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June 1, 2018
Recent Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths
Summary of Deaths
Table 1. Substance Abuse in Non-OCO Deaths
Since 2006—five years after the start of major combat
operations in Afghanistan and three years after the U.S.-led
Substance
Substance Abuse
invasion of Iraq—a total of 15,851 active-duty personnel
Category
Personnel
Abuse
(as Percentage)
and mobilized reservists have died while serving in the U.S.
Accident
4,599
652
14% of Accidents
armed forces. Seventy-two percent of these casualties
occurred under circumstances unrelated to war, a category
Self-Inflicted
3,258
135
4% of Self-Inflicted
classified in this report as Non-Overseas Contingency
Illness / Injury
2,650
14
1% of Illness/Injury
Operations, or Non-OCO. Twenty-eight percent have died
while serving in OCO operations—primarily within the
Undetermined
248
53
21% of
territory of Iraq and Afghanistan—during periods of active
Undetermined
combat operations. OCO operations related to Afghanistan
Source: DMDC Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided
primarily include Enduring Freedom and Freedom’s
to CRS, May 7, 2018. Omits categories with less than 1% incidence of
Sentinel. For Iraq, OCO operations include Iraqi Freedom,
substance abuse.
New Dawn, and Inherent Resolve. Figure 1 summarizes all

service deaths since 2006.
OCO Deaths
Section 101 of Title10, United States Code, defines a
Due to quality issues with pre-2006 data, earlier years have
contingency operation as any Secretary of Defense-
been excluded from this analysis.
designated military operation "in which members of the
Figure 1. Active Duty Military Deaths Since 2006
armed forces are or may become involved in military
actions, operations, or hostilities against an enemy of the
United States or against an opposing military force."
Approximately 4,510 military personnel have died in such
operations since 2006 in more than 25 countries (and
locations at sea). Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
caused approximately half of all U.S. deaths in operational
war zones. Their lethality closely tracked surges of troop
deployments to OCO operations, primarily in Iraq and
Afghanistan.

Figure 2. Deaths in Overseas Contingency Operations
Source: U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data
Center (DMDC), Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided
to CRS, May 7, 2018.

Non-OCO Deaths
Approximately 11,341 servicemembers have died in
circumstances unrelated to OCO operations since 2006. On
average, there have been 920 deaths each year, with the
total number varying by as much as 12% on an annual
basis. Personnel perished in more than 70 countries (and at
sea), with the majority (93%) of deaths occurring in the
United States. Other locations have included Germany,
Japan, Korea, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
Most servicemembers who died outside of OCO operations
during this period died as the result of accident, self-
inflicted wounds, or illness. The data indicates a substantial

percentage (14%) of non-OCO accidental deaths were
Source: DMDC Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided
related to substance abuse. Overall, alcohol or substance
to CRS, May 7, 2018.
abuse played a role in 8% of all deaths. Approximately 16%
Note: Primarily Iraq comprises Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and
of all non-OCO deaths, or 1,807, involved vehicles. For
Inherent Resolve; Primarily Afghanistan comprises Enduring Freedom
these records, the data does not indicate whether alcohol
and Freedom’s Sentinel. Includes casualties at all associated locations.
was also involved.
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Recent Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths
Overall Deaths in Iraq
connection with the loss of an aircraft or ground vehicle.
Since 2006, approximately 2,177 U.S. troops have died in
Most such incidents were classified as accidental (69%),
Iraq during OCO operations. Half of all these military
and occurred under nonhostile conditions.
deaths are attributable to IEDs (and their variants), which
Figure 4. Overall Deaths in Afghanistan
killed most U.S. personnel between 2006 and 2009. Of
those that were not killed by IED related incidents,
approximately 38% died under nonhostile conditions,
primarily from accidents (including loss of aircraft or
ground vehicle) or as the result of self-inflicted injury.
Figure 3. Overall Deaths in Iraq

Source: DMDC Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided
to CRS, May 7, 2018.
Source of Casualty Data
Data in this report was provided by the Defense Manpower

Source: DMDC Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided
Data Center (DMDC). When a U.S. casualty occurs, each
to CRS, May 7, 2018.
service is required to complete a form (DD 1300 Report of
Casualty) that includes circumstances related to death. This
Overall Deaths in Afghanistan
information is subsequently entered into the service’s
Since 2006, approximately 1,961 U.S. troops have died in
Casualty and Mortuary Affairs database (Defense Casualty
Afghanistan. Nearly half (47%) of all these military deaths
Information Processing System, or DCIPS) which, in turn,
are attributable to IEDs and their variants, which in 2009
is made accessible to DMDC. Casualty data is refreshed
and 2010 exceeded non-IED deaths. Most U.S. personnel
daily, and past records are subject to change. For details on
not killed by IEDs during this period died as the result of
casualty matters, policies, and procedures, see Department
gunshot wounds, or after suffering other multiple physical
of Defense Instruction 1300.18.
trauma in action. A substantial number (162), died in
Table 2. U.S. Active-Duty Military Deaths, 2006-2018

NON-OCO
OCO
Total
Percentage
Accident
4,599
471
5,070
32.0%
Self-Inflicted
3,258
282
3,540
22.3%
Illness / Injury
2,650
119
2,769
17.5%
Killed In Action
6
2,698
2,704
17.1%
Died Of Wounds
0
874
874
5.5%
Homicide
458
41
499
3.1%
Undetermined
248
17
265
1.7%
Pending
104
2
106
Less than 1%
Terrorist
18
2
20
Less than 1%
While Captured
0
4
4
Less than 1%
Source: DMDC Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided to CRS, May 7, 2018.
Notes: The self-Inflicted subcategory includes an apparent-suicide designation, however, for comprehensive statistics on this subject, please
consult the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO). Of the 6 personnel that were killed in action during Non-OCO operations, four were
killed in Niger, one in Iraq, and one at an unknown location. Includes 35 alcohol or substance abuse related casualties during OCO operations.
Hannah Fischer, Information Research Specialist
Christopher T. Mann, Analyst in Defense Policy and
Trade
IF10899

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Recent Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths

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