Gov’t Offers Help To Stem Rise In Military Divorces

By ABC-7 Reporter Celina Avila

EL PASO, Texas – Any military family will tell you that sending a soldier to war is not easy.

And as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan drag on, military divorces are steadily rising.

“All of our friends got divorced, probably 80 percent of them,”Master Sgt. William Mayfield said.

Mayfield and his wife Holly have been married11 years and have three children.

They’ve also been through three deployments.

“I accepted there was going to be a lot of separations,” said Holly.

“We have regular problems just like everybody else,” added William.

The good news for this couple is they’re still going strong.

“You just expect there’s going to be some greater fall out,” William said.

But that’s not the case for everyone, according to Army Chaplain Maj. Paul Blundell whocounsels military couples.

Blundell said emotional infidelity is a big problem.

“Online affairs, may never be physical contact it’s just done on the internet,” Blundell said.�@

Divorce rates among married couples increased 3.6 percent in 2009 compared to 3.4 in 2008.

“We started using the tools that are out there…marriage retreats,” William said.

The Mayfields credit their strong marriage to their continuous work on it.

“I always looked at it like the Army, we always try to sustain our proficiency by doing training all the time,” said William.

Nationwide, $124 million tax dollars are available for couples through various programs under the Army’s Strong Bonds program.

“Kind of a mini vacation if you will, providing child care if they have it.”

The Army understands they need to support the Mayfield team as part of their team.