Relationships and Intimacy: Resources for Military Couples

Dual military couple sitting talking
US Air Force [military relationships by Airman 1st Class Benjamin Wiseman, February 12, 2010, CC0]
What are the keys to a long lasting and happy relationship? Everywhere you turn, websites, television, and magazines get readers and viewers by asking this question and then providing a top ten list of ways to make loving relationships last. Are there realistic ways and resources that can help couples come together that does not utilize buzzwords or checklists? In addition, are resources available that specifically military couples can use?

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we wanted to share resources we have provided over the years and articles we recommend when looking at the triumphs and challenges for military couples. This includes both dual military couples, in which both partners are active duty, and military couples in which one partner is active duty military and the other a military spouse.

Military.com shared this article [1], “How Long-Married Military Couples Stay Together,” which shares the results of a study on long-married military couples and the factors that contribute to marital duration. Career satisfaction, promotion, maintaining normality during deployment, and reintegration into the family after deployment were all seen as ways to measure success in military couples.

Dual-military couples, in which both partners are military service members, also have unique challenges. This article [2] from human Performance Resources by CHAMP (HPRC) shares insight into the issues that can come up like deployments, relocations, and personal risk. One of the biggest issues is how to navigate prioritizing career goals and family goals for both partners, especially when there are kids involved. Dual-military couples are strong but require negotiation and flexibility.

Below are various resources (a podcast episode, webinars, and blogs) that OneOp Family Development has provided that can benefit military couples.

Webinars

Blog Posts

References

[1] Eckhart, J. (2020). “How Long-Married Military Couples Stay Together.” Retrieved from: https://www.military.com/spouse/relationships/military-marriage/how-long-married-military-couples-stay-together.html

[2] HPRC. (2018). “When you’re both in Uniform: Military Couples Today.” Retrieved from: https://www.hprc-online.org/social-fitness/family-optimization/when-youre-both-uniform-military-couples-today

This post was written by members of the OneOp Family Development Team. The Family Development team aims to support the development of professionals working with military families.  Learn more about us at https://oneop.org/family-development, and connect with us on Facebook, and on Twitter.  Subscribe to our Anchored. podcast series on iTunes and via our podcast page.

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