You always knew you wanted to join the military, and so did your significant other. You proposed right before you joined up. They said yes, knowing what the future held.
But it was harder than both of you thought. You had to spend a lot of time apart. Even when you got to be together, the military moved you around the country. Your significant other had to leave their family, their friends and even their home state. Then you got deployed, and it meant months apart and a lot of stress for your young marriage. Could that lead to divorce?
It may. Reports have found that there are many potential reasons for military couples to split up, such as:
- Almost anyone with a high-stress job has a higher risk of divorce, and being in the military is certainly a high-stress job.
- Mental health issues, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can also lead to divorce, and they are serious concerns for those who serve in the military.
- Moving a lot also plays a role, and it’s common in military life. Your spouse may resent having to leave everything that they know and never feeling like they can settle down and have the life they expected.
- Many military couples get married young because they want to get married before joining up. Young marriages also have a high divorce rate, which could play into this equation.
If you and your spouse do wind up getting divorced, your military lifestyle can make it more complicated. Be sure you are well aware of all of the legal steps you need to take.
