Combat Deployment and the Military Family
Combat Deployment and the Military Family
Combat deployment, in many ways, has affected every military family; the soldier, the spouse, and the child(ren). The spouses and child(ren) of the deployed soldier are often referred to as the “unsung heroes” of military families, at all times of a deployment. In the military, the families are often placed in the background, but families are crucial to the soldier’s success. There are several million service members in the military today.
50% Under the age of 25 years old
85% Soldiers that are males
10% Dual parents*
70% Military families have one or more children
70% Have some college credits or have attended college
*(Dual Parents- both mother and father are in military) The soldier faces multiple challenges during deployment and for many months to years after coming home from a deployment. While being deployed soldiers face the threat of injury or even death. After returning home a soldier can have problems with re-integration, post traumatic stress disorder, depression, anger control problems, and it can even cause drug or alcohol abuse.
“Department of Defense data indicated that among soldiers returning from combat operations on Iraq (Operation Iraq Freedom, OIF) 27.7% of active duty and 35.5 % of National Guard and Reserve component service members screened positive for clinically significant mental health concerns (PTSD, depression, suicidal ideation, interpersonal conflict, or aggressive ideation) three to six months after returning from deployment.” (Gewirtz, et al., 57) Most soldiers have no long term mental health problems with those listed above, but they can be experienced up to three years after deployment. Majority of returning soldiers experience difficulty with sleeping, problems while trying to concentrate, and they might be irritable.
“A common saying in the military is that when one person joins, the whole family serves.” (Park, 65) The spouse of the soldier is faced with many
Combat deployment, in many ways, has affected every military family; the soldier, the spouse, and the child(ren). The spouses and child(ren) of the deployed soldier are often referred to as the “unsung heroes” of military families, at all times of a deployment. In the military, the families are often placed in the background, but families are crucial to the soldier’s success. There are several million service members in the military today.
50% Under the age of 25 years old
85% Soldiers that are males
10% Dual parents*
70% Military families have one or more children
70% Have some college credits or have attended college
*(Dual Parents- both mother and father are in military) The soldier faces multiple challenges during deployment and for many months to years after coming home from a deployment. While being deployed soldiers face the threat of injury or even death. After returning home a soldier can have problems with re-integration, post traumatic stress disorder, depression, anger control problems, and it can even cause drug or alcohol abuse.
“Department of Defense data indicated that among soldiers returning from combat operations on Iraq (Operation Iraq Freedom, OIF) 27.7% of active duty and 35.5 % of National Guard and Reserve component service members screened positive for clinically significant mental health concerns (PTSD, depression, suicidal ideation, interpersonal conflict, or aggressive ideation) three to six months after returning from deployment.” (Gewirtz, et al., 57) Most soldiers have no long term mental health problems with those listed above, but they can be experienced up to three years after deployment. Majority of returning soldiers experience difficulty with sleeping, problems while trying to concentrate, and they might be irritable.
“A common saying in the military is that when one person joins, the whole family serves.” (Park, 65) The spouse of the soldier is faced with many
Cited: Gewirtz, A., Erbes, C., Polusny, M., Forgatch, M.,DeGarmo, D. "Helping Military Families through the Deployment Process: Strategies to Support Parenting."Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 42.1 (2011): 56-62. PsycARTICLES. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. Park, Nansook. "Military Children and Families: Strengths and Challenges during Peace and War." American Psychologist66.1 (2011): 65-72. PsycARTICLES. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. Sheppard, S., Malatras, J., and Israel, A. "The Impact of Deployment on U.S. Military Families."American Psychologist 65.6 (2010): 599-609. PsycARTICLES. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.