The damage to a soldiers’ marriage while enlisted can be serious. According to the Psychology Department for the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity, the divorce rate among enlisted families rose 53 percent between 2000 and 2004, and divorces among officers have also risen. At least some of the increase is likely due to both the stress disorders that soldiers face when their deployments end, and from the strain on families caused by repeated deployments and extensions of time overseas. In light of these shocking figures, the military now offers individual and marriage counseling.
During a soldier’s deployment, his or her entire family may struggle with depression. A soldier’s homecoming may ease the sadness — but sometimes it takes more, including counseling, medication or both, to restore a family’s balance. And all of these issues are exacerbated if the returning soldier has been physically disabled or wounded. Some bases, such as the CBC Naval Center in Gulfport, offer classes to family members to teach them what signs and changes to look for to determine if a spouse or child needs psychological counseling.
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