Last night, Lt. Col Andrew Horne (ret), senior advisor for VoteVets.org, Professor Charles R. Figley, psychologist and expert on combat stress, and 1st Lt Pete Hegseth, exec director for VetsforFreedom.org, debated the rising suicide rate for troops serving in Iraq.
The arguments went like this: Hegseth claimed 1] that the suicide rate is comparable to stateside rates of males age 17-45, and 2] that the extended deployments were credited for the success of the surge. The moderator rebutted by saying that line of reasoning relies on the claim that the surge is working. Andrew Horne said the disparity in the suicide rate between Marines and the Army is because the Marines strictly adhere to a 7 month deployment schedule and that family strife due to extended deployments weighs heavily on the soldiers. Professor Figley said the rise was statistically significant and is directly related to the length of deployment without a break.