Improving the Mounting Divorce Rate in the US Navy - Research Proposal Example

Proposal to Improve the Mounting Divorce Rate in the US Navy and Infidelity by Active Duty Members Letter of Transmittal October 24 Dear Admiral Mullens, I am pleased to submit for your consideration my proposal document on U.S Military divorce and the problem of infidelity by active duty members. The primary audience for this proposal is yourself as you have the overall authority to initiate this proposal, along with our First Lady, Michelle Obama whom has spoken publically of her desire to support and tackle military family issues. The secondary audience for this proposal is navy and military families in general. The purpose of my proposal is to inform the public, navy and military families and law makers of the mounting divorce rate within the naval community and to suggest ways in which this problem may be improved. I also aim to persuade these individuals to take immediate action towards better and stricter implementation of consequences for infidelity by active duty members. I look forward to your response to my proposals and answering any questions you may have. Sincerely, Table of Contents Introduction, p.5 Extent of the Divorce Problem within the U.S Navy, p.6 A Cause for Concern, p.7 Reasons for these Problems, p.8 Ways in which these issues have or can be resolved, p.9 Conclusion, p.11 Works Cited, p.12 List of Tables and Figures Table 1: Divorces in the U.S Military, 2008, p.5 Table 2: Military Divorce Rate By Gender 2006-8, p.7 Table 3: Navy Demographics, 1989, p.8 Table 4: Marriage Trends since 1960, p.8 Abstract The purpose of this proposal is to address the mounting problem of divorce within the U.S Navy and to consider the additional problem of infidelity by active duty members. The aim of this proposal is to suggest methods in which these problems may be mitigated and state why these problems should be addressed. This proposal will also look at current U.S. Navy divorce statistics and consider the reasons for divorce and infidelity amongst active duty members. The proposal will also consider the means in which this issue is being combated and means which have been proposed to mitigate divorce and infidelity within the U.S. Navy. Introduction This proposal document considers ways in which to improve the mounting divorce rate within the U.S. Navy and the issue of infidelity amongst active duty members. The purpose of this proposal is to inform the public as well as navy and military families and law makers about this issue and suggest ways in which the situation can be improved. Another purpose of this document is to persuade law makers to take immediate action towards implementing better and stricter consequences for infidelity by active duty members. This proposal will look at current U.S. Navy divorce statistics and consider the reasons for divorce and infidelity amongst active duty members. The proposal will also consider the means in which this issue is being combated and means which have been proposed to mitigate divorce and infidelity within the U.S. Navy. Table 1: Divorces in the US Military, 2008 Extent of the Divorce Problem within the U.S Navy From recent statistics concerning divorce rates amongst U.S. military personnel we can see that the number of divorces which occur annually remain a significant problem within the U.S. Navy. Since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 the military divorce rate has increased from 2.6 per cent to 3.6 per cent in 2009.1 Within the U.S. Navy in 2008 enlisted divorce was 3 per cent with officer divorce rates at 1.5 per cent and overall divorce rate at 3 per cent.2 Although these statistics show that naval divorce rates are lower than those amongst the Armed Forces in general Gomulka (10) points out that the way in which such statistics are collected means that the official divorce rates are in fact most likely lower than the actual divorce rate amongst active duty members of the U.S Navy. The reason for this is that the data collected by the Pentagon does not account for actual divorces. Instead the divorce rate amongst U.S military personnel is estimated through the total number of troops married at the beginning of the fiscal year compared to the total number of troops married at the end of that year.3 This method of data collection leads to inaccuracies and underestimations for a number of reasons. Gomulka points out that military personnel tend to remarry quicker than civilians so for example if a service member divorces in January but has remarried by September of that fiscal year the divorce which occurred in January will not be recorded by the Pentagon as a divorce statistic.4 Also, it is often the case that military personnel delay impending divorces until they have left the armed forces in order to retain the benefits given to married military personnel.5 Therefore the statistics available concerning recent divorce trends in the U.S Navy are likely be a significant underestimate of actual divorces and therefore the actual problem. Another problem is that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention amongst military personnel servicewomen are far more likely to get divorced than men; for example in 2006 the U.S Navy male divorce rate was 2.9 per cent compared to a 6.9 per cent divorce rate amongst female active duty members.6 The significant difference between male and female divorce rates in active duty members therefore also need to be addressed if the problem of divorce amongst U.S Navy active duty workers is to be properly resolved. Table 2: Military Divorce Rate by Gender Service 2006 Male Divorce Rate 2006 Female Divorce Rate Army 2,5% 7.9% Air Force 2.6% 6.2% Navy 2.9% 6.9% Marine Corps 2.9% 7.1% Service 2007 Male Divorce Rate 2007 Female Divorce Rate Army 2.6% 8.1% Air Force 2.9% 6.5% Navy 2.8% 6.5% Marine Corps 3.0% 8.1% Service 2008 Male Divorce Rate 2008 Female Divorce Rate Army 3.0% 8.5% Air Force 2.9% 6.5% Navy 2.5% 6.3% Marine Corps 3.2% 9.1% SOURCE: U.S. National Vital Statistics Report, 2008 A Cause for Concern Divorce amongst U.S Navy active duty members is a cause for concern. A informal survey by Glen Bloomstrom, the then director for military initiatives for the Army Chief of Chaplains in February 2005 concluded that loss of their relationship with their spouse was the top deployment concern for servicemen and women.7 Gomulka further comments on the reasons why divorce is such a problem within the U.S Navy. Firstly servicemen and women tend to marry at a far younger age than the general population leading to problems.8 Also, financial problems are common causing further stress and relationship breakdown.9 The stress of multiple long-term deployments in combat zones also contributes to the problem of divorce through the increased likelihood of mental issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder10 and potentially the problem of infidelity occurring whilst away from home. Table 3: Navy Demographics, 1989 Active Duty 599,744 Family Members 705,888 Married 50% Active Duty, 80% Career Personnel Married 48% of Enlisted 75% of Officers Table 4: Marriage Trends since 1960: Officer Stable between 70% and 74% Enlisted Up from 36.5% to 47.6% Source: Naval Military Personnel Command (NMPC-661). Reasons for these Problems There are several reasons why issues such as divorce and infidelity remain a problem within the U.S Navy. One reason for infidelity amongst active duty members in the U.S Navy is the long periods of time spent away from home and the masculine culture which encourages sexual promiscuity whilst away. Zeeland’s (95) study is primarily concerned with homosexuality in the Navy; however some of his subjects also touch upon infidelity and promiscuity amongst their straight colleagues whilst away on duty. In response to the question of whether his colleagues had sex whilst at sea one First Lieutenant stated: …Guys develop these very transient relationships [and] develop a lot of them for different places and different times. I attribute that to be one of the reasons why the Navy has such a high divorce rate.11 The reasons for such behavior are further commented upon by Zeeland’s subject who explains that the culture amongst sailors whilst away from home encourages such promiscuity. The First Lieutenant then described how such adulterous behavior was justified by active duty workers: They called it the One-Eighty Rule…what happens here stays here…So all these guys who are supposedly loyal husbands could go and screw around…What is bad and unethical back home is OK here because we’re someplace different…12 Therefore according to Zeeland’s First Lieutenant the sexually promiscuous behavior of active duty workers away from home was justified by the idea that what happened whilst these workers were away on duty would not affect them or their lives back home. It is clear that this cultural acceptance and in some cases encouragement of infidelity within the U.S Navy needs to be eliminated and measures put in place to prevent encouragement of such behavior in future. Ways in which these issues have or can be resolved In so far as what has already been done to combat these issues there have been therapeutic programs set up in order to council those who have been affected by adultery or are on the brink of divorce in order to heal their marriages. One such program is that offered by Affairrecovery.com. This program operates outside the military but has been designed with active duty workers in mind and has the support of military chaplains. Affair Recovery is a Christian organization which aims to help couples to recover from affairs and save and strengthen their marriages.13 The courses this organization offers consist of healing couples and healing spouses whom have been hurt by affairs. As these courses have been developed with military couples in mind and the organization consulted military chaplains for guidance on the needs of such couples.14 Military chaplains feel that there are additional difficulties involved in therapy involving military couples due to the fact that chaplains do not have enough time to get to know couples in between deployments and moves and such transfers mean that there is simply not enough time to get to know couples and offer consists help to those experiencing marital problems.15 Therefore in these cases an external organization may be better placed to help couples experiencing such marital crises. Statements from couples whom have received the therapy on offer by Affair Recovery further confirm that such methods have saved their marriages. G, an Commander in the U.S Navy on active duty states that: …We have seen military chaplains, secular counselors, and Christian counselors, and although helpful, Affair Recovery was the one thing that finally propelled our marriage forward…The military teaches, honor, courage, and commitment, and because of Affair Recovery we now have those same qualities in our marriage.16 It is clear that programs such as those offered by Affair Recovery can help couples create stronger marriages and recover from affairs and other situations negatively affecting their relationships. Similar support services for families are also provided by the U.S Military. Wallace (91) has investigated the support offered by the Family Support Services which offers counseling resources to military families.17 As of 1987 these Centers offered services to 85 per cent of military personnel and their families.18 These services included support in the event of divorce as well as personal, marital and family counseling.19 In the fiscal year 1989 these services were used by 4.0 million military personal,20 however marital counseling accounted for only 2 per cent of all actions by Family Support Services in 1988.21 Wallace concludes that the services offered by Family Support Services were too diverse and therefore the help offered by external programs could be vital in tackling issues such as divorce and adultery within the U.S Navy. In terms of what methods have been proposed to combat these issues it is clear from research that divorce is more likely to occur amongst active duty workers after the first five years’ of service.22 Therefore there is enough time for family support services within the U.S Navy to provide programs designed to address and solve marital difficulties before divorce occurs.23 Also, the reasons why these divorces and infidelities occur need to be addressed such as long deployments and the temptation and encouragement to commit infidelity whilst away. Approval of such actions within the U.S Navy needs to stop and these problems need to be properly addressed in order to prevent more divorces occurring. Conclusion From the available data it is clear that action needs to be taken to improve the mounting divorce rate in the US Navy and infidelity by active duty members. Statistics and other evidence shows that actions already undertaken has begun to improve the situation but further innovation is needed to address cultural problems within the U.S Navy which actively encourage active duty members to be unfaithful to their spouses whilst away. In so far as solving the problem of divorce and infidelity amongst active duty workers counselling services such as those offered both externally and internally are proven to help those already affected by infidelity or contemplating divorce and therefore greater provision is needed towards maintaining and directing individuals towards these services. As well as this proven divorce risk factors such as long deployments and significant time away from spouses and families need to be considered. When such measures are put into place and cultural problems such as the approval of infidelity by active duty workers when on deployment are addressed these measures should decrease the divorce rates within the U.S Navy. Works Cited AffairRecovery.com, “Military Outreach” Affair Recovery, 2011 Oct 21st 2011 http://www.affairrecovery.com/military Bushatz, Amy, “Troop Divorce Rate Levels out in 2010”, Military.com News Nov 18th 2010, Oct 21st 2011 http://www.military.com/news/article/troop-divorce-rates-level-in-2010.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Birth, Marriages, Divorces and Deaths: Provisional Data for February 2008”, National Vital Statistics Report, 57 (5) Feb, 2008, Oct 23 2011 http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr57/nvsr57_05.htm#table2 Gomulka, Gene Thomas, “Saving Military Families”, Military Review, (2010) 111-116 Karacaoglu, Nihat, “The Effects of Military Assignments and Duties on the Marital Status of Navy Officers”, Postgraduate Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, March 2003 Wallace, Elizabeth A., and Kenneth C. Rose, “Divorce and Family Support Services: Problems and Prospects for the U.S. Navy”, Postgraduate Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, March 1991 Zeeland, Steven, Sailors and Sexual Identity: Crossing the Line between “Straight” and “Gay” in the U.S. Navy, Binghamton: The Haworth Press, 1995 Read More