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Pentagon Reports 11% Drop in Military Suicides in 2024

The Pentagon says the drop may not signal a lasting shift after years of rising active-duty rates.

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A U.S. Army honor guard member stands vigil at dawn at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., ahead of the 100th anniversary of a continuous honor guard presence at the tomb, celebrated March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
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Overview

  • The Defense Department’s annual report, released Tuesday, counted 471 suicides in 2024, down from 531 in 2023.
  • The active-duty rate fell year over year, yet officials note the rate has climbed since 2011 and say it is too soon to call a trend change.
  • Rates moved unevenly across the force, with the Reserve down about 14% as the National Guard rose about 13% and the services recorded declines.
  • The report adds job-by-job data for the first time and found higher risk in infantry and other combat arms, with 49 deaths and a rate of 35.7 per 100,000 versus 23.2 across active duty.
  • The department has implemented 27 of 83 selected prevention steps and will pilot secure firearm storage vouchers and a safety campaign, as firearms remained the leading method and were most often privately owned.