line for America, they'd rather run to Canada. I SERVED! My father SERVED! Two of my brothers SERVED! My oldest son just recently returned. Yet, we have to listen to cowards trying to convince everyone around us that "WE" needed to go to Iraq to kill a tyrant because of the evil that he does to HIS people (even though, ironically, most Americans hate his people). Yes, bring back the draft. Because unless these COWards are forced to face the "enemy" face to face (shaking in their boots) they'll continue to advoacate and justify war as an excuse to pick fights with everybody on the planet that disagrees with them....(but, just don't ask them to go and shed their blood for America). They'd rather stay at home and be a "Culture Warrior" and fight against my Culture than to go and fight against those plotting to inihilate this country. Their next excuse will be that they refuse to fight for America because of the "kind" of President currently in office. But, if you're over 21 and haven't served yet, then, you also refused to serve under the last president as well. If you're over 28 and haven't served, you refused to serve uner the last 3 presidents. If you're over 36 and haven't served, you've refused to serve under at least 4 past presidents. So, what will it take to get these "patriots" to stand up and fight for America? BRING BACK THE DRAFT. Then, I bet they'll all run ye-hawing for "Peace!" I'd say, If you wont fight for America, you shouldn't have the right to VOTE in America!
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by rwsmith29456 July 29, 2010 9:34 PM EDT
It's obvious that we can't stay over there.
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by shylove2 July 29, 2010 8:59 PM EDT
The only solution is to not have wars that are not necessay, that are without meaning or relevancy... Inhumanity is war and force and dominance and submission... you don't ask envolvement in that frivolously... and just by asking that of soldier does not automatically make it so... the military has a job and they try to dehumanize it to make it bearable but it cannot be done... war is a limited paradigm for solving world problems and inevitably creates causes and conditions for future wars in the best of circumstances.... it should not be a tool of national strategic interests!!! Supporting the soldiers is getting them out...
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by rafaeldrc July 29, 2010 8:20 PM EDT
The first 18 years of a young person's life are spent teaching them the value of life, as in, the error in killing ones fellow human. Witnessing societies reaction to murderers on death row, it comes to no surprise that in ten weeks of Basic Training to reverse those values, an internal psychological strain begins to build. Inject that soldier onto the front line of battle and bloody their psyche with their first kill and a cataclysmic set of events begin to swirl. First, one tries to justify it by saying they had no choice - better he than me. Then surround yourself with like-minded fellows to re-enforce the notion that no one can understand this situation except those who are going through it - waist deep. But no matter where you go, you take yourself and your conscience can only be silenced for so long and when it speaks, it whispers the very teachings you heard as a child ? that it is wrong to kill.

If you force that individual to live this inconsistency day in - year out, over and over again... they will snap! And when they do, neither country nor family will be able to call them to their senses because the call to duty has scrambled their very essence and the only solution is ending the pain and the shame that they carry within themselves. Honor becomes something else.

War is horror. No one emerges from it the way they entered. Some silence the whispers by ending their lives.
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by sgalbright July 29, 2010 7:02 PM EDT
I would love to talk to any of the reporters on this subject. My husband served 3 tours in Iraq, now has profound PTSD and almost killed himself. I can tell you exactly why and how this happens and what needs to be done to prevent this from continuing. Would love to "blow the whistle" on the WTU's of this country.
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by harriet0352 July 29, 2010 8:20 PM EDT
I'll join you. I'll be blowing the whistle on the Marine Corps WWBN's. This article is full of garbage!
by longtree-2009 July 29, 2010 6:14 PM EDT
they are all volunteers so difficult to feel too much empathy for any of them. would like to see the draft start up again, for males and females, but with no exemptions for anyone. our military should be a citizen military of all citizens not just some volunteers.
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by stn_sage July 29, 2010 6:33 PM EDT
I'm shocked you feel that way! Volunteers or not, I think they volunteered with the understanding that the situation reflected 'case A', and got in and then were presented the REAL situation which was 'case B'!
So, they are very real victims of a case of 'bait and switch'!
I think there is reason to feel sorry for them!
by harriet0352 July 29, 2010 8:25 PM EDT
If the draft is reinstated, I hope you are the first one called up longtree-2009. Why would you feel more empathy for one who was forced to serve rather than one who volunteered to serve? They volunteered to protect YOUR freedoms. You obviously do not have a family member who has sacrificed for this nation. What a selfish society we have become.
by kenhamlett July 29, 2010 5:58 PM EDT
"For some, the rigors of service, repeated deployment, injuries and separations from family resulted in a sense of isolation, hopelessness and life fatigue,"

This is true but how does this reconcile with the statement "blaming "a permissive unit environment"" since they would be two separate problems.

Repeated deployment, along with the common practice of keeping many soldiers drugged to keep them working is a likely cause of suicide but I don't see what suicide has to do with being a sad sack soldier. The problem soldiers were always a problem and nothing changed so there is no stated correlation between being a screw-up and suicide.
Notice also that there is no mention of the true underlying cause. Common sense says that repeated stress would break down the soldiers but the military psychiatrists lied and said it was acceptable. The shrinks created the larger problem (realizing that a few people might suicide regardless of the service stresses)
I look forward to seeing the actual report to see if much of it bears any resemblance to reality.
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by run2jazz2 July 29, 2010 4:35 PM EDT
The life of a soldier today is much different when I enlisted in 1984. I was in the military during Desert Storm and my unit deployed to Panama.

It is a TOUGH job, but it needs to be shared by those in this country who believe in its values and this should be all who partake in its liberties. Reenacting the draft is tough with the culture of young people today, but ALL need to understand that the stain of multiple deployments is tough.

When soldiers come home it is not like they get a whole year off to R&R as there are readiness drills and deployments within the US to make sure they keep their edge. Americans need to realize this and understand that this will continue until ALl share in the sacrifice as placing a ribbon around a tree and a bumpersticker on your car is not enough!
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by jsf14 July 29, 2010 3:16 PM EDT
Is the incidence of suicide and attempted suicide higher among those admitted with waivers? With waivers for particular problems (for drugs, or for criminal conviction or for lack of education ...)? For those who serve with people who enlisted with waivers or with particular sorts of waivers? I'd find it interesting if, for example, there were more suicide attempts in squads in which "former" drug users served.
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by deohgee July 29, 2010 2:59 PM EDT
"For some, the rigors of service, repeated deployment, injuries and separations from family resulted in a sense of isolation, hopelessness and life fatigue," Army Vice Chief of Staff Peter Chiarelli says in a letter accompanying the report.

Well, no ****! How long did it take to find this out?
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