2012 military suicides hit record high of 349 - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

2012 military suicides hit record high of 349

Posted:
By Tiffany Yapp - email

WASHINGTON (WKOW) -- Suicides in the U.S. military surged to a record 349 last year, according to the Associated Press.

That exceeds the 295 American combat deaths in Afghanistan in 2012. In 2011, there were 301 military suicides.

Some private experts predict that the trend will worsen this year.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and others have called military suicides an epidemic.

The Army had the highest number of suicides among active-duty troops last year at 182, but the Marine Corps had the largest percentage increase, up 50 percent to 48.

The Air Force recorded 59 suicides and the Navy had 60.

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