16 troops commit suicide it Iraq

[Skitzer]

Originally posted by: GTKeeper

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: GTKeeper
I think this is going to bring up the very valid point of the TERRIBLE mental stress that our service men go through.

One of my friend's brothers is a helicopter pilot for the air force. He is going to Iraq for the 6th time now (not all 12 month deployements) and he used to be SOOOOOO gun ho for the military and now you can tell that his mentality has changed and he is seriously questioning 'why are even there still'. He has 3 little children and I can't imagine the stress this puts on his family.

I think our government in all overlooks how deeply the mental impacts of warfare go. Ask any service guy out there that has been on multiple tours... how troop morale is affected, it certainly opened my eyes.

How come he hasn't got out then?

We've been in Iraq for 5+ years now, most enlistments are much shorter than that and I am sure he has had the chance to leave since the war started.

BTW I am sure I can find lots of stories about guys in the military who are proud they served and are happy about how many people they have been able to help.

He enlisted for 10 years, thats why, but being sent over 6 times is a lot. I am sure there are TONS of stories out there with happy soldiers. The 5 that I know personally that went (1 was killed) do not share much happiness about the war.

I didn't know you could "enlist" in the military for 10 years ....... I was in the Navy for 22 years and as far as I know Commissioned Officers can submit their resignations any time they want (pending approval of course), after they have fulfilled their initial obligated service which is usually 6 years. Officers don't enlist, enlisted men do and their enlistments range from 3 to 6 years and no more.
I'm not flaming or doubting your statements, I'm just curious as how he enlisted for 10 years.

 

[GTKeeper]

Originally posted by: Skitzer

Originally posted by: GTKeeper

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: GTKeeper
I think this is going to bring up the very valid point of the TERRIBLE mental stress that our service men go through.

One of my friend's brothers is a helicopter pilot for the air force. He is going to Iraq for the 6th time now (not all 12 month deployements) and he used to be SOOOOOO gun ho for the military and now you can tell that his mentality has changed and he is seriously questioning 'why are even there still'. He has 3 little children and I can't imagine the stress this puts on his family.

I think our government in all overlooks how deeply the mental impacts of warfare go. Ask any service guy out there that has been on multiple tours... how troop morale is affected, it certainly opened my eyes.

How come he hasn't got out then?

We've been in Iraq for 5+ years now, most enlistments are much shorter than that and I am sure he has had the chance to leave since the war started.

BTW I am sure I can find lots of stories about guys in the military who are proud they served and are happy about how many people they have been able to help.

He enlisted for 10 years, thats why, but being sent over 6 times is a lot. I am sure there are TONS of stories out there with happy soldiers. The 5 that I know personally that went (1 was killed) do not share much happiness about the war.

I didn't know you could "enlist" in the military for 10 years ....... I was in the Navy for 22 years and as far as I know Commissioned Officers can submit their resignations any time they want (pending approval of course), after they have fulfilled their initial obligated service which is usually 6 years. Officers don't enlist, enlisted men do and their enlistments range from 3 to 6 years and no more.
I'm not flaming or doubting your statements, I'm just curious as how he enlisted for 10 years.

He re-uped once. Corrected my statement.

 

[GrGr]

Smells like a propaganda 'story'. Group suicide.... Narcotics... dried up mummies...

 

[ultra laser]

Murdering civilians weighs down the conscience, to be sure. Suicide is only way out.

 

[351Cleveland]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong

Originally posted by: 351Cleveland

Originally posted by: Perry404

Source: PressTV

Few words. This is sad and horrific that I would cite an Iranian news source without some kind of independent verification from a new source NOT currently an enemy.

Fixed that for you.

Are you trying to imply that our country's government would never try to manipulate the news and not post something or that all other country's news services are liars unless we say so?

No. I can guarantee they have manipulated the news. What I am suggesting is that citing an Iranian source without confirmation outside of Iran on a story that would have been front page ANYWHERE else shows a lack of judgement or a willingness to spread propoganda. The OP took it for fact. It took ONE CLICK on their website to find out they were an Iranian "news" service.

Please, if I cited Fox News... well on ANYTHING... you would doubt it. Right or wrong, just pointing out that you are discriminatory in your sources. I wouldnt believe it coming from MSNBC without confirmation, so we are even. Here we have a propoganda tool of our enemies, and the OP swallowed it hook, line, and sinker without so much as a second source (that doesnt reference the first).

That is all I am saying. This COULD be true, but posting it as if it WAS true is just stupid, given the source. Sorry if that offends.

 

[351Cleveland]

Originally posted by: GTKeeper
I think this is going to bring up the very valid point of the TERRIBLE mental stress that our service men go through.

One of my friend's brothers is a helicopter pilot for the air force. He is going to Iraq for the 6th time now (not all 12 month deployements) and he used to be SOOOOOO gun ho for the military and now you can tell that his mentality has changed and he is seriously questioning 'why are even there still'. He has 3 little children and I can't imagine the stress this puts on his family.

I think our government in all overlooks how deeply the mental impacts of warfare go. Ask any service guy out there that has been on multiple tours... how troop morale is affected, it certainly opened my eyes.

This is why the media is not to be trusted. A FALSE story brings up legitimiate issues? Seriously? We can lie, but as long as it leads to talking points for either political party, then it was a justified lie? I do not agree or disagree with your point on troop stress... that isnt what I am getting at. What I am getting at is the press LIES to promote and agenda... and in this case, it was gobbled up by those eager to prop up their political views regardless of the validity of the report.

 

[cwjerome]

Originally posted by: GTKeeper
I think this is going to bring up the very valid point of the TERRIBLE mental stress that our service men go through.

One of my friend's brothers is a helicopter pilot for the air force. He is going to Iraq for the 6th time now (not all 12 month deployements) and he used to be SOOOOOO gun ho for the military and now you can tell that his mentality has changed and he is seriously questioning 'why are even there still'. He has 3 little children and I can't imagine the stress this puts on his family.

I think our government in all overlooks how deeply the mental impacts of warfare go. Ask any service guy out there that has been on multiple tours... how troop morale is affected, it certainly opened my eyes.

I can't help but wonder why an Air Force guy would be on his 6th deployment unless there was some volunteering involved. Anyways.....

In my experience (on the Army Reserve side) people come back from deployment in two general categories: Either they come back knowing the Army is not for them and try and get out as soon as possible or they become even more Army "hooah" and look to get on another deployement as soon as possible.

Nothing wrong with either. In all honesty though, 400 day mobilizations for reserve Soldiers is too much to ask... it's just too long for our citizen warriors. I think if the USAR went to 8-10 month mobs things would be a hell of a lot better.

 

[lupi]

Disregarding the attempted use of propoganda, the official army stats are 115 for last year, an all time high with 62 this year and 31 more being investigated as such. That is service wide and not just in one local.

 

[RightIsWrong]

Originally posted by: 351Cleveland

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong

Originally posted by: 351Cleveland

Originally posted by: Perry404

Source: PressTV

Few words. This is sad and horrific that I would cite an Iranian news source without some kind of independent verification from a new source NOT currently an enemy.

Fixed that for you.

Are you trying to imply that our country's government would never try to manipulate the news and not post something or that all other country's news services are liars unless we say so?

No. I can guarantee they have manipulated the news. What I am suggesting is that citing an Iranian source without confirmation outside of Iran on a story that would have been front page ANYWHERE else shows a lack of judgement or a willingness to spread propoganda. The OP took it for fact. It took ONE CLICK on their website to find out they were an Iranian "news" service.

Please, if I cited Fox News... well on ANYTHING... you would doubt it. Right or wrong, just pointing out that you are discriminatory in your sources. I wouldnt believe it coming from MSNBC without confirmation, so we are even. Here we have a propoganda tool of our enemies, and the OP swallowed it hook, line, and sinker without so much as a second source (that doesnt reference the first).

That is all I am saying. This COULD be true, but posting it as if it WAS true is just stupid, given the source. Sorry if that offends.

You didn't offend. Thanks for the clarification. We both agree on this 100%.

 

[palehorse]

Suicide, depression, and PTSD in the military are definitely serious and important issues that the entire military is taking seriously. Hell, I sat threw a PTSD/TBI awareness briefing this morning!! The Army is also requiring frequent post-deployment surveys, counseling, etc; all in an effort to discover and properly react to these serious issues.

However, that said, the story in the OP is 100% grade-A bullshit; and Perry404 is a douche for presenting it as fact...

ps: cwjerome, I'm with you on the current 400-day req... it's too damn long for most of our citizen soldiers.