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Reunification problems lead to military divorces

On Behalf of | Sep 21, 2012 | Divorce/Dissolution |

Colorado readers are aware of the sacrifices military men and women make in the service of our country. But many people are probably not aware of a little-known casualty of military service: military marriages. In all branches of the military the divorce rate is higher than it has been in over a decade. Nearly 30,000 marriages involving service members ended in divorce last year.

The long deployments brought about by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are clearly to blame for much of the rising military divorce rate. And deployments in wartime are inherently more stressful for both spouses. But there is another, less understood cause of divorces among service members: the challenges of picking up, after a deployment, where the couple left off.

To fight this problem, the Navy is offering a series of workshops designed to help a couple communicate after a long deployment and work through the reunification process. The program is part of the Navy’s increased attention to the mental health needs of its members. But in many cases, if a couple has truly grown apart and wants to start their lives over separately, divorce may be the best option.

Of course, military families are not the only ones who may face the challenges of reunification following the prolonged absence of a spouse. Non-military families, especially high-profile couples with busy careers, may sometimes have to deal with lengthy business trips or overseas assignments. When the marriage ends in divorce, an experienced divorce attorney can help with issues involving asset valuation, child custody and support, and asset division.

Source: NBC San Diego, “Navy Pushes Resources Amid Rising Military Divorce Rate,” Mark Mullen, Sept. 11, 2012