Report: GI suicides at record high

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A report to be issued Thursday will reveal suicides among U.S. soldiers have risen to their highest levels since the Army started keeping track 28 years ago.

CNN reported Wednesday that statistics it obtained show there were 128 confirmed suicides last year with 15 more suspected cases still being investigated among active-duty soldiers, active National Guard troops and reserves. The confirmed rate was 20.2 suicides per 100,000 soldiers.

NBC News reported slightly different numbers for 2008 -- 125 confirmed suicides and 17 suspected. It said there were 115 in 2007, 102 in 2006 and 87 in 2005.

Suicides were up in all military branches, NBC said. The Marines said it recorded 41 suicides among its troops last year, compared with 33 in 2007 and 25 in 2006, CNN said.

Army officials have previously pointed out the nation's suicide rate was 19.5 people per 100,000 in 2005, CNN said.

NBC noted the U.S. Army recently announced a $50 million program to investigate why soldier suicides continue to rise.