Military divorce is one in which either or both partners are active or retired military personnel. Military divorce laws differ from family divorce laws in domicile, residency requirements, distribution of pension and military rules and regulations.
Military Divorce Law Vs State Divorce Law
Military divorce laws are a relatively relaxed version of state divorce laws. However except for a few relaxations, military personnel have to follow the same filing and other divorce related procedures for a military divorce.
The Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act (USFSPA) is one of the military divorce law which deal in retired personnel’s pension cases. The USFSPA not only deals in division of pension of the military personals, but it also grants the authority of division of pension and other retirement issues to each state to deal with their state’s military divorce cases.
Military Divorce Rate
The rate of military divorces is steadily climbing over the past five years. According to a survey:
- 5,600 divorces in 2001
- 7,000 divorces in 2002
- 7,500 divorces in 2003
- 10,477 divorces in 2004
About 40-50% of all the first military marriages end in divorces. The second marriage termination rate is higher than the first marriage divorce rate i.e. 60-70%. Police divorce rate is much higher as compared to the military officials’ divorce which is 66-75%.
To help military personnel face divorce and divorce related issues, they are provided with mediation and counseling facilities like:
- Deployment Cycle Support Program is a program in which officials are given briefings on how their absence and presence affects their married life.
- Family Supporting System: it provides emotional support to the spouses of the soldiers to avoid divorce.
- The Building Strong and Ready Families Program: it’s a 2-day program to develop communication skills reinforced by a weekend retreat.
- The Strong Bonds Marriage Education Program: it gives knowledge about the issues related to a marriage.
- The Pick a Partner Program: it helps in choosing a life partner.
