ABSTRACT
Marital separation is ranked among the events that produce high levels of stress in families and couples. Military deployments cause temporary separations and require adjustments from all those involved, before, during, and after the separation, and often with few formal resources to prepare one’s self and the family for these transitions. Not only do the temporary absences and subsequent returns of a family member into the household bring with them the need for family restructuring and adaptation, but military-induced separations also involve the potential risks of service members getting injured, or even killed, while performing their duties abroad. This risk is part of the unique combination of demands that military service members face as they seek to balance military service with their familial role.
