The marriages of people in Kentucky who are in the military might be more vulnerable to divorce than the marriages of non-military couples according to a number of studies. For example, one career website examined census data and found that of the top 10 professions in which divorce by the age of 30 is most likely, three were military jobs. The number one profession with the highest likelihood is first-line enlisted military supervisors. Air weapons and tactical operations were the other two military professions that made the top 10.
Military careers include a number of stressors that can adversely affect a marriage. The “Journal of Population Economics” found that deployments significantly raised the chance of divorce. Furthermore, what happens on those deployments can also create conditions that may damage a marriage. Among veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, 20 percent have dealt with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Frequently moving is another common element of military life that can cause stress.
Outside of the military, other jobs that had a high divorce rate included mechanics, logisticians and automotive service technicians. Baby boomers are much more likely to divorce than the same age group was in 1990 according to Pew Research Center. The organization reports an increase of more than 100 percent in divorce rates for this population.
How a divorce proceeds will depend upon a couple’s circumstances, including how long the couple has been married, whether they have children and what their employment situation is. For example, some military benefits for former spouses may be tied to how long the marriage lasted. Furthermore, if one spouse does not work outside the home, the other spouse may be required to pay alimony either temporarily or permanently. Baby boomers who are divorcing may be concerned about retaining retirement savings.