ABSTRACT
Since the end of the Cold War, and even more so after 9/11, multinational task forces all over the world have carried out a multitude of missions for more or less extended periods. This implies frequent separations between military personnel and their families. Not only the operational tempo, but also the nature of military missions has changed. The character and organization of new missions imply that military forces face increasingly demanding challenges and must be highly trained. Intensive (predeployment) training necessitates military personnel being away from their families (even more) frequently, even when actual deployment has yet to begin. Furthermore, many Western armed forces face downsizing and restructuring, which further increase the deployment load.
