Military spouses serve every day and are the type of individual who will just give because it is their expected role and the right thing to do. They can lose their sense of self since their partner's military career of service often takes precedence over theirs. Additionally, service members often cannot share details of their work with their spouses which can lead to frustration for both. And, while homecomings are joyous occasions they are not easy on either spouse. Military spouses sometimes have difficulty relinquishing household roles they assumes when their spouse deploys and service members have difficulty understanding why things can't be the same as before they deployed.
The Facts:
1. 56% of service members are married which equates to 726,500 spouses.
2. 29% of spouses are under the age of 25.
3. The average age of a military spouse is between the ages of 19 and 22.
4. 80% of spouses have had their partner deploy at least once during their marriage. 26% of spouses have endured deployments totaling between 13 and 24 months in duration.
5. 10% of military spouses admit that they have considered suicide, slightly higher than the 9.5% for service members.
6. 57% of spouses felt that the military lifestyle made it difficult to pursue long term career opportunities.
7. Over 28% of military spouses are unemployed.
8. 95% of respondents in a recent Blue Star Families survey felt that the general public did not truly understand or appreciate the sacrifices made by service members and spouses.
Why is USO-Metro poised to make a difference here?
The USO has long been a bridge between the civilian and military communities. It is uniquely positioned to foster greater understanding between these populations and to assist spouses during stressful and challenging times. USO-Metro centers offer opportunities for interaction with peers through over 50 established spouse programs annually.
