GARRISON VERSUS COMBAT FATALITIES

Since 2001, the Marine Corps has lost 1,600 Marines to motor vehicle accidents, off-duty or recreational accidents, physical training, and non-combat related on-duty incidents.

The Marine Corps lost 1,248 Marines over the last 20-plus years of combat operations. These charts show the number of fatalities by each operation or activity. Remember, even though our job potentially puts us in harm’s way, the most harmful activities are the things we do every day.

During 15 of the last 20 years of sustained combat operations, the Marine Corps lost more personnel to off-duty and training mishaps than combat operations.

We must ask ourselves: Why does it seem we are better at bringing our members home safely from combat but not the weekend?