Over the past year, sizeable reductions in the number of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in more and more armed forces personnel making the long-awaited trip home to their loved ones. However, as discussed in previous posts, while many of these men and women arrive home to great fanfare and welcome-home celebrations, the transition to home life has proven difficult for many couples, leading to a spike in the number of military divorces.

"They come in with such high expectations of what should be happening, the cameras, the lights, the glitter, all when they come in is wonderful but when they get back home and all that's gone away, the expectation is that they should be able to come back in and assume the role they had before," said Michael Semon, a marriage counselor, of the pressure that causes many military couples to divorce.

To illustrate the gravity of the problem, consider recent data from the Defense Department, which reveals that in 2010 7.8 percent of women in the United States military secured a divorce while 3 percent of men in the United States military secured a divorce.

"Going back into the normal swing of things it got to be kind of rough, and then once life actually hit, and you realize you're not over there anymore, and you're home. It was kind of difficult," said Corporal Calvin Gray, whose marriage ended in divorce soon after his return from a prolonged deployment.

While the current divorce rate among military couples is not entirely encouraging, it must be noted that recent findings have shown that it is now leveling off.

Many family/marriage experts are attributing this phenomenon to the so-called marriage enrichment programs created by the four branches of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines) in order to help guide married couples through difficult times.

If you would like more information regarding military divorce or other family law issues, you should strongly consider speaking with an experienced legal professional.

This post is provided for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.

Stay tuned for developments from our Phoenix divorce blog ...

Related Resources:

Military divorce no longer on the rise (CBS 42 - Birmingham)