A graphic outlining total casualties for American forces since 2006. "OCO" deaths refer to casualties taken in operational settings like Iraq and Afghanistan, while non-OCO refers to casualties from from non-operational settings, such as on a base inside the U.S. (Congressional Research Service.)
Aaron Mehta, Military Times: 15,851 US service members have died since 2006. Here’s why.
WASHINGTON – Since 2006, 15,851 active-duty personnel and mobilized reservists have died while serving in the U.S. armed forces. But only 28 percent of those deaths came from going to war, a stark reminder of the danger service members face even away from the battlefield.
The numbers come from a new report by the Congressional Research Service, disclosed to the public by the Federation of American Scientists. CRS drew on official figures from the Pentagon for its accounting.
The report breaks down the casualties by OCO and non-OCO deaths, where OCO is defined as a military operation “in which members of the armed forces are or may become involved in military actions, operations, or hostilities against an enemy of the United States or against an opposing military force.” That covers the vast number of military operations, although it does not cover individuals killed during train and equip operations.
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WNU Editor: As I have mentioned more than once on this blog .... serving in the military is an incredibly dangerous job. Even during peace-time, and these numbers reveal how deadly it can be.
1 comment:
I wonder how the non-OCO death rate in the military compares to the death rate in similar populations. A number abstracted, like this article does, sounds shocking, but may be "reasonable.”
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