Veteran Legacies: A Comprehensive Look At The Iraq And Afghanistan Wars' Human Toll

Since the beginning of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2001, over 1.9 million US military personnel have been deployed. Some sources state that more than 2 million Americans have been deployed overseas during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This makes the conflict the longest sustained US military operation since the Vietnam War. Many of these veterans face a life of disability due to the physical and psychological injuries they sustained in the war zones.

Over 1.9 million US military personnel have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001

The US military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan has resulted in a significant number of casualties and injuries. As of November 24, 2009, 5,286 US troops had died and 36,021 had been wounded. The fatality-to-wounded ratios have been lower than in previous conflicts, such as the Vietnam War and World War II, due to improved body armor and emergency medical care in the war zone. However, a large number of military personnel have returned home with severe combat-related injuries, including hearing loss and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). It is estimated that 10-20% of service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan have sustained mild TBI, and studies have found that returning veterans are at an increased risk of mental health issues, substance abuse, and suicide.

The repeated and extended deployments have also taken a toll on the families of service members. Children of deployed parents have reportedly sought outpatient mental health services and experienced higher rates of child maltreatment. Deployment can disrupt family dynamics and roles, and the physical separation can be difficult for families to cope with. Additionally, the high number of female service members in these conflicts has raised concerns about the effects of mothers' deployments on their children and the potential strains on families.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have had a significant impact on the lives of those who served and their loved ones. The physical and psychological wounds of war have led to long-term health issues, and the challenges of reintegration into civilian life have been exacerbated by frequent deployments and short dwell times. The cost of war has been borne not only by the service members but also by their families and communities, highlighting the need for comprehensive support and resources for those affected.

1.8 million veterans returned with permanent disabilities

Since the start of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2001, over 1.9 million US military personnel have been deployed. Many have returned with complex physical and mental wounds that no single treatment can erase. More than 1.8 million veterans returned home with a permanent disability, and close to 1 million of these are linked to mental health and traumatic brain injuries.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been particularly difficult for military families. More frequent deployments and shorter periods at home have taken a toll on veterans and their loved ones. Veterans of the current wars account for more than half of the severely disabled veteran population. They face elevated rates of suicide, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependence, car crashes, and homelessness. Their families experience higher rates of divorce, homicide, child abuse, and child neglect.

Veterans with permanent disabilities face a long road to recovery. Traumatic brain injuries can cause anxiety, depression, headaches, memory loss, impaired function, dementia, and other symptoms. These injuries can resurface months or even years later, and recovery is a long process. It involves stabilisation, healing, and rehabilitation, which can take months or years.

In addition to mental health issues, veterans may suffer from a range of physical ailments, including musculoskeletal injuries, hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory conditions, skin disorders, and chemical exposure illnesses. Many veterans also suffer from infectious diseases contracted during deployment, such as malaria, brucellosis, and West Nile Virus.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers specialised disability benefits to address the unique needs of veterans with permanent disabilities. These benefits include priority health care enrollment, service-connected disability compensation, PTSD support, TBI treatment, chemical exposure treatment, specialised rehabilitation programs, education benefits, employment services, home loan guarantees, and insurance.

Veterans of the current wars account for over half of the severely disabled veteran population

Since the start of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2001, between 1.9 and 3 million US military personnel have been deployed. Over half of these veterans have been deployed more than once, and many have been deployed multiple times.

The nature of these wars, with their heavy dependence on the National Guard and reserves, the pace of deployments, the short dwell time between deployments, and the type of warfare, has resulted in unique challenges for veterans. The physical and psychological injuries sustained in these war zones have left many veterans with a life of disability.

Over 1.8 million veterans have some degree of officially recognised disability as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Veterans of these current wars account for more than half of the severely disabled veteran population. This is a significantly higher proportion than in previous wars.

The physical injuries sustained by veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars include amputations, traumatic burns, hearing loss or tinnitus, respiratory issues, cardiovascular issues, gastrointestinal issues, and traumatic brain injuries. The psychological injuries are equally, if not more, prevalent, with high rates of PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and psychosis.

The high rates of disability among veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, advances in battlefield medicine and rapid evacuations to treatment centres have resulted in more veterans surviving wounds that would have been fatal in previous wars. Secondly, there is a heightened awareness in the military and at the VA of the after-effects of traumatic brain injury, and more screenings are being conducted for mental health issues resulting from post-traumatic stress. Finally, the expansion of the definition of disability means that veterans are filing claims for problems that would not have been considered disabilities in the past, such as diabetes and sleep apnea.

The cost of caring for this growing population of disabled veterans is substantial and expected to increase over time. The government expects to spend $59 billion a year to compensate injured veterans in 25 years, up from $29 billion today. This cost will likely be higher, as the Veterans Affairs Department acknowledges that the estimate could rise by 30%.

Veterans are facing elevated rates of suicide, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependence, and homelessness

Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are facing elevated rates of suicide, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependence, and homelessness.

The Iraq and Afghanistan wars have been more difficult for military families than past wars, with more frequent deployments and shorter periods at home. In comparison to the civilian population, Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are facing elevated rates of suicide and mental illness, drug and alcohol dependence, car crashes, and homelessness. They and their families also experience higher rates of divorce as well as homicide, child abuse, and child neglect by both parents left behind and returning veterans.

The VA only began tracking war veteran suicides in 2008, and rates are now significantly higher than among comparable civilians.

A 2010 report found that child abuse in Army families was three times higher in homes from which a parent was deployed.

The military has increasingly offloaded the burden of care for service members' health onto their families and communities, and mainly onto female spouses and partners.

The Department of Defense should record all war-related injuries and post-deployment deaths of service members, regardless of whether they receive VA treatment.

Congress should fully project future obligated costs for veterans' medical care and disability when calculating how to budget for future war costs.

The U.S. government should establish a Veterans Trust Fund, similar to already-existing funds for Social Security or Medicare, to set aside the necessary money and demonstrate the seriousness of its commitment.

Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have higher unemployment rates than veterans of previous wars

Since the beginning of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2001, between 1.9 and 3 million US military personnel have been deployed. Over half of these veterans have been deployed more than once, and many suffer from physical and psychological injuries.

In comparison, the unemployment rate for veterans of the first Gulf War was 1.5% in 2023, and for veterans serving between the Vietnam War and the early 1990s, it was 2.7%. The overall unemployment rate for veterans of all eras was 2.7% in June 2022.

The higher unemployment rate among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is partly due to their younger age. Younger people, whether veterans or non-veterans, tend to have higher unemployment rates than older people. Additionally, the skills learned in the military do not always translate well to civilian jobs, and the military has been criticized for not providing adequate transition assistance.

The struggle to find work has been a significant issue for this generation of veterans, along with high suicide rates, PTSD, and traumatic brain injuries. However, there has been some improvement in recent years, with the unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans falling to 4.6% in October 2023, which is lower than the national average of 5%.

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