Iraq war takes unique toll on National Guard

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS RATES

Pre-deployment
• Regular Army: 3.8%
• National Guard: 5.5%

Post-deployment (3 months after leaving Iraq)
• Regular Army: 18.2%
• National Guard: 12.1%

Combat experiences

Being attacked or ambushed
• Regular Army: 83%
• National Guard: 96%

Receiving small-arms fire
• Regular Army: 79%
• National Guard: 96%

In threatening situations, unable to respond
• Regular Army: 51%
• National Guard: 78%

Source: Lyndon Riviere

Iraq war takes unique toll on National Guard
By Marilyn Elias, USA TODAY
SAN FRANCISCO — Despite signs that the war in Iraq is taking a toll on National Guard troops' mental health, members are no more likely than active-duty soldiers to develop post-traumatic stress, psychologists reported over the weekend.
But financial problems are creating emotional pain. Deployment-linked money trouble raises the odds sixfold that a National Guard soldier will have mental-health problems after leaving Iraq, studies from a team at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research suggest. The researchers spoke at the American Psychological Association conference here.

More than 400,000 National Guard troops have served in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to a congressional report.