Desertion rates up

Now, these numbers are small in absolute terms, but 1 in 100 deserting in the "all volunteer army" is significant.

According to the Army, about nine in every 1,000 soldiers deserted in fiscal year 2007, which ended Sept. 30, compared to nearly seven per 1,000 a year earlier. Overall, 4,698 soldiers deserted this year, compared to 3,301 last year.

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