THE DATA IS PUBLIC. THE SILENCE IS THE PROBLEM.
I want to address the questions I’ve been getting about my book and why I keep talking about military suicide.
This is not opinion.
This is not politics.
And it’s not based on my experience alone.
Everything discussed in today’s episode of The Arrogant Independent is grounded in a USSOCOM-funded study titled:
“Psychological Autopsy Study of Suicides among United States Special Operations Forces.”
Here is what USSOCOM’s own commissioned research documents:
• 117 confirmed SOF suicides between 2007–2015 (p. 5)
• SOF suicide rate peaked at 39.3 per 100,000 in 2012 (p. 5)
• Overall U.S. military suicide rate in 2012 was 22.9 per 100,000 (p. 5)
• After 2012, SOF suicide rates declined but remained ~27% higher than the rest of the military (p. 7)
• Nearly half (48.2%) experienced a strained connection to the military within six months of death, often tied to disciplinary action, demotion, reassignment, or loss of peer support (p. 32)
• The study repeatedly identifies loss of role, loss of identity, and “loss of face” as common trigger events preceding suicide (pp. 38–39)
These are not my conclusions.
They are USSOCOM’s findings.
My personal story—including a suicide attempt after service—is why I went looking for the data.
The data is why I wrote the book.
PRIMARY SOURCE (READ IT YOURSELF)
USSOCOM Psychological Autopsy Study (PDF)
▶▶ USSOCOM study link:
📘 THE BOOK
RESILIENCE TRAINING OR MURDER
I didn’t write this book to provoke outrage.
I wrote it because silence, denial, and checkbox solutions are failing the people we send to serve.
▶▶ My book on Amazon:
NEW PODCAST EPISODE
The Data Is Public. The Silence Is the Problem.
Why Military Suicide Isn’t What We’re Told
▶▶ Listen to the podcast:
🔗 HERE
If you disagree with me, disagree with the document.
If you think this issue is exaggerated, read the page numbers.
If you’ve lived this reality, you’re not alone—and you’re not imagining it.
The data is public.
The pattern is real.
Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.
— The Arrogant Independent
