There are numerous challenges that our active duty military members face on a daily basis. From the daily routine, physical training and maintaining a level of battle readiness, the burden put on a family can be tough. This is not including the reality of getting relocated across country to another base or the possibility of becoming mobilized and being deployed while your family stays behind.

There are a number of challenges that a marriage will face while one spouse is deployed for military service. For the military member there is first, the fear of death and not being able to return home. Second, there is the concern of over the exposure to trauma that could negatively impact life once returned home from a mental health standpoint.

For the spouse who stays home there are the same fears but an additional sense of living your life while you are apart from your spouse. Life will continue in the day to day while their spouse is deployed. This creates a natural point of tension since both parties feel like they are missing out on what the other is going through.

According to a recent research study published by RAND Corporation the length of deployment is one of, if not the most important indicator in determining if a marriage will survive during military service. From the report “more cumulative months of deployment increased the risk of divorce among military couples, regardless of when the couple married or when the deployment occurred. The risk of divorce was higher for hostile deployments than for non-hostile deployments, and women were always more likely to divorce than male service members as a result of time in deployment.” These findings demonstrate that it is critical for couples in the military to rely on positive strengths to get them through times of deployment. Perhaps if they can have a regular communication time every few days their odds will increase. Or perhaps if they turn to their faith as a way to find inner peace while they are apart they can be more in unity. There are countless other strategies that a couple could turn to increase their odds during a deployment.

The study also showed that the likelihood of the divorce depending on when the couple was married. Specifically they were looking at the difference of those couples who were married before and after 9/11. The study suggests that “couples who married after the 9/11 terrorist attacks were better prepared for the challenges posed by being married in the military than those who married before the conflicts began.” This theory seems to support the idea that those who were married after 9/11 were mentally adjusted to the level of risk and furthermore accepted them, despite the risk.

Military service in general can be a challenge for most couples. Those that have to endure a deployment into a war zone or an active military campaign have a higher risk of divorce. Though, it seems those couples who have married after September 11th, 2001 have a deeper understanding of the risks that come from being in the military. That can help a couple survive the perils of war, but in truth there must be a multiple of tools and strategies put in place for couples to withstand the trauma that comes from being married while in the military.

If you have found yourself in a situation where you need an attorney that can advocate for you through a divorce proceeding, then consider contacting Andrews & Arbenz. We are Tacoma attorney firm that values the work of the military and will provide you the support you need to get through your divorce as smoothly as possible. We have numerous years of working in this industry and are confident we can support you.