In 2020, the Air Force made a change to the way it determined duty assignments. Non-custodial parents who have a document from the court will have that taken into consideration. This is big news for Air Force personnel in Texas and around the country.
An important change
Over 3% of personnel in the Air Force are divorced. Others have never been married to their co-parent. With hundreds of thousands of airmen in the service, that means this decision will affect hundreds of families. In changing the policy, leadership acknowledged that life has changed over the decades since the Air Force was founded.
Today, divorce and custody are huge issues in the lives of many Americans. As family composition changes in America, institutions like the Air Force are bending and flexing to reflect that. Family is still the cornerstone of many people’s lives, even if it is starting to look different from the way it used to.
Military divorce can be incredibly stressful, not only to deployments and frequent moves. There are special guidelines around the way some assets and benefits are split between military spouses. There are also rules impacting the way visitation and custody work. For example, in some situations, if a servicemember is deployed, another family member can take over visitation time in their place.
If you are concerned about juggling custody or visitation with military service, don’t be afraid to have a discussion with your attorney. There are lawyers who have extensive experience with military divorce and custody issues. They may be able to help you understand your rights and help you reach your goals. This is an area that is constantly changing, as demonstrated by this 2020 decision. It’s important to choose a lawyer who understands these dynamics.
