Between September 2008 and April 2009, 72 troops died in Iraq from accidents, illness, or suicide, compared with 67 who died in action, according to the Pentagon – the first extended period in the six-year conflict where insurgents did not pose the greatest threat.

In response to the growing number of deaths and injuries occurring outside combat – most of which are attributed to accidents – the Defense Department recently approved plans to hire hundreds of additional safety specialists to deploy with Army and Marine Corps units, according to top safety officials.