The statistics from the Australian Defence Force tell a worrying story.
Since 2000, the ADF says 118 serving members of the Army, Navy and Air Force have died by suicide.
In the same period, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says an extra 142 former members of the defence force had also taken their own lives.
The Vice Chief of the ADF, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, says many more people are affected by suicide.
"The loss of one person has wide-reaching ramifications not only for the immediate family but also for their friends, colleagues, treating health professionals and so many others who have known and supported them."
A parliamentary committee is looking into the reasons why Australian veterans are committing suicide at such high rates, particularly at the transition of defence members, from pre-recruitment screening all the way to leaving the defence force.
One of the highest ranking medical professionals in the ADF, Air Vice Marshal Tracy Smart, says the military needs to do more to identify vulnerable people leaving the Defence Force.
"I think there a number of people leaving defence who we might not recognise as high risk and that goes back to this trust issue of not presenting while they're serving because of the fear of implications. This is why this issue of stigma is at the nub of a lot of these issues. They may not even realise themselves they have a problem until they go out and realise that entire system that has been around them while they were in service is no longer there."
There are approximately 80-thousand people in the Australian Defence Force but there is no accepted number of veterans.
The Returned and Services League estimates there are 300-thousand to 500-thousand veterans in Australia.
Acting National President of the RSL, Robert Dick, says some Australians leaving the military are keeping medical issues, which may trigger suicidal thoughts, a secret.
"They're handling their issues, whether it be Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, depression, very well and sometime can hide that from people when they're going through that transition. And then that may be significant for a few years. And then something in their life, a trauma, or something, triggers that PTSD or anxiety and that's when it comes to the forefront."
The parliamentary inquiry is also studying the initial phase of a military member's career - the recruitment phase.
Air Vice Marshal Smart rejects suggestions from politicians that the ADF could do more to identify recruits or potential recruits with mental health issues.
She says medical testing is the most comprehensive it could legally be.
"There's no blood test or something like that for mental health conditions. It is a robust process and individuals are asked to sign a statutory declaration as well, so I don't know what else there is that could be done."
The Department of Veterans' Affairs told the committee it had around 300,000 clients.
The Secretary of DVA, Simon Lewis, acknowledged its ageing computer systems and complex claims processes could be frustrating.
"Some veterans and ex-service personnel have had very difficult experiences with DVA claims processes that have left them frustrated and disheartened. We know that there are problems with our systems and our processes that need to be addressed."
To do that, the Turnbull Government recently announced a jobs initiative which gives companies incentives to hire veterans.
It's also upgrading the information systems used by the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
And, it's implementing compulsory exit policies for the Defence Force so those leaving have individual transition plans to re-adjust to civilian life.
(If you or anyone you know is experiencing a personal crisis you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14)
