Abstract
This study explores the challenges faced by a military couple after a wartime deployment and incorporates responses from combat veterans including Vietnam, Panama, Kosovo, Somalia, the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Understanding the biological, psychological and social impact of combat deployment on active duty and/or military veterans and their significant others is vital to the care of the mental and physical health of our troops. Participants were members of a couple at the time of deployment and still together after the combat tour was completed. The questions pertain to the experiences and challenges participants faced when returning to the family environment after combat. They include areas of marital satisfaction, general contentment and peer interaction, and were answered on a Likert-scale survey. Also included were limited, non-identifying demographic questions. Key findings include a disruption of sleep patterns in combatants and a lack of interest in being busy or active, as might be indicated in a person who is depressed. The challenges associated with combat deployment and the readjustment difficulties for couples after the deployment are real, but there is a resistance to speaking of the problems. The most realistic arena for this research is within the military or the Veterans Administration, although this is also contraindicated by the culture of the military and the stigma associated with asking for help. As a society, civilians must continue to engage with military families and the mental health community has a duty to be prepared to provide services to this sector of the nation when called upon. The utilities and appropriateness of using questionnaire survey for this type of survey of the military families are also discussed.