Members of the military experience things that most other people can’t even begin to imagine. Sometimes these experiences can leave a lasting impression on servicemen and servicewomen that complicates their lives for years to come. While there are many programs and support groups to help veterans and current members of the military through some of their difficult times, sometimes the problems are so severe that they affect personal lives.
One way in which these experiences can affect your personal life is through divorce. Military divorce is a complex issue that has to tackle additional problems that non-military divorces don’t face. Being in a military divorce brings with it additional factors such as military retirement division or settling on a custody agreement while deployed overseas. Of course nobody expects divorce, but sometimes military service changes people in ways that make maintaining a marriage even more difficult.
An Alabama police officer has struggled daily with the aftereffects of his 11 months in Iraq, most notably in the form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms. Unfortunately, the PTSD symptoms put a strain on many of his relationships and even contributed to a difficult divorce. Since returning from his 2009 deployment, the officer has gone through medical center visits and a treatment program in Kentucky to try to cope with his problems.
Issues such as PTSD do not discriminate based on gender, location or any other factor. Whether you live in Alabama or Texas, if you’ve served in the military, your relationships may be strained by the aftereffects of your time overseas. If your marriage becomes difficult and you feel that divorce is your best option, it’s important to take all of the factors into consideration and know that military divorce is not the same as other divorces.
Source: Daily Mountain Eagle, “CPD officer continues to deal with health issues related to military service,” Jennifer Cohron, July 6, 2014