It is no question that being a military family is often difficult. The stressors placed on a family when at least one member is in active duty are many. Long deployments, frequent moves, the stress of recent wars and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can put pressure on a family that can damage a marriage.
Spouses may not be able to speak for weeks at a time when one of them is deployed overseas. However, life must go on at home and the inability to communicate with an active-duty spouse can often drive a rift in a marriage.
A study completed by UCLA Prof. Benjamin Karney and John Crown of the RAND Corporation looked into the effects of military deployments on marriages. Using personnel records of the entire U.S. military, the study examined how extended military deployments in each branch of the armed forces related to the divorce rates in the branches.
The study showed that military couples who were married younger had a higher risk of divorce, as did couples where the female spouse was deployed. However, in a strange twist, the study found that longer deployments led to less of a chance for divorce.
Although military divorce rates are often similar to those of non-military families, the stressors facing military families are far different. One issue that can have a huge effect on marriage stability is PTSD in returning spouses. After being through a traumatic tour, a military spouse may return affected negatively by combat, with depression, sleeplessness, less interest in activities and discomfort in crowded places. Flashbacks to traumatic experiences may occur, also.
For couples facing PTSD, experts encourage seeking proper psychiatric help, especially if the marriage is being affected. Couples should not try to treat themselves, as PTSD introduces a new set of difficulties that are hard to manage. The U.S. military offers a number of services for military couples and individual servicemen and women suffering with PTSD.
With the war in Iraq officially over, many families will be facing the challenges posed by PTSD and reintegrating into the family life and society as a whole. Unfortunately, some families that have survived the war may have a marriage that will not. When this happens, there are special considerations in military divorces that must be taken into account.
Military families will need to work out division of military pension as well as provide for health care benefits. There are also special laws that apply to military divorces. To make sure the division of assets is truly equitable, it is important to hire an experienced Fairfax military divorce lawyer who can help protect your interests.
