Civilians get divorced at a higher rate than the military. Did military service strengthen or ruin your marriage?

All my time on active duty did was keep me married to a miserable hag 5 years longer than I should have been.

COL Lee Flemming ,
Interesting stats. I do not know if military service strengthened or ruined my marriage as I have been with the same woman for 20 years. But I cannot deny it has most certainly been challenged, both before and during service.

I would say that nothing can ruin a marriage but the parties involved.

If "ANYONE," says the Military ruined their marriage, that person is a sorry piece of crap and is using the Military as a COP OUT for their own personal incompetence and lacking the ability to prepare for their Marriage Career.

Just about ruined mine. If I wasn't a forgiving type, it would have been over 30 some years ago. Jody was another shipmate. Typical. I would stay away from marriage in the military. Just my experience I know there are a lot of folks that make it just fine.

I think military have help readily available if they chia to pursue it. Have you looked at stats for those returning from depoyment in combat zones

Military is responsible for us getting married. We're from about 3 1/2 hours apart, but would never have met if we hadn't joined.
Next month is our tenth anniversary. Although the truth of how we are still together is simple. We agreed, whoever leaves first has to take the children. We have five boys, ages 9, 8, 7, 4, and 2. My parents used to say the same thing, until my mom passed away less than two months before their 30th anniversary.

I'm not sure why my wife chose me or if the military strengthened our relationship. My wife grew up an "Army Brat"(her term, not mine so save all the PC) so I think she had a better handle on how life was in the military. There were more than one date interrupted by work, so she knew what she was getting into. I could never replace her as she has been the anchor stone to my sanity for so many years. I thank her constantly for picking me, as without her I was on the road to ruin. She has been beside me for 23 years and over half of that I was serving, so she is either really strong or stubborn. She practically raised our son, who seems to have turned out OK, by herself, and especially during his formative years. I AM THE LUCKIES MAN ALIVE!!!

My wife and I have now been married 39 years, it might just work ! We always do things together, with USAF She participated in many of the ceremonies I was involved or was there, as an example n this picture on My promotion to SMSgt My wife Joanne is placing the rank insignia on my right shoulder while Colonel Moore, Director of Security Police for Hq Air Force Systems Command does the right shoulder.

Colonel - I shouldn't touch this with a proverbial ..... I'm about as bad an example as one could find. Married a German girl while Active (in Germany) came back to the States, left Active duty for Active reserves, she missed parents, friends, and Germany, so went back. Lots of back and forth travel, by me, including enrolling in a German University. No dice. Six years, over and out. Rest break. Another 6 year marriage. Not advancing enough in business. Done. Rest break, never again. Then a thirteen year marriage. Oh, heck no. Marriage counseling, separation...done again. Very expensive business this "habit". Very. Now married for LAST time to lovely woman for 12 years. She calls herself "The Last Mrs. Voss" and she's correct, Sir ! I'm the guy that drags down the average, as you see. I suppose I could "blame" my original S1 that said: "Has anyone talked to you about marrying this German girl ?" Well, no ! So he said: "I'm married, please stay single !" Heck, her father served in the German Army in WWII and was born in what was East Germany. Apparently the parents background check even worked out. So, OKAY the military ruined my first marriage, and I take 1/2 responsibility for the middle two. The end !