Military Divorce

Military divorce rates are increasing in the United States. There are many factors that are contributing to the growth of military divorce rates. A few known factors include: extended time spent away from each other, traumatic experiences, dangerous work environment, and changed views created by new experiences. Statistics also show that military divorce rates increase dramatically during and following a war. We can see that this is true when you examine Army divorce rates in 2001 and 2004. In 2001, there were approximately 5,600 Army divorces. Compare that to the 10,477 divorces in 2004 to gain insight into how war affects military divorce rates. Military divorce rates nearly doubled during the war in 2004. This growth rate affects all military branches, not just the Army.

Military spouses often have to spend extended time away from each other. Long periods of time without the love and support of their spouse tends to take a toll on a marriage from both sides. Military spouses do not always have the chance to confide in each other; at times, they may have to wait months to communicate. The spouse left at home often ends up feeling alone and taken for granted. They may start to resent having to raise their family without their spouse present to provide assistance. After long periods of time apart, some spouses create friendships with someone of the opposite sex. Unfortunately, those friendships sometimes lead to broken vows.

Traumatic experiences can sabotage a marriage. Military personnel, especially in a time of war, are subjected to horrific experiences. The stress caused by these traumatic war time experiences can leave the military spouse unable to cope with daily life after service. Combat stress is especially a problem when soldiers are unable to decompress before returning home. In recent years, there have been times where soldiers are sent home directly from the war. Without any time to relieve their stress, soldiers often have trouble trying to fit back into everyday life. People who have suffered through intense psychological experiences are often left unable to maintain quality relationships.

Occupations with dangerous work environments see increased divorce rates compared to safer jobs. This situation can be seen in all military branches and some civilian jobs, such as police officers. A dangerous work environment creates fear and anxiety for both spouses. Many marriages cannot handle this type of constant stress.

Marital age can be a strong factor in military divorce rates. Statistics have shown that couples under the age of 23 have a much higher rate of divorce than those ages 23 or over. Young couples may not be equipped with the knowledge to manage conflicts that arise during a marriage - especially a military marriage. Young military couples appear to have more trouble communicating than older couples. Young couples can feel pressure to get married before one of them is deployed. Couples that marry quickly before planning their future and communicating their needs and dreams often end up in failed marriages. Military couples must overcome unique challenges due to a spouse's military career, such as separation, stress, anxiety, and parenting alone.

Financial troubles lead to increased military divorce rates. This is especially true when one spouse is away serving in the military, while the other spouse is at home spending the hard-earned money. It can be difficult to create a budget that both spouses agree to when communication is not possible. If one spouse gets carried away spending money, the other spouse may not be able to do anything about it. Many military couples have financial troubles.

Another common problem that military marriages face is the growth that comes from the experiences the military spouse endures. Military personnel are generally exposed to many new experiences that broaden their viewpoints of the world. Their position may take them to other countries, where they will live temporarily in a different culture. Their experiences provide new knowledge, growth, and an expanded view of the world. A marriage may suffer when only one spouse is experiencing such enormous growth. Not only does the military spouse feel the change, the spouse left at home does as well. They may be left feeling out of the loop, or that they do not have any valuable insight to offer in their conversations. The spouse at home may feel left behind and undervalued.

Reduce Military Divorce Rate

The United States government recognizes the concern caused by increased military divorce rates. The U.S. military is increasing their efforts to provide outreach programs to military families in an attempt to lower divorce rates and strengthen families. Outreach programs include support groups for spouses of deployed personnel, weekend retreats for military couples, and mental health counseling for military families. Some of the Army's offerings include: a support program that informs soldiers how their absence may change their relationships at home and how to deal with those changes, support groups for spouses of deployed personnel, and education about choosing a spouse wisely for single military personnel.

The Marine Corps provides programs that strengthen relationships for military couples. One of these programs is a weekend retreat where couples learn how to communicate effectively, work through problems, and maintain their relationship. The most common concerns military spouses have include: communication, finances, intimacy, and parenting. Workshops are used to teach couples how to manage and deal with these sensitive issues. The Navy offers similar workshops designed to strengthen military marriages and provide support. The U.S. Air Force currently does not have marital workshops, but they do offer a diverse selection of classes and support groups to spouses dealing with everything from a deployment to separation.

Military divorce rates are a huge cause for concern. Military personnel must be able to focus their complete attention on the task at hand while they are working. When soldiers have trouble at home, their minds tend to wander and lose focus. Wandering minds can have severe, life-threatening outcomes for soldiers during times of war. Awareness of factors contributing to military divorces is essential to the reduction of military divorce rates.

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