Suicides in the military: 1980-1992

Data abstracted from the Report of Casualty (DD 1300) is used to describe suicides of active duty personnel for the period 1980 through 1992. The Marine Corps had the fewest suicides (345), but the highest rate (13.65 per 100,000) compared to the other services: Army (1,205/12.38), Air Force (828/11.31), and the Navy (800/11.01). Personnel 17 to 24 years of age accounted for 48% of the suicides and had the highest age group-specific rate, 12.34. White males accounted for 79% of all suicides and had the highest rates across all age groups. Males had significantly higher rates than females in the Air Force, Army, and Navy. The risk of suicide among all active duty males was over two times that of all active duty females and about half that of males in the general population. Active duty females had a risk slightly lower than females in the total population. Enlisted personnel had rates two times higher than officers. Firearms were used in 61% of the male and 55% of the female suicides.