Pentagon Reports High Rate Of Divorce Among Military Couples
December 3, 2008 8:06 a.m. EST
AHN Staff
Washington, D.C (AHN) - Stress of being separated by two ongoing wars the United States is participating in has taken its toll on military marriages which hit a 16-year high divorce rate.
According to Pentagon, the divorce rate rose to 3.5 percent among the 287,000 married American soldiers, up from 3.3 percent recorded the previous fiscal year which ends Sept. 30. At that rate, it means there were 10,200 divorced couples in active Army duty and 3,077 among Marines.
Army spokesman Paul Boyce explained to the Washington Post, "With increasing demands placed on Army families and soldiers - including frequent deployments and relocations - intimate relationships are tested."
Marine spokesman Col. Dave Lapan said the military leadership is paying serious attention to the strain on marriages caused by frequent separations due to deployments to different posts.
The Pentagon data lists only couples who divorced while in active service. If those who separated after they left the military service is counted, the divorce rate may actually be higher. Veterans also pointed out it excluded strained marriages.
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This was not unexpected the military divorce rate rose during Vietnam and the early "peacetime years" in 75,76, 77, 78 and 79. I was there and watched the break ups, the combat divisions especially had problem marriages I served in the 9th ID and the 2nd ID during this period and many friends endded up divorced and it was carry over from problems that started during the Vietnam War and the PTSD that many of the soldiers were dealing with.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Pentagon Reports High Rate Of Divorce Among Military Couples
