How Does Military Affect

Families With Soldiers

Overseas?
Meg Ziegelbauer

SCIENTIFIC FACTS:
Two thirds of soldiers
are married
Over 2.4 million
soldiers served on
active duty between
the years 2001-06

What is Deployment?
Deployment is when a soldier is sent overseas to a high combat zone.
Meaning that the area they are sent to is highly dangerous and there is
normally a lot of action. Deployments last on average 7-11 months, there are
also 5 specified stages to deployment. The is pre-deployment, deployment,
sustainment, redeployment and post-deployment. Pre-deployment is the
period before actual deployment takes place. Deployment is only the first
month a soldier is overseas, and sustainment is the 2-5 month period that
soldiers are stationed in a combat zone. Redeployment is the last month of
deployment, or the last month overseas. Lastly, post-deployment is the 3-6
months after deployment, or when a soldier returns home. (Military Family
Perspective)

What can happen while soldiers are

away?
With all of the new technology being used in firefights, injuries arise much
easier. These injuries include PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), TBI
( Traumatic Brain Injury) and Depression. These serious brain injuries are
caused by explosive concussions while in combat. The concussion from a
grenade or other explosive can cause the brain to shake in the skull. This, in

Since 2001 over 2

million children living
in the US have had a
parent deploy at least
once
There are four million
military connected
kids currently living in
the US, (Or about 5%
of the overall total 80
million children in the
world)
50% of military
children are under the
age of 7
PTSD affects a little
over 7 million people
worldwide

result, leaves the brain bruised and possibly even

with temporary loss of brain function. (nih.gov)
(ptsd.va.gov)

Are there any

treatments?
PTSD causes many psychological problems.
Soldiers and patients can suffer from stress,
fear, flashbacks, outbursts, and depression.
Because of this growing threat many treatment
facilities have been built throughout the U.S.
There are now almost 200 facilities up and
running. (nih.gov)
However there are some requirements if a
soldier would like free treatment because they
may not be able to afford it. These programs
are available to soldiers who have finished
active duty service, have been discharged from
duty for something other than honorable
discharge, and lastly that they have completed
at least one federal deployment to a high
combat zone. (ptsd.va.gov)

How do the children

react to deployment?
The deployment of a parent can have a big
impact on children psychologically. Young
children may
experience anxiety
from the separation,
they may throw
tantrums, and
changes in their
eating habits.
Elementary aged
children may show a
decline in their
grades and test

scores, and may have mood changes or physical

complaint issues. Teens may become angry and
act out, or act withdrawn and show signs of
apathy. (ptsd.va.gov)

What do military
wives/husbands go
through?
Most military spouses are under the age of 35
and are largely female, only 5 percent of
military spouses are male. For the parent that
stays behind, their family responsibilities are
amplified. These responsibilities include
financial issues, the fear for a spouse's safety
etc. These may cause anxiety, loneliness, and
the possible feeling of being overwhelmed.

Is high divorce rates

just a myth?
Yes it is true, divorces among soldiers have
increased from about 34,000 a year in 2000 to
almost 50,000 in 2011, according to the
Defense Department records. Pentagon officials
stated that this rate held steady through 2012
as well. On average 38 % of military marriages
failed within six months of a soldier's post
deployment. On top of that divorce rates for

those who suffer for any battle injuries, or

psychological injuries, were doubled from the
rates of those who didn't. (Huffington Post)