Put this in the 'no shit' column . . . Study: US Troops Stressed by Iraq Deployments

[bigtree]

problem with their 'study' is that they can't see their way to recommending we stand down from these repeated, extended deployments. They just want a larger military to play with . . .


Washington
07 May 2007

The United States Department of Defense released Friday the results of a survey on the mental health and well being of the troops deployed in Iraq. Producer Zulima Palacio has the details. The story is narrated by Mil Arcega.

The study found that long and repeated deployments in Iraq are increasing the mental health problems of U.S. troops. The survey, conducted by the Mental Health Advisory Team from the United Stated Department of Defense, is the fourth since the war began in 2003. The report's multiple findings were presented Friday at the Pentagon by the Army's Acting Surgeon General Gale Pollock and a team of experts.

"Not all soldiers and marines deployed to Iraq are at equal risk for screening positive for a mental health symptom,” said the general. “The level of combat is the main determinant of a soldier's or a marine's mental health status."

The study involved more than 1300 soldiers and 450 Marines primarily in units with the highest levels of combat exposure and stress. The issues ranged from battlefield ethics, to torture, suicide and family concerns.And most of the findings pointed to post traumatic stress disorder, high levels of anxiety, and depression.

General Pollock said, "Multiple deployers reported higher acute stress than first time deployers, and deployment length was related to higher rates of mental health concerns and marital problems. Marital concerns were higher than in previous surveys and these concerns were related to the deployment lengths.

The study also found that soldiers experience mental health problems at a higher rate than Marines. General Pollock believes that is because Army deployments are several months longer than those of Marines. The researchers went on to say that time at home is important to the mental recovery of the troops.

There is concern among some mental health professionals that President Bush's plans to extend the deployment of soldiers in Iraq could lead to even greater mental health problems for members of the military. General Pollock addressed this issue, echoing calls by Army Chief of Staff George Casey for a larger force. "That the Army is spread very thin and we needed to be a larger force for the number of missions that we were being ask to address for our nation."

The report also examined battlefield ethics, something the three previous studies did not focus on. The study group issued a series of recommendations relating to ethics as well as suicide prevention and behavioral health awareness.

VOA report: http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-05-07-voa35.cfm

[Stargazer99]

1. Republican fruits

What was it the greatest Master said to the man who asked him "Who do I believe?" Christ's response was by their fruits you will know them. How many lies, corruption, greed must this administration spew forth before Joe Six Pac get a belly full?

[TygrBright]

2. Woah!! REALLY?? Who could possibly have predicted THAT?!? n/t

[ismnotwasm]

3. Oh Good God

They needed a study for that?

I may go to a seminar on increased cancer rates in Iraqi children. NOT a conspiracy theory.

When/if the same thing happens to our soldiers (if it's not already)They'll deny it has anything to do with their deployment. Fuckers.

[bdamomma]

4. this sickening regime we have our slowly killing our forces.

they don't care Cheney has said it all in his comments


We didn’t get elected to be popular. We didn’t get elected to worry just about the fate of the Republican Party. Our mission is to do everything we can to prevail on what is now, we believe, a global conflict, a fundamental test of the character of the American people, whether or not we’re going to be able to prevail against one of the most evil opponents we’ve ever faced. And on our watch, we’re going to do absolutely everything we can to see to it that we do succeed and that we do prevail in that conflict, and sometimes that means that we don’t do well in the polls or people want to be critical. That’s their prerogative. But we sit there every morning and read the intelligence reports in the Oval Office and we know what’s happening out there. We know how committed our adversaries are to try to get at us. And we’ve done what we thought was right for the country.

" a fundamental test for the American people" ok Dr. Strangelove, you can take your fundamental test and shove it!!!!!!!!!!