Connecticut has seen its share of military divorce in past years and will again in upcoming years as deployments to the Middle East come to an end. Since the wind down and return of about 40,000 troops, the military divorce rate grew 42 percent. Although families are happy to be reunited, some families cannot adjust to the new circumstances. The families were forced to adjust when the service member deployed. The spouse that stayed home learned to do things without his or her spouse.
When the military spouse returns, more adjustments have to be made, and these adjustments take time. Often the adjustments are not without struggle. A group is trying to help military families readjust by implementing an initiative called Finally Home to Family.
The program helps military families reunite in a positive manner. Part of the project involves preparing the family for the return of its military member, which is then followed by a short period of time alone for the husband and wife.
A spokesperson for the group said that the next 90 days are the most important part of reintegration for military families because of the disruption to normal routines, expectations that each spouse has for the other, expectations from the children and learning how to communicate with each other again. The group also states that rushing the transition, dealing with post-traumatic stress syndrome and renegotiating roles within the family unit part of what could destroy a military marriage.
Source: Fox News, "Military Marriages Need Support As Our Troops Return Home," Dennis Rainey, Jan. 2, 2012
