|
Post by eileen on Feb 5, 2009 16:19:27 GMT -5
The big monthly count follows an annual report last week showing that soldiers killed themselves at the highest rate on record in 2008. The toll for all of last year — 128 confirmed and 15 pending investigation — was an increase for the fourth straight year and even surpassed the suicide rate among civilians. For the whole story. news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090205/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/army_suicidesThis story needs more media air time, more government notice, more pissed off mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and friends. My son-in-law missed being "stop lost" by two day. Most of his other fellows who just got back from Iraq with him were not that lucky. They will get their 12 month rest and then will be sent back out to Afghanistan or Iraq or whatever hot spot there will be then. On average they are having 2years added to their enlistment. This is a poor mans draft. It is wrong, and our soldiers, sailors, airman and Marines are paying the high price. The Army seems to be paying the highest price so far. Please write whatever media outlet you frequent, write your Senators and Congressmen. Ask them what they are doing to help. It doesn't matter what side of the war you are on, soldiers dying alone because they have lost all hope should shake up everyone of you. Please make a stink about this in any way you can. Eileen
|
|
|
Post by tara on Feb 5, 2009 19:29:16 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Organized Chaos on Feb 8, 2009 15:38:36 GMT -5
They are not pulling people form the civilian sector forcing them to serve in the military. They are using soldiers who signed their names on the line, knowing the risks & duties of a soldier. Many of which did so AFTER 9/11 knowing full well what they were getting into. If there were a draft, they would have more soldiers to rotate, lessening the need to deploy the same ones over & over. But I wouldn't want to be next to someone who's supposed to have my back but doesn't want to be there because they're bitter for being drafted.
Is it a good thing soldiers have to spend so much time away? No way. I know it sucks. But in many cases they come home and WANT to go back. They feel the need to return to help their brothers in arms. That's the mark of a true soldier. That side of it isn't reported too often. It should be.
Where I was stationed, we deployed solely to Saudi Arabia. If you were lucky, you would only have to go once/year but more often than not you had to go twice. That's 8 out of 12 months you're in the desert. And 4 month rotations were only the "official" TDY length. Many times it was longer. One time I spent close to 6 months on one deployment because of an error made in D.C. No it wasn't a war zone, but it wasn't Disney World either. My point is, longer than normal deployments and being overseas more than at your normal duty station is the norm, even during times of peace.
Something the media needs to cover more is the words & thoughts of the soldiers. Why don't they? Because a majority of them don't reflect the media's bias.
|
|
|
Post by Connie on Feb 8, 2009 18:20:28 GMT -5
You make a good point OC.. having many friends in the Military.. Many of them DO want to go back and feel they have a responsibility to see the job finished.
However, there IS a high suicide rate among some of the soldiers who have been there or are there.. it was the same during Desert Storm.. We really need to address WHY that is.
|
|
|
Post by eileen on Feb 26, 2009 17:32:13 GMT -5
Some notice is being taken. There is a congressional panel looking into it. It is getting more attention form the legit media. I understand the new Sec of Veterans affairs has put that and VA reforms at the top of his list. As the suicide rate is at the highest rate since they started keeping track of this type of thing. I am just glad folks are listening and hopefully trying to do something about it. Eileen
|
|