By: Mireya Garcia

m.garcia@krdo.com

COLORADO SPRINGS-The number of suicides in the Army keeps going up, and a local group of military moms is fighting for our soldiers.

Army Vice Chief of Staff Peter Chiarelli says the Army doesn't know why suicides are up in 2009. Even so, the Army claims there is progress. Chiarelli says, “it’s important to put these numbers into context and to talk about why we believe despite the numbers that we are making progress. "

Gold Star Mothers is a local group of mothers whose children have died in combat or by suicide in the military. It says the army has done a better job trying to help soldiers, but it is concerned about the impact of multiple deployments.

Nancy Pfander Powell's son died in combat, but as the president of Gold Star Mothers, she has helped several families whose children have taken their own lives. She told NEWSCHANNEL13 that part of the problem may be stemming from multiple deployments.

Pfander Powell says, "If you have problems that you haven't worked out yet before you go again, it compounds the problem, I think."

140 active duty soldiers have taken their lives so far this year. That’s already the same amount as in 2008, but if you combine the reserve soldiers that have committed suicide, that number jumps to 211.

Despite the rising numbers, Gold Star Mothers agrees the army is making progress, but says the soldiers must take the first.

"I think their efforts are getting better. It's hard for any of us to understand what it's like for those soldiers over there to have a target on their back 24 hours a day 7 days a week," says Pfander Powell.

In addition to the investigation the Army has prevention programs in place.