The statistics are grim. With over 160,000 soldiers in Iraq and another 25,000 posted in Afghanistan, the United States is facing the prospect of a growing number of dead and wounded soldiers that is only expected to increase as these long protracted conflicts continue with no end in sight. To date, over 4,000 service men and women have sacrificed their lives in these military campaigns with another 27,000 suffering wounds. These statistics underlie a number of issues, not least of which is how the wounded will be treated in the years after their service.

Due to advances in medical care, many seriously wounded soldiers that likely would have died in previous wars are being saved. Six out of 10 wounded soldiers in Iraq are being wounded by the use of improvised explosive devices, which can inflict severe head wounds and lead to the amputation of limbs. This can lead to long convalescence periods, but with the use of new medical treatments and technologies the overwhelming majority of these service men and women will return to their normal lives.

Then there is the complex issue of mental problems that could plague returning veterans for years to come. Having to undergo multiple tours of duty that can compromise a soldier's mental health, the Veterans Administration is now evaluating and treating tens of thousands of soldiers for post-traumatic stress disorder. While the medical condition is sometimes observed in soldiers immediately after returning from their tour of duty, it can also take years to develop in others.