US soldier suicides hit a sad milestone in 2012, outpacing combat deaths as the leading cause of death for American troops.

The tragic number of soldier suicides comes from the Department of the Army, and seem to continue last year’s trend of increasing soldier suicides in US military personnel.

According to data reviewed by CBS, 303 active-duty, Reserve and National Guard soldiers took their own lives through November in the US, versus 212 combat deaths recorded in Afghanistan.

Due the the often-unclear nature of self-inflicted mortal injury, the data reviewed is not entirely clear on precise numbers — but CBS says:

“The Army set a grim new record of 177 potential active-duty cases with 2012 coming to a close on Tuesday – 64 of these cases remain under investigation, 113 have been confirmed.”

In 2011, a record number of soldier suicides were observed as well, and in June, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta addressed the worrying trend and indicated that some of the issues troops face upon their return could be mitigating factors in the increase in suicide:

” … we’re dealing with broader societal issues … Substance abuse, financial distress and relationship problems — the risk factors for suicide — also reflect problems … that will endure beyond war

According to the military-centric site, soldier suicides increased in 2012 despite increased awareness of the growing issue

No new news here, welcome to war! this is most outcomes of war. Majority of people kill themselves for a pathetic idea of what they are told their country is.

Maybe if the government stops experimenting on them to create their "super soldier" then they'll stop killing themselves.

This is what happens when good men and women are suckered into signing their lives away, and later realizing that who they signed their lives away too are pure evil who couldnt give any less of a damn about them than they already do now. Not that war is not bad enough to cause suicide, but figuring out youve been duped and have potentially murdered for the benefit of a few wicked individuals, and not for the well being of your country as you were lyingly told, that is a tremendous burden for a good heart to bear.

Drugs, alcohol, a wrecked personality for life, severe depression, and suicide are some natural responses for good hearts to having caused unnecessary death and destruction (directly or indirectly), but knowing youve done so under false pretenses amplifies the burden drastically beyond what would be "normal".

This is a result of fighting a war against an ideology and not a country.

It never ends.

You can conquer a country. Take their flag. Occupy a nation.

But how do you "occupy" an ideology? A thought process? How do you occupy a cultural mindset?

A book I would recommend.

"The Forever War". by Joe Haldeman. It was written in 1974, but is still VERY relevant today.

while setting my opinions on soldiers aside, could this be a part of tptb plan? kinda like american made cars , after so long they pretty much self destruct , so ya have to by a new one. how many less soldiers will have to be treated for the after effects on what they have done and gone through? how many less stories on homeless veterans will the gov have to ignore or pretend they are are trying to solve?

Originally posted by stupid girl
Maybe if the government stops experimenting on them to create their "super soldier" then they'll stop killing themselves.

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

Combat stress, multiple deployments between PCS, financial issues, relationship problems. These things stack up. Being in the military isn't for everybody. Alot of the people in today were pushed through for the war effort in Iraq and the ramp up in Afghanistan. It takes a certain kind of person to be able to balance military life with every other aspect of life. Most people can't do that.

I'm in the Army. I see these things. I know why it happens. The fact that paranoid people believe this is a result of some kind of Hollywood plot experiment cheapens the lives lost.

Well thats kind of ironic. You enlist knowing you COULD be killed in combat and then kill yourself because it sucks. Whats the % there, like .3%? Isn't much higher than the average national percentage I don't think.

Here is what I don't get.. Why would ANYONE have enlisted in the passed 8 years? Anyone with 1/2 a brain can see the wars we are in have nothing to do with protecting the country anymore. Maybe 303 people found out they would soon be fighting & detaining the very people they are suppose to be protecting and after hearing the news couldn't hack it.

figuring out you've been duped and have potentially murdered for the benefit of a few wicked individuals, and not for the well being of your country

I tend to think this is the reason for the high suicide, though the army is rough at any time. If you figure out that you're fighting for imperialism and/or corporate profits, instead of protecting America that could be very damaging to people who've always believed that America is virtuous.

my cousin just recently joined the national guard and he told me that they injected him with something to take the feeling go away from the heels of his feet. what is that all about?