For veterans of Iraq War, a tough return

Last US Military Convoy Departs Iraq
Soldiers wave to colleagues as a section of the last American military convoy to depart Iraq from the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division arrives after crossing over the border into Kuwait on December 18, 2011 in Camp Virginia, Kuwait.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Veterans who served in Iraq have come home to face a host of challenges - from physical and mental health problems, to a difficult economic climate, to struggles in reconnecting with civilian life.

Writes the Washington Post:

The long conflicts, which have required many troops to deploy multiple times and operate under an almost constant threat of attack, have exacted a far more widespread emotional toll than previously recognized by most government studies and independent assessments: One in two say they know a fellow service member who has attempted or committed suicide, and more than 1 million suffer from relationship problems and experience outbursts of anger -- two key indicators of post-traumatic stress.

What are the challenges facing Iraq War veterans? What can the country do to improve its support to veterans? Leave your comments below.

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