The Navy Times website reported on December 28 that a Defense Department survey of service members for 2008 showed a higher attempted-suicide rate in the U.S. Navy than any other branch of the armed forces.

Sailors attempted suicide at a rate of 2.8 percent, or approximately one out of every 35 sailors. This rate is three times higher than that recorded by the last survey in 2005.

In comparison, the next highest attempted-suicide rate was found in the Marine Corps at 2.3 percent. The Army rate followed at 2 percent, and the Air Force rate came in the lowest at 1.6 percent.

The 2008 Department of Defense Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Active Duty Military Personnel included responses from 28,546 service members. They were randomly selected from all branches of service, including the Coast Guard, and represent a mix of men and women of different ages, races, and ranks.

The survey findings show an increase in illegal prescription drug use across the military branches and “dangerous levels” of drinking. The frequency and length of combat deployment “is no doubt playing a part in the stress levels that we’re seeing,” said Jack Smith, acting deputy assistant secretary for clinical and program policy for the assistant defense secretary for health. “It’s a challenging environment.” Smith indicated that since Marines and soldiers are more likely to face close combat, they are exhibiting higher rates of stress-related activities.

Illicit drugs, including prescription drugs such as muscle relaxants and painkillers, were used by 28 percent of service members in 1980, but that dropped to 3 percent in 2002. By 2008, such drug use had risen to 12 percent.

The reason for this may be that many of those who have been injured have found it difficult to get off their medication; they may still be experiencing pain or may have become addicted. Illegal drug use outside of prescription medication was at 2 percent in 2008.

 “I think that we’re still trying to determine the meaning of this,” Smith stated. “It’s the first time we’ve drilled down on that as a major issue.”

According to the survey, 18 percent of service members reported major family stress, 23 percent said they were stressed by being separated from their families, and 27 percent noted high levels of stress in their work.

About 42 percent of respondents reported physical or sexual abuse, with 8 percent saying the abuse had occurred since joining the military. “I think certainly it’s high,” Smith said. “I think we’re disturbed by those results.”

Almost 50 percent of female Marines and sailors, and 43 percent of female soldiers, reported feeling stress simply because they are women in the military. Robert Bray, the survey’s chief investigator, noted that this could be due to being a single mother or to leaving behind children at home while they are deployed abroad.

“I think the survey results speak for themselves,” declared Bray. “Being one of a minority in a largely male force — particularly in a deployed force — is something we need to be aware of and give some attention to.”

It is also time to give some attention to the stress of perpetual war, to fighting in foreign lands with no end in sight. This is certainly taking its toll on America’s fighting forces. Our Founding Fathers warned of the dangers of foreign entanglements and of going abroad in search of monsters to destroy.

The men and women in the U.S. military are bravely answering their country’s call to the very best of their ability, but it is time now to call them back home to America.

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F all politicians said:

... I seriously doubt "illicit drugs" were ever as low as 3% in the Navy. Let me tell you, I was in there, and maybe if they didn't intentionally make it suck worse ALL THE TIME, maybe they'd have a higher morale. Instead the just play head games all the time, with small-minded morons calling the shots and believe me these are orders you don't want to follow. They constantly come up with busy work just to remind you that you're their slave. I bet the sexual abuse which occurs is the same s**t - morons who because they served an extra year than you and have a higher rank can totally ruin youre life just because they feel like it. Thats likely how these occur. The military was like a bad joke, when I got out I burned everything and I have been against this corrupt government ever since. The s**t we did in there didn't even make the news, how many such terrible incidents happen and nobody knows. Freedom and "democracy" my @$$ I know, lets stop all the illegal wars and empire building, that will certainly help. But thats not an option is it, AmeriKKKa?

December 31, 2009

merek mura said:

... The Navy has always been the least democratic of the 5 branches of military service .Perhaps this ancient piece of naval doggeral can cast some light . "Oh cabin boy oh cabin boy, You dirty little ripper, you lined your @ss with broken glass and curcumsized the skipper!" The life of "Sea Pigs" has always been difficult and their electronic and technical duty stresses those who have not received a longer and more trying basic training to prepare them for the pressures of sea duty.the Navy Department should look to the Army training for examples of proper preparations.There is an invisible wall between officer and enlisted with their white glove galleys that are a throw back to 17th century, Army officers eat after their troops and sit in the mud to eat beside them. The Navy could learn a great deal about leadership and battle preparation from the Army techniques. it was my experience that those who signed with the Navy were perhaps avoiding the more difficult and dangerous service ,This alone could account for a less tough or hardned sailor, look to the Seals for techniques, they are the "tough Swabs for sure.

December 31, 2009

John P. Jones said:

... Let me tell you, I was in there, and maybe if they didn't intentionally make it suck worse ALL THE TIME, maybe they'd have a higher morale. ******** The guy who made the above comment is right on. All I wanted, as a kid, was to become a naval officer. I reached my goal, and, wow, was I shocked at the prison-warden mentality of many in the wardroom. Making the men as miserable as possible was considered a good thing. I'm not kidding about that. We had a lot of smart and highly motivated sailors, but they got out. Ditto for the officers who weren't born and bred sadists, they got out as well, and anyone who was a Lt. Cdr. (O-4) or above had generally bought into the cult of intentional misery. Mothers and fathers all over the nation entrusted us with their sons (the Navy wasn't entirely co-ed back then), and these kids were frequently used and abused, simply squeezed like lemons (figuratively), and then the empty husk cast back into the real world. Being at sea is never fun (for me, at least), but 90 percent of the misery isn't an intrinsic part of the job, but is, rather, intentionally inflicted by the command.

December 31, 2009