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**Thigmaswams** · 05-05-2007, 06:08 PM

Study reports on mental health, ethics of U.S. combat troops in Iraq

A new Pentagon study shows how the war in Iraq is impacting the U.S. military's most battle-hardened troops.

"Approximately 10% of Soldiers and Marines report mistreating non-combatants (damaged/destroyed Iraqi property when not necessary or hit/kicked a non-combatant when not necessary)," the report, released today, says. "Soldiers that have high levels of anger, experienced high levels of combat or screened positive for a mental health problem were nearly twice as likely to mistreat non-combatants as those who had low levels of anger or combat or screened negative for a mental health problem."

The study showed a correlation between level of combat and mental health problems. "Soldiers and Marines experiencing high levels of combat are three times as likely to screen positive for a mental health problem compared to Soldiers and Marines who experiences relatively low levels of combat," the report says.

Soldiers had lower morale and more mental health problems than their counterparts in the Marine Corps, the report says.

The study, which included more than 1,700 respondents in units that have seen heavy combat, shows a "downwards trend" in marital satisfaction since earlier studies of military personnel in Iraq. A little under 7% of respondents reported drinking alcohol in violation of military regulations, while 1.4% acknowledged taking illegal drugs while they were deployed to Iraq.

Some of the other significant findings, according to a press release from the Defense Department:

• Soldiers who deployed longer (greater than six months) or had deployed multiple times were more likely to screen positive for a mental health issue.

• Less than half of soldiers and Marines would report a team member for unethical behavior.

• More than one-third of all soldiers and Marines reported that torture should be allowed to save the life of a fellow soldier or Marine.

• Deployment length was directly linked to morale problems in the Army.

• Both soldiers and Marines reported at relatively high rates - 62% and 66%, respectively - that they knew someone seriously injured or killed, or that a member of their team had become a casualty.

More information:

• Read the full On Deadline blog.
• To bookmark On Deadline click here and then press Ctrl+D.
• Send On Deadline a tip or a message.

Posted by Mike Carney at 12:39 PM/ET, May 04, 2007 in Iraq | Permalink

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline..._o.html?csp=34

05-05-2007, 06:08 PM	#2
Thigmaswams Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 481 Senior Member	Study reports on mental health, ethics of U.S. combat troops in Iraq A new Pentagon study shows how the war in Iraq is impacting the U.S. military's most battle-hardened troops. "Approximately 10% of Soldiers and Marines report mistreating non-combatants (damaged/destroyed Iraqi property when not necessary or hit/kicked a non-combatant when not necessary)," the report, released today, says. "Soldiers that have high levels of anger, experienced high levels of combat or screened positive for a mental health problem were nearly twice as likely to mistreat non-combatants as those who had low levels of anger or combat or screened negative for a mental health problem." The study showed a correlation between level of combat and mental health problems. "Soldiers and Marines experiencing high levels of combat are three times as likely to screen positive for a mental health problem compared to Soldiers and Marines who experiences relatively low levels of combat," the report says. Soldiers had lower morale and more mental health problems than their counterparts in the Marine Corps, the report says. The study, which included more than 1,700 respondents in units that have seen heavy combat, shows a "downwards trend" in marital satisfaction since earlier studies of military personnel in Iraq. A little under 7% of respondents reported drinking alcohol in violation of military regulations, while 1.4% acknowledged taking illegal drugs while they were deployed to Iraq. Some of the other significant findings, according to a press release from the Defense Department: • Soldiers who deployed longer (greater than six months) or had deployed multiple times were more likely to screen positive for a mental health issue. • Less than half of soldiers and Marines would report a team member for unethical behavior. • More than one-third of all soldiers and Marines reported that torture should be allowed to save the life of a fellow soldier or Marine. • Deployment length was directly linked to morale problems in the Army. • Both soldiers and Marines reported at relatively high rates - 62% and 66%, respectively - that they knew someone seriously injured or killed, or that a member of their team had become a casualty. More information: • Read the full On Deadline blog. • To bookmark On Deadline click here and then press Ctrl+D. • Send On Deadline a tip or a message. Posted by Mike Carney at 12:39 PM/ET, May 04, 2007 in Iraq \| Permalink http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline..._o.html?csp=34
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