title: Injuries due to firearms and air guns among U.S. military members not participating in overseas combat operations, 2002-2011.
abstract: During 2002-2011, active component U.S. service members sustained 4,657 firearm-related injuries in circumstances other than deployment to the wars in Iraq/Afghanistan; 35 percent of the injuries were fatal. The highest firearm-related injury rates reflected service members in law enforcement/security and combat occupations. Of fatal injuries, 28 percent and 24 percent were suicides and homicides, respectively; among service members 30 and older, 84 percent of noncombat firearm-related deaths were suicides and 14 percent were homicides. In circumstances other than war, rates of both fatal and nonfatal firearm- related injuries are much lower among military members than civilian males aged 18-44. During the period, rates of nonfatal firearm-related injuries among non-deployed military members increased sharply, peaking in 2008. The trend reflects that among U.S. civilian males aged 18-44. However, firearm-related fatality rates were stable among civilians but increased among military members. The increase in rates of firearm-related fatalities among non-deployed military members reflects the increase in rates of suicides by firearms. Rates of injuries due to BB, pellet or paintball guns also increased during the period.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult