Since 2001, approximately 1.7million troops have been deployed to serve in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) ⁽¹⁾

Almost 50% of those who serve are at least 30 years of age⁽¹⁾

Approximately 30% or 500,000 are National Guard and Reserves and over one-third of those have been deployed more than once ⁽¹⁾

11% percent or 190,000 who serve in OEF and OIF are female⁽¹⁾

According to the Veterans Health Administration as of May 2008:

• OEF/OIF veterans who are eligible for VA healthcare 892,848
• Iraq veterans who have sought VA health care 324,846
• Percentage of those veterans diagnosed with PTSD/mental illness 41.1%
• Existing claims backlog: over one million

According to The Journal of American Medical Association, younger service members and Reserve and National Guard combat personnel returning from OEF and OIF are at increased risk of new-onset heavy drinking, binge drinking and other alcohol-related problems

On any given day, veterans account for nine of every 100 individuals in US jails and prison. The unmet mental health service needs of justice-involved veterans are of growing concern as more OEF and OIF veterans return home with combat stress exposure⁽²⁾

Rates of substance abuse as well as all psychological problems have significantly increased with repeated deployments, higher rates of exposure to combat trauma and infrequent breaks between deployments⁽³⁾

Nearly 1/3 of female veterans report episodes of sexual assault during military service, while 71-90% report experiences of sexual harassment⁽⁴⁾

OEF/OIF women who have experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST) as well as combat related trauma present co-morbid disorders  including substance abuse, increased suicide risk, major depression, personality disorders and self injurious behaviors⁽⁵⁾

As more women serve in combat zones, the share of female veterans who end up homeless, an estimated 6,500, has nearly doubled over the last decade, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Women veterans represent about 5% of the homeless population, 76% of whom experience drug, alcohol or mental health problems; one out of every 10 homeless vets under the age of 45 is now a woman⁽⁶⁾

⁽¹⁾CMHS National GAINS Center’s Forum on Veterans, Trauma and the
Justice System

⁽²⁾NAMI Pennsylvania Veterans Advisory Council

⁽³⁾GAINS Center 2007)(Service Women’s Action Network, June 2009

⁽⁴⁾Service Women’s Action Network, June 2009

⁽⁵⁾Service Women’s Action Network, June 19, 2009; Murdoch Murdoch, et al., “Gender Differences in Service Connection for PTSD,” Medical Care 41, no. 8 (2003), 950-961.

⁽⁶⁾The Boston Globe, Bryan Bender, July 6, 2009.