Bottom of the spectrum of mental health? It's below bottom for the average combat troop.
All the proof you need is here:
2004:
Army Suicide Rate in Combat Zones Elevated
2008:
Soldier Suicides at Record Level
"From a suicide rate of 9.8 per 100,000 active-duty soldiers in 2001?the lowest rate on record?the Army reached an all-time high of 17.5 suicides per 100,000 active-duty soldiers in 2006."
I was active combat, my roommate, my staff sgt, and two more in my platoon killed themselves, on duty. My roommate, was a happy, girl fucking, loving life machine that couldn't take the pressure of killing another human, by mistake in a combat zone.
You people trying to rationalize this, just open your mind.. it's now 2008, it will get crazier, and crazier.. If you 'want' to stay in a combat zone, it says something.. think about it.
Don't judge them - without the dedicated crazy people you would owned by some other country several times over by now.