The Military Marriage Manual

Tactics for Successful Relationships

By (author) Janelle B. Moore, Cheryl Lawhorne-Scott, Don Philpott

Paperback - £11.99

Publication date:

16 November 2011

Length of book:

240 pages

Publisher

Government Institutes

ISBN-13: 9781605907659

At a time when divorce and suicide rates are at record levels in the military, The Military Marriage Manual: Tactics for Successful Relationships is an invaluable aid to members of the military and their spouses and families. The book presents advice for couples on a range of issues, both extraordinary and mundane, both those specific to military marriages and those common to all marriages, such as:

-the ceremony
-relationships with friends and family
-household responsibilities
-finances
-dealing with tension and conflict
-raising a family
-domestic violence
-deployment
-long periods apart
-injuries
-depression
-relocating
-and much more

The information in the book is presented chronologically, beginning from the day a couple decides to get married. It follows them through the engagement, ceremony, and marriage, and discusses the many issues that arise, offering guidance on how to overcome them and strengthen a couple's marriage, as well as their relationships with those around them. There is no better, more comprehensive resource for those who are dealing with the pressures and problems unique to marriage in the military.

This guide offers advice to military spouses on dealing with communication, anger management, drug use, intimacy, task-sharing, and even breastfeeding. Marrying into the military brings major changes, such as frequent moves, unaccompanied assignments, long hours, and combat deployments, and the authors (Philpott and Hill previously penned The Wounded Warrior Handbook) address numerous concerns, providing straight talk on life with the enlisted. About the honeymoon, for instance, they suggest giving a wedding night gift; 'if orders come through and you're separated for a time, you'll have something wonderful to hold on to.' They also share trade secrets, like the Armed Forces Vacation Club, a program allowing military members to rent luxury condos at greatly discounted rates, and urge newlyweds to 'splurge on one night in a great hotel rather than two in a mediocre one.' Serious concerns are dealt with in the direct manner one expects from the armed services, and lengthy 'Counseling' and 'Wounded Warrior' chapters provide detailed advice for handling partners who may be dealing with drug addiction, physical wounds, PTSD, or suicidal notions. For the intended readership, this will prove to be a valuable guide.