Emotional Stress On Military Families Research Paper

Lorena Garcia
November 22, 2013
Y. Isaac Hinojosa
Composition 1
Emotional Stress on Military Service Families
The deployment of a loved one in the militry service leads to emotional stress to the family left behind with hope to hold on to. Kendra N. Lowe talks about development of stress on the families caused by deployments. Lowe says, "Military life can also be extremely stressful on families and children due to prolonged absence of the active duty member during deployments, TDYs, and frequent trainings"(3). Deployments can be a very big transition on a military family. The family begins to face different obstacles, having to adapt to the change of not having their mother or father there anymore. Everyone in the family picks up new
Committee on the Initial Assesment of Reajustment Needs of Military Personnel describe what exactly deployment is, and the affects its come with toward the family left behind. Committee on the Initial Assesment of Initial Assement of Reajustment Needs of Military personnel Describe deployment as, “The relocation of forces and material to desired operational areas"(1). Being in an area unaccustomed with may be difficult. Surrounded by unfamiliar things, and people one may need some time to adjust . At home not having a loved one there anymore may impact everyday life into something you are unaware of. It took a lot of time for me and my family to adjust to my dad being gone. He played a big role in our everyday life and when he suddenly was not there anymore we had to fill the role he played. National Military Family Association describes the meaning of what deployment is. National Military Family Association says, "A deployment is moving a person or a military unit from the United States to an overseas location to accomplish a task or mission. This can mean anything from six months on a ship to a year in combat"(2). Deployment may be a few days, a week, a month, several month to even a year or more. A soilder gets sent away on a duty that must be completed in the time period they are given. They become distant from
Barbara G. Melamed, and Carl Castro talks about how children develop behavioral and stress disorders while their mother or father is away. Melamed, Castro stress "…services for behavioral disorders grew by 19% and services for stress disorders grew by 18%"(Par 36). Children go through many different types of emotions while their soldier is away. They may not have the courage to say what they are feeling, because they are trying to stay strong for their family. Or, they are unsure of the feelings they are feeling and do not have someone to comfort them in their time of need. Children go through a big change, and they have no say or control over the situation. The emotional build up can turn into anger, rebellion, keeping to themselves, or taking things out on others. The first time my dad got deployed to Irap I was in the second grade, and I was an angry second grader. My teacher made me go to a counsler everyday to talk about things, and I didn’t even understand why I was so angry. I would go home and pretend like I was perfectly fine so my mom and siblings would be happy. Trenton James and Jacqueline Countryman talk about a change in behavior with children dealing with the deployment of a parent. James, Countryman says, "A survey showed 20 percent of military spouses reported increases in problem behavior exhibited by their children at home in response