Mutiple Deployments To Iraq Breaking Our Military
In 2004 12% of Iraqi veterans were reported to have PTSD. In 2006 it was reported that up to one third of veterans now suffer from PTSD. Now over one-third of our troops suffer from PTSD or brain injury.
A new study updates the percent of troops suffering from PTSD. The study found that "38 percent of soldiers and 31 percent of Marines report psychological concerns such as traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from deployment."
The PTSD rate among National Guard is a shocking 49 percent.
Keep in mind that the risk of PTSD rises in direct proportion to the number of fire fights that a soldier experiences. Multiple deployments has caused both a rise in the numbers of soldiers suffering from PTSD and aggravates the severity of PTSD from those already suffering from it. Unfortunately our military does not have the staff or the money for mental health care to meet the needs of these soldiers.
In Iraq Bush is in a pickle. He needs to use multiple deployments to have the manpower needed to fight his war. Advocating a draft would be political suicide. However, mulitple deployments is resulting in a spike in PTSD which is rapidly destroying our military. Bush keeps going to the well by relying on multiple deployments but there will come a time when that well will dry up because too many troops will be suffering from PTSD. Because of Bush a future President may not have the manpower to take military action even if it is justified and necessary.
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