Blswh

English 003- Reading Strategies

18 November 2013

Title: “Army Suicide Rate Likely to Remain High”

Topic: Suicide Rate in the Army is likely to remain high.

Thesis: Today, also in the past, many soldiers are at high risk of either committing suicide, or suffering some sort of mental illness. Inadequate rest and less time at home are some of many reasons why soldiers today cannot cope with the war and in effect, commit saddening actions.

Headings for Notes | Key Facts, Ideas, Concepts, Evidence |

Statistics | During the first half of 2009, more American soldiers committed suicide than were killed in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.In June 2010, an average 1 soldier per day committed suicide.According to CBS news, 120 veterans commit suicide each week; this is double the rate of non-veterans.Since 2002, half the veterans checking in to a VA needed mental health care.Mark Benjamin commented on the suicide spike among soldiers in April of 2011, noting that the number of suicides was equal to about half the deaths in Afghanistan during that same time period. |

What PTSD has done to our ranks in the past | In Europe and Africa during WWII, the proportion of mental traumas among all casualties was close to 1 in 4. One mental health case for every three blood wounds. At first, proportions were roughly 1 mental trauma per 10 wounded. |

Then and Now | In WWII and Korea there was a front line and combat units were rotated up and back as needed to allow the meant to rest and refit. In Iraq and Afghanistan today, there is no front line. Every step out the front gate is a combat patrol; there is no rest. In Vietnam our troops served one-year tours and then went home. The combat tour was tough- but when it ended, it ended. For our troops today, there is no end in sight. We are fighting two, or even three wars. Soldiers are going to war two and three times, some even more. Also today, soldiers do not get sufficient time between rotations. Dwell time, which is the...