John McCain will visit New Jersey today, first attending a private fundraiser in Bergen County, and then a campaign swing through Teaneck. Veterans for America (VFA) calls on Senator McCain to address issues we've seen during our recent work in New Jersey.  About half of New Jersey's National Guard is in Ft. Bliss, Texas, preparing to deploy to Iraq, and thousands of Guard families and employers and dozens of communities are feeling their absence.

Here are the top stories this week related to our soldiers here and abroad, taken from the Our Troops Newsladder.

In Part V of its War Torn series, The New York Times examines the increased rates of alcoholism among returning combat veterans. (nytimes.com)

After the deadliest month in the war in Afghanistan so far, President Bush announced plans to increase the number of troops deployed to Afghanistan. 28 U.S. troops died in Afghanistan in June, outnumbering the June count in Iraq, which has triple the number of forces there. (armytimes.com)

Here are the top stories this week related to our soldiers here and abroad, taken from the Our Troops Newsladder.

A soldier with a history of mental health problems that may have made him ineligible for Army service at any other time dies in Iraq. The attrition rate for the first months of service has dropped 45% since 2004; has the Army lowered its standards for graduation from basic training so low that soldiers unfit for combat are being sent into battle? (newsweek.com)

A controversial new drug that dampens the memories of events that cause extreme stress is being tested as a treatment for soldiers with PTSD. Tests of the beta-blocker drug propranolol, which reduces hormone production to people exposed to such stress has so far been successful in reducing the emotional intensity with which sufferers recount traumatic experience. (prospect.org)

Here are the top stories this week related to our soldiers here and abroad, taken from the Our Troops Newsladder.

21 House members are co-sponsoring the Stop Loss Compensation Act of 2008, which would provide $1,500 per month of special pay to soldiers serving under stop-loss orders. The bill was introduced by Rep. Betty Sutton, Democrat of Ohio. (marinecorpstimes.com)

The rise of long, repeated combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan has given rise to an epidemic of soldiers harming themselves in order to not be sent back. This trend has occurred in past wars, but Army Reserve psychologist Elspeth Ritchie thinks the current problem may be worse than it was during Vietnam or Korea. One soldier swallowed pens, another jumped off his roof with tools strapped to his body, and a New York man paid a hit man to shoot him in the kneecap. (newsweek.com)

AP: A Marine reserve battalion that suffered heavy losses in Iraq in 2005 is sending out members for training before expected assignment in Iraq.

Here are the top stories this week related to our soldiers here and abroad, taken from the Our Troops Newsladder.

2007 saw 115 soldier suicides, more than any year since the military started keeping a record of them in 1980. (boston.com)

Along similar lines, 2007 saw a 50% increase in PTSD diagnoses amid increased violence in Iraq and Afghanistan. Army officials believe that in addition there are many people who have PTSD and are keeping it secret. (marinecorpstimes.com)

Here are the top stories this week related to our soldiers here and abroad, taken from the Our Troops Newsladder.

Republicans joined Senate Democrats to pass a new GI Bill offering education benefits to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with a veto-proof majority. (rawstory.com)

With suicide attempts among patients under VA care hovering at around 1,000 per month, the VA has announced two new panels to address the problem. (marinecorpstimes.com)

Here are the top stories this week related to our soldiers here and abroad, taken from the Our Troops Newsladder.

The VA became embroiled in scandal this week based on an email directing doctors not to diagnose PTSD and instead diagnose an adjustment disorder, a cost-cutting move which was meant to allow the VA to provide fewer benefits. (marinecorpstimes.com)