WASHINGTON — The nation’s top military officer said yesterday that he expects suicides by service members, already alarmingly high, and other family crises to increase in the coming months as large numbers of troops return to their bases after years of multiple deployments. 
 
 “I think we are going to see a significant increase in the challenges that we have in terms of our families,’’ Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. 
 
 With the drawdown of US forces in Iraq accelerating, service members are finally beginning to receive a respite from frequent back-to-back tours of duty since 2003 — particularly for Army and Marine Corps units. 
 
 For bases such as Lewis-McChord, an Army and Air Force installation in Washington state, that means an influx of soldiers and aviators. “I was taken aback that at Fort Lewis by the end of October, 36,000 troops will be back,’’ Mullen said. “We have never had that many troops there, certainly not since 2003.’’ 
 
 Yet that also means commanders must deal with a large number of troops with significant personal challenges who are back for the first extended period with their families. 
 
 Mullen remains particularly concerned about suicide rates, which have gone up in every branch of the military since 2004 and have hit record highs in the Army, which has borne the brunt of repeated deployments. 
 
 “The emergency issue right now is suicides,’’ Mullen said. “We had five suicides in the Army last weekend.’’ 
 
 And there are a variety of other well-documented problems facing a ground force that has been stretched thin in recent years, including post-traumatic stress disorder and other problems that have not yet manifested themselves, he said. 
 
 “I think we are going to see a growth in that before we see a decline,’’ Mullen said. 
 
 Military officials have worked to increase the length of time between deployments, both to promote greater stability among families and to provide more training for threats beyond the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
 
 That is now starting to happen as the US military commitment in Iraq winds down, even as troop levels have grown in Afghanistan. 
 
 © Copyright 2010 Globe Newspaper Company. ||||| Local News More>> 
 
 Teenage Girl Hurt In Tragic Car Crash Faces Challenging Recovery Teenage Girl Hurt In Tragic Car Crash Faces Challenging Recovery A teenage girl who was hurt in this crash on Memorial Day in Atlantic County is speaking out.19–year old Serena Sheppard just came home after 73 days in the hospital and weeks in rehab. Now along with recovering from horrific injuries she and her family are facing another challenge.She still bears the scars of the horrific car accident that took the lives of three of her friends and seriously injured her 15-year old brother victor and another teen 18 year old Melissa Rodriguez, who was drivin... A teenage girl who was hurt in this crash on Memorial Day in Atlantic County is speaking out.19–year old Serena Sheppard just came home after 73 days in the hospital and weeks in rehab. Now along with recovering from horrific injuries she and her family are facing another challenge.She still bears the scars of the horrific car accident that took the lives of three of her friends and seriously injured her 15-year old brother victor and another teen 18 year old Melissa Rodriguez, who was drivin... 
 
 Wonderful Weekend Saturday (85/64): Sun/Clouds We remain dry and comfortable through the weekend with highs in the mid to upper 80s Sunday. Clouds thicken early next week giving way to rain chances Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures remain below average. Sunday (87/66): Sun/Clouds Monday (85/66): Sun/Clouds Tuesday (78/67): Rain/Thunderstorms 
 
 Obama: Airstrikes have destroyed arms, equipment Obama: Airstrikes have destroyed arms, equipment President Barack Obama said that airstrikes he ordered in northern Iraq have destroyed arms and equipment held by Islamic State forces whose rapid advance has surpassed U.S. intelligence estimates.Obama warned Americans that the new campaign in Iraq "is going to be a long-term project." President Barack Obama said that airstrikes he ordered in northern Iraq have destroyed arms and equipment held by Islamic State forces whose rapid advance has surpassed U.S. intelligence estimates.Obama warned Americans that the new campaign in Iraq "is going to be a long-term project." 
 
 Murder-suicide claims Christie team member, spouse Murder-suicide claims Christie team member, spouse A member of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's transition team has died in a murder-suicide committed by her husband. The daughter of a prominent New Jersey Republican Party leader who was killed by her husband before he committed suicide says her parents were experiencing "enormous stress" in recent weeks. 
 
 State troopers fatally shoot man after threats State troopers fatally shoot man after threats State Police say troopers from the York barracks fatally shot a man who threatened them with a knife. State Police say troopers from the York barracks fatally shot a man who threatened them with a knife. 
 
 Startup Company’s Marketing Campaign Raises Eyebrows Startup Company’s Marketing Campaign Raises Eyebrows FOX 29 viewers called us, tweeted us and sent emails asking us to see if we could figure out what exactly the suspicious bags being left around Union Transfer were. FOX 29 viewers called us, tweeted us and sent emails asking us to see if we could figure out what exactly the suspicious bags being left around Union Transfer were. 
 
 2 girls won't face off in Little League final 2 girls won't face off in Little League final Two girls whose teams have been competing to make it to the Little League World Series won't be facing each other in the Mid-Atlantic regional championship after all. Two girls whose teams have been competing to make it to the Little League World Series won't be facing each other in the Mid-Atlantic regional championship after all.
– Expect more servicemen and women to take their own lives in the months ahead, Admiral Mike Mullen warned today, in the wake of four such suicides over the weekend. “I think we are going to see a significant increase in the challenges that we have in terms of our families,” Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said at a press breakfast this morning, reports the Boston Globe. “The emergency right now is suicides.” Troops are returning rapidly from Iraq, but many will have difficulty returning to civilian life, Mullen explained. The weekend saw a glut of such tragedy, with a 24-year-old accounting specialist who’d served in Iraq killing himself Friday, followed by a mechanic and an artillery specialist on Saturday, and an Army sergeant on Sunday. The latter also appears to have shot his wife in a murder-suicide, the Austin American-Statesman reports.