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Army Battles High Divorce Rates

'Marriage education' aims to bridge gulf between love and war

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 5, 2008 5:56 AM CDT
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(Newser) – A jump in divorce rates since the start of the Iraq war has the Army concerned. Marriages are falling apart as soldiers return home from tours of combat duty emotionally distant and unwilling to discuss their experiences. The military has now launched 'marriage education' retreats to try and repair the damage, the New York Times reports.

The Army has already had some success in helping couples with basic communication skills but it is now aiming to directly tackle the stresses war causes. Counselors will try to bridge the split perspectives long deployments cause and help jaded veterans understand that for their spouses, marriage breakdown can be what military commanders call a "worst-case scenario."

The Army is piloting a program to help couples deal with the stresses the long separations and different perspectives long combat deployments cause.
The Army is piloting a program to help couples deal with the stresses the long separations and different perspectives long combat deployments cause.   (KRT Photos)
The Army is working to strengthen military marriages amid a rise in divorce rates since the beginning of the Iraq war.
The Army is working to strengthen military marriages amid a rise in divorce rates since the beginning of the Iraq war.   (Getty Images (by Event) Individuals)
The Army is worried about divorce rates among its troops. The rate has shot up since the launch of the Iraq war and the military has started 'marriage education' retreats.
The Army is worried about divorce rates among its troops. The rate has shot up since the launch of the Iraq war and the military has started 'marriage education' retreats.   (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
jamesrader
Aug 1, 2010 6:41 PM CDT
yea right dont believe what the army is telling you they are liars and cheats. they do not take care of their soldiers. they do not honour their contracts. they threw many of us away as one tosses out the daily garbage. they will never care. They took everything away from me. my retirement, my belief in my country, my family, my life. THE ARMY WILL NEVER TELL YOU THE TRUTH about how they deliberately downgrade all claims so they dont have to own or pay or deal with the broken soldiers.
I know this I was a soldier. I became injured. I have PTSD .

Multiple tours strain soldiers, families
AFP

Army lets husband-and-wife soldiers live together in war zone
Associated Press

Keeping military marriages strong
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

 
divorce • marriage • US military • US Army • military spouses • divorce rate • soldiers' families

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