Lets Play a Game

I wrote this for another group in 2018, I will try and update numbers.

I have a bit of questions that I ask other Sable Shield holders, and hopefully this will get some people thinking, This is broken up into 3 parts, here is part 1:

Playing the numbers game, stop and think what actually percentage of the population are serving in the US Armed Forces RIGHT NOW?

What percentage of people have served in the US Armed Forces and are considered Veterans?

People that have served and people from the “poor states” will have a skewed view and will make that percentage number FAR BIGGER than what it actually is.

Yes, you can google it, but in your head, and maybe in the comments, please put the percentage that you think.

( THE LONG NUMBERS GAME, all numbers I got are at the bottom)

The question of percentage is a half loaded trick question because there is more than a simple number. There is Active, Reserve, AND Veteran.

There are couple number to look at, 0.39% active duty, 0.65% Active and Reserved combined

5.25% of the population has Veteran Status from the military

Combined Active and veteran comes up with 6.18%

Safest way to say is someone whom is NOT a Civilian their whole life -

“Civilian: a person who is not a member of the military, police, firefighting force, or a Criminal”

Those that are not a 'Civilian' (or Criminal) is considered a 'Citizen'

For argument sake, add in Police and Fire Fighters, come up with 6.78%

Now for some assumptions - take that and round it down to 6.5% for any overlap (IE- Police that is ALSO a veteran)

For this I would like to focus only on VOLUNTEER force (not the ones that were drafted).

Assumption to round that down to 5%

Now that all of that is stated Here is todays question / input your opinion:

Is there a certain brain chemistry / wiring that would compel 5% of the population to put their lives at risk for the safety/security of the other 95% ?

329,256,000 total est population of the US (2019)

1,281,900 active, 860,000 reserve .39% Active .65% total (2019)

18,205,000 veterans / [91/9 M/F (16,585,000/1,620,000)] 5.525% (5.03% / .49%) (VA 2018)

Active / Reserve / Veteran = 20,346,900 (6.18%)

790,000 Active Police officers [681M/109F] (2019)

(1,216,600 FF [346,150 Full time, 788,250 Vol]) (2019)

Totaling 6.78% taking out overlap (EX: Veteran AND Police ) round that down to 6%

(Side note, 2016 there were 21.1 M veterans)

The hardest pill to handle

I feel like there were many good answers on why 5% of the general population chose a life to put their lives on the line to help the general population, now a final thought: Suicide rates of veterans

Suicide rates for veterans are MORE than double than those of any non veterans ( NOT taking into account age or gender)

30 per 100,000 compared to 14 per 100,000. If you break it down further, that is one veteran every 65 min, every day.

When we are only talking about 5% of the population, that number becomes more significant.

Todays Question: Are the two have any relationship ?

I phrased the previous question a certain way to lead up to this

Is there a certain brain chemistry / wiring have the same chemistry / wiring to being more susceptible to suicide ?

How anyone might answer it can be switched around. (Does ____ lead to a higher risk of suicide ?)

If anyone has any other thoughts / opinions feel free to express them.

If anyone needs help, there are many places to contact, (Veterans Crisis Line 855-238-5745 )

and I offer myself as a safe place. Feel free to message me any time.

Many others will do the same thing.