On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Military Family Law on Monday, July 8, 2013.
The rate of divorce among enlisted military members is higher than the rate of divorce among civilians. This divorce rate among military members has also been steadily increasing over the years.
In looking at the reasons why the military divorce rate is higher, sources point to a number of factors, including the stress of military life, the age of marriage and the real reason behind the marriage in the first place.
According to a 14 News special report, wives interviewed said many marry in their late teens and early 20s. Many rush and jump into a marriage wanting to know they will have someone waiting for them at home after a long deployment.
Another reason for jumping into a marriage with a military member is for the incentives. For the military member, being married means living off of the barracks with an extra $1,000 to $4,000 a month in housing allowance. Subsidized meals and health care are also included for the spouses, yet another incentive.
In some cases, not only do these incentives lead to jumping into a marriage, in other cases it is the sole reason for the marriage. In these cases, it is no wonder the couples end up splitting up as the marriage was not about love and was more of a business transaction.
Of course, there are those who do marry for love. However, the stress of deployment and long hours working on the base finally just takes its toll on a marriage and one or both spouses decide it is time to file for divorce.
In general, military divorces can end up being trickier than civilian divorces, especially when there are children involved. This is why it is important to speak with an attorney who specifically has experience handling military divorces. This attorney will be able to look at all angles.
Source: KPHO, “14 News Special Report: Marriage in the Military,” Kenneth Douglass, July 4, 2013
