Injury rate for reservists on rise (Non-hostile injuries)

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2003/11/05/injury_rate_for_reservists_on_rise/

US Army reservists, pulled from everyday life to serve in Iraq, are suffering from a sharply disproportionate share of nonhostile injuries -- which include accidents, illnesses, and mental breakdowns -- as they adjust to the rigors of a long and unexpected tour in a hot, strife-ridden environment, according to a Globe analysis of Department of Defense figures.

Members of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve, who account for about a quarter of the forces in Iraq, are not as well prepared as their full-time counterparts, either in terms of basic training or the physical and psychological stamina necessary for a long overseas deployment, officials said.

And the guerrilla nature of the conflict means that they are serving on the front lines.

"If you look at the reserves, they are usually civilians that have jobs back home, and now you take them away from their families and you put them in a foreign war where they are less equipped than active duty troops and don't have the combat training," said Colonel Juan DeRojas, a surgeon in the Army Reserve who returned from a tour of duty in Iraq in July.

<snip>

"Many are saying, `I can't do this anymore.' "

Anyone who signs up for the reserves should really think before they do it. This is pretty much the worst kind of thing that can happen to anyone after signing up.

I really feel for those unfortunates who have new families and a real life back here. Now they are putting their lives on the line, and for what?

I wish I could be proud of them for defending this country and being patriotic, but unfortunately they are just roped into being cannon fodder for Republican political positioning, oh and for massive profits to Halliburton.

Sickening.

One year from retiring with full benefits. He's seriously considered calling it quits over the past year, but after investing so many years that doesn't make sense. A number of his fellow officers have "retired" recently. Our reserve and guard units are extremely overburderened at this time.

Are these the "non-hostile" gunshot wounds?

I saw the writing on the wall after the jongoistic posturing after Sept. 11th. Glad to have gotten out of there with all my toes...

Had thirteen years in the Reserves, it was a tough decision, but I'm glad that I chose the way I did...

I was just reading they are offering R&R at home to people who reinlist. One of the Chinook survivors was saying that that is how he got his ticket on the Chinook that was downed.