Army desertions skyrocket

This year, 4,698 U.S. Army soldiers have deserted, an increase of 42% from last year and 80% since the 2003 Iraq invasion, the Pentagon says. At the same time, Navy and Marine desertions fell.
The rates remain below those for the draft-fed Vietnam War, but they still reflect the growing strain of deployments to Iraq. More than 75% of deserters are in their first term.
Soldiers who are absent without leave for more than 30 days are declared to be deserters and discharged.
"We're asking a lot of soldiers these days," said Roy Wallace, the Army's director of personnel plans and resources. "They're humans. They have all sorts of issues back home and other places like that. So, I'm sure it has to do with the stress of being a soldier."
The Army Times and the Associated Press have filed the most detailed stories so far.
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