US Military Suicides Out Number Soldiers Killed By Enemy Fire For 2009

Hmmm....I wonder why the suicide rate is so high......after all, these brave men and women are over there protecting our freedoms from 'the boogie man.'

Why would a proud Patriot take their own life??

Maybe the guilt of slaughtering over a million innocent people is finally getting to them....

Maybe I'm beginning to see that the military grunts are human after all..

Originally posted by rainfall
Hmmm....I wonder why the suicide rate is so high......after all, these brave men and women are over there protecting our freedoms from 'the boogie man.'

I do agree the WAR is not one that we NEED to be fighting, but I truly hope your not being a sarcastic BLANK by saying "these brave men and women"? Regardless of the scumbags in DC, these troops should always be supported by their countrymen...

Why would a proud Patriot take their own life??

Because society has changed. Which means the maturity and mindset of soldiers has changed. If you look at the statistics of those who have killed themselves, the majority have less than 2 years of service. The mental strength it takes to serve in combat, far exceeds what your normal citizen could ever endure.

These days kids are raised on video games and truly believe that REAL combat will be like Call of Duty 4! That when wounded you just run to the nearest first aid kit and boom, your healed. They think that their buddy who gets shot will only be dead until the game is over then he can come back to life for round two. Just watch young adults play a "WAR" game on Xbox or PS3 and listen to them, see how they act...its scary how many truly believe that THIS (sitting in your living room) is close to real combat.

Then you have the new college money age of soldiers. Those willing to sign to learn a trade, travel a bit, and at the end of that rainbow sits $30, $40, $50 thousand bucks in college tuition money. They don't sign to serve, they don't sign for honor and duty, they sign because the government has made college damn near impossible for your average joe. Now as much as this is the fault of or government, it is definitly the fault of a young adult who thinks they can serve 4 years, get the cash, and run, without having to be put in harms way at some point.

Things like this is why they are committing suicide! They are not mentally prepared for REALITY. Talk to a 18, 19, or 20 year old young adult these days and you will see, they are NO WHERE near as mature and ready for the evils of this world as they were 20 or 30 years ago.

Maybe the guilt of slaughtering over a million innocent people is finally getting to them....

This could be some of it. Just like my two points above, nothing prepares them for the REALITY of WAR. Killing in a game is NOT like killing for real. As for your estimate of 1 million people being killed by the U.S. and allied forces...you may wanna do some research. The retards blowing themselves up, blowing up cars, and killing their own kind account for quite a bit of that million.

Maybe I'm beginning to see that the military grunts are human after all..

Again that you imply soldiers are grunts and NOT human makes you look like a complete FILL IN BLANK HERE!

Let's not forget....they are fighting for our freedom...

reply to post by rainfall


So the actions of a few bad apples out weigh everything else. One could post as many videos of my soldiers doing just as much good. Propoganda at its best. Funny how eveeryday people pop up here to insult our troops and our country. Ah well, at least people like our troops give people like you the freedoms you enjoy, like the freedom to commit sedition, with out fear of prosecution due to our liberally biased media.

reply to post by rainfall


The suicide rate is up because these brave man and women are not protecting our freedoms from any threat. they are fighting a war for someones political gain and they know it.

The Afghanistan situation is a civil war we should not be involved in at all.
There is no threat to the USA coming out of Afghanistan. These people signed up to defend this country should the need arise, not fight somebody elses war. That is why they are so depressed.

Originally posted by rainfall
Hmmm....I wonder why the suicide rate is so high......after all, these brave men and women are over there protecting our freedoms from 'the boogie man.'

Why would a proud Patriot take their own life??

Must be really easy, passing judgement on people who have experienced so much more than you have, or ever will. How's the view on your high horse?

Ever been in combat before? Nah, I didn't think so.

Originally posted by rainfall
Maybe the guilt of slaughtering over a million innocent people is finally getting to them....

Oh, yes, the old, "The US military has killed millions of innocents!!" Guess the insurgents haven't killed any, have they?

Originally posted by rainfall
Maybe I'm beginning to see that the military grunts are human after all..

They always have been human.

Originally posted by JohnPhoenix
The suicide rate is up because these brave man and women are not protecting our freedoms from any threat. they are fighting a war for someones political gain and they know it.

And just who's "political gain" are they fighting for?

Originally posted by JohnPhoenix
The Afghanistan situation is a civil war we should not be involved in at all.
There is no threat to the USA coming out of Afghanistan. These people signed up to defend this country should the need arise, not fight somebody elses war.

A civil war? Really? Well, that's an interesting take on things.

Originally posted by JohnPhoenix
That is why they are so depressed.

Nah, troops are depressed because the gutless wonders in DC won't allow them to win. Remember, Obama said it's not a war anymore, it's "Overseas Contingency Operations". Can't call it a war, since you're suppose to win those.

A civil war? Really?

Yes, always have been human, you inconsiderate monster...

Perhaps it is the less than minimum wage, constant stupidity of superiors, cheating spouses who drive the soldier into debt, constant medicine adjustments to treat depression caused from seeing buddies killed in horrible ways that triggers some of the suicides.

I have deliberately stayed away from making a topic out of this subject, because it is personal. I've mentioned this fact to a few, but it is reality.

You people who have never served let alone deployed, will NEVER understand.

Not every one is cut out for the military, those who make it in who are not, find the lifestyle isn't what they expected or wanted.

It is a completely different world, than what is portrayed to the civilians, even those families of the soldiers in "Rear D", see a different side of the military life.

A side of life that, no one who doesn't wear the uniform will ever know.

never...

And let's not forget how brave they are....

reply to post by ADVISOR


Amen. I bet people like the OP just sit around trying to come up with things they know will be controversial. That way the next day when they lkeave their parents basement and go see the next sci fi flick or Michael Moore book signing, with their buddies they can talk about how they burned this stupid guy on the board last night. Pisses me off, but people like this really should be ignored. If you let him get to you he's winning.

[edit on 18-12-2009 by adifferentbreed] Even more embarrassing, this one's from my home state, and if it's truely central Florida, not that far away.

[edit on 18-12-2009 by adifferentbreed]

reply to post by rainfall
First, watched the video, says in the beginning British troops. Second nice propoganda, but I didn't see anyone get shot. Third, again, how many videos could we post of positive things the troops do.......just pasting liberal propoganda up to make a point proves nothing.

It is sad to hear that the suicide rate of our soldiers exceed that of those KIA. Obviously there is something wrong here. I have to agree with rcwj1975 that times have changed and the maturaty of these young adults have not reached the level to withstand the psycholgy involved in rationaly taking the life of another HUMAN being. Of course there are exceptions and they understand that it's pretty much kill or be killed, but by living in that mode of kill to survive... i am not suprised by the figures. Growin up as a military brat my father was stationed (at the time) on Pope AFB on Fort bragg and we would hear the stories on the news of these soldiers comin back from 'location classified' trying to adjust to life at home and suddenly lose it. (www.cbsnews.com...)
I wouldn't say i am pro-war, but i have a lot of respect for the men and women who are willing to kill to allow someone like me to live my life to the fullest. it truly is a gift



FYI: rcwj1975, there's no medpacks in Call of Duty 4







[edit on 18-12-2009 by H4W4II4N_PUNCH]

reply to post by rcwj1975

Nice post! If I could add anything I would, but you covered it all for me.

This generation of military and civilian (18 to 25) are the laziest generation ever. "The Gimme Generation" I have 3 of them and I taught them differently at home.

I can't find original very detailed article which I read in summer. They took seven cases of suicides/homicides committed by soldiers and investigated them. In all cases was reason ill treated PTSD. They blamed inner army mechanisms which should handle PTSD. Basically instead of proper therapeutic work they feed soldiers with tons of pills which often do just opposite. There are many articles on this theme so just google them with keyword "PTSD medication suicide".
One of the cases is depicted here.

I believe that most if not all of the suicide numbers, is because there is no 'military objective' in this "trumped up war on terrorism" that we all backed when 9/11 happened. Truth is starting to leak out that 9/11 was all about going into Afghanistan followed by Iraq and hopefully into Iran to establish a natural gas line feeding to the Caspian coast. The blood of our sons and daughters is shed once again to bring in more money to this ugly and corrupt bank run government. This is not a "war" , rather an orchestrated play. Al-Queida was created by the CIA ( how fast we forget) back when Afghanistan was invaded by USSR.

And let's not forget how thankful the people of Iraq and Afghanistan are to the 'liberators' of their Countries....

Great job troops...

You seem a bit bitter against military personnel. Perhaps some deep regressed anger issues are playing a part here. Maybe some childhood issues? Perhaps someone you dated/married has history with military personnel?

Take a lok deep inside, somewhere in your past there is a root for all this anger against your military.
I'm just sayin...

reply to post by rainfall
Again....Propoganda....you really need something more than posting 1 lame video after another, with one line "bitch" phrases. Seems you tag line is just that, a line, ultimately you would have to love our troops as well.

reply to post by ADVISOR
Explanation: In regards to the US paying its troops "less than minimum wage" I offer up the following as evidencial PROOF that your post is promoting ignorance on that issue alone....

usmilitary.about.com... Which has a chart that clearly shows that an E-1 w/less than 4 months earns $1,294.50 USD. [NOTE: This does NOT include bonuses such as Combat pay etc.]

Now compare that to this....

en.wikipedia.org...
So the Federal minimum wage in the US is currently $7.25 USD.

Now going by a LUNA month of 28days and assuming a 40hr work week [8hrs/day x 5days/week] those earning a minimum wage would earn $1160.00 USD per [luna] month AND this is clearly LESS than the amount earned above by an enlisted E-1 w/less than 4 months AND the job that earns them that minimum wage most likely comes with none of the other benifits and bonuses accorded to US military personel.

Personal Disclosure: RE: "You people who have never served let alone deployed, will NEVER understand." AND "A side of life that, no one who doesn't wear the uniform will ever know."! Both of these claims are Special Pleadings of an Appeal to Ridicule from a Deformation Proffessionelle POV!
I found both of these claims to be false under scrutiny and JUST off the top of my head I would offer up the soldiers matrimonial partners and the soldiers children as prima facie evidence to the contrary of the 1st claim, and I would offer up embedded journalists as prima facie evidence to the contrary of the 2nd claim! Care to refute?

P.S. [ON Topic!] RE:"Why would a proud Patriot take their own life??"
I'd take mine if I was a Patriot and I found out that there was no longer any thing to be validly Patriotic about!