Army Introduces New Measures to Stem Suicides

(NEWSER) - As many as 24 US Army soldiers took their own lives in January, an enormous rise over previous years, the Army Times reports. The deaths of seven soldiers have been confirmed as suicides, while 17 pending cases will likely get the same designation, the AP reports. If that happens, the death toll from suicide will surpass that of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan for January. More»

Repeat deployments prompt record levels of suicide, depression

(NEWSER) - Fort Hood has had more suicides than any other US Army facility since the start of the Iraq war, and while Nidal Hasan, the man officials say is responsible for yesterday's massacre, likely had unique motivations, he was perhaps only the most troubled member of a volunteer force buckling under the strain of repeated deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Ten soldiers have killed themselves at Fort Hood this year alone. More»

(NEWSER) - Top Army brass are meeting monthly to figure out the disturbing rise in soldier suicides, the Washington Post reports. The generals pore through case studies and examine factors such as solitude, multiple tours of duty, and interactions between anti-depressants and high-caffeine drinks like Rip It popular among soldiers. “It's the most gut-wrenching meeting I go to,” said Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli. The number of Army suicides rose to 140 last year, up 60% since 2003. More»

99 active-duty soldiers took their own lives in 2006

(NEWSER) - American soldiers are killing themselves at the highest rate since the Persian Gulf War, the AP reports. Statistics out today show 99 active-duty soldiers committed suicide in 2006, both the highest single number and the highest rate per deployed since 1991. The problem was worst in Iraq, the most common deployment location for attempts and suicides. More»

Staff Sgt. Ahmed Kousay al-Taie was kidnapped at gunpoint

(NEWSER) - The US military has identified the remains of America's last service member missing in Iraq—an Army interpreter who was kidnapped at gunpoint in 2006, the AP reports. Staff Sgt. Ahmed Kousay al-Taie, a native of Iraq who lived in Michigan, had sneaked off base by motorcycle to visit his Iraqi wife. Today the Army said his remains had been positively identified at the military mortuary in Dover, Delaware. But officials released no other information about his death or the finding of his remains. More»