ABSTRACT
This article discusses the use of role-exit theory within military couples as they attend counseling for martial discord. The adjustment of roles by both members of the marriage during a military deployment can create tension on the soldier's return. The goal of counseling is to assist the couples in regaining a balance in their marriage through cohesion and generating comfort in the roles assumed during deployment and on the soldier's return.
A need for flexibility and understanding is important for a successful marriage. This need increases in a military couple. Frequent changes due to military service do not always correlate with the marital cycle, thus creating problems specific to military couples. With the current operational tempo of today's military, couples are feeling the strain of deployment and its effects on their roles within the marriage.