Army Seeks to Save War-Torn Marriages

[emad]

Guardian

Thursday December 30, 2004 2:31 PM

By KIMBERLY HEFLING

Associated Press Writer

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) - With studies showing divorce rates as high as 21 percent among couples where one spouse has been sent off to war, the Army is spending $2 million on a variety of marriage programs, including vouchers for romantic getaways to places like the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

When Sgt. Jose Bermudez returned from Iraq early this year, he came home to a new baby and a troubled marriage. ``We were on the brink of divorce,'' Mandy Bermudez acknowledged as the couple ate lunch recently with their three children, all under age 3.

The Bermudezes were among 300 couples with the Fort Campbell-based 101st Airborne Division who have attended ``marriage enrichment'' seminars put on by the Army in hopes of saving war-ravaged relationships.

``I've been in the Army 20 years, and I've never seen the Army pay for programs like this,'' said Lt. Col. Chester Egert, chaplain for the 101st.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-4701647,00.html

[liberal N proud]

1. How about bringing the soldires home again so they can be

a couple.

[bleedingheart]

3. I think that is a great idea...

[theycanbiteme]

2. You don't see these in the recruitment ads

do you?