2-Marital Status

The majority of accessions are young high school graduates and the military is often their first full-time job. Thus, very few are married. In FY 1999, 9 percent of male and 12 percent of female recruits were married, compared to 53 and 43 percent of male and female enlisted members, respectively. Table 2.6 compares marriage rates of accessions in the Services with 18- to 24-year-old civilians in the labor force. Civilians are more likely to be married than accessions (15 versus 9 percent). Within the Services, Army recruits are most likely to be married (14 percent) and Marine Corps recruits are least likely (4 percent). Figure 2.4 shows marital status trends for FYs 1976–1999 by Service.

Figure 2.4. Marital status trends of Active Component NPS accessions, by Service, FYs 1976–1999.

Table 2.6. FY 1999 Active Component NPS Accessions Who Are Married, by Gender and Service, and Civilians 18–24 Years Old (Percent)
Gender	Army	Navy	Marine Corps	Air Force	DoD	18- to 24-Year-Old Civilians
Males	13.0	5.9	3.8	9.6	8.6	10.7
Females	17.7	7.0	5.7	10.0	11.9	18.7
Total	14.0	6.1	3.9	9.7	9.2	14.7
Also see Appendix Table B-2 (Marital Status by Age and Gender). Source: Civilian data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey File, October 1998 – September 1999.

Research shows that marriage is important to a member’s long-term career and can enhance individual readiness. [1] This is true if the member is in a strong marriage to a supportive but independent spouse. However, combining marriage and a military career can create challenges for younger Servicemembers as well as for the Service. Entering into marriage just prior to or soon after enlisting can place extra burdens on the recruit, the family, and the military, particularly when frequent or unexpected deployments separate the “new” family. Thus, marital status trends of accessions (and members) are an important characteristic to monitor.

[1] Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), Family Status and Initial Term of Service, Volume I – Summary (Washington, DC: Author, December 1993).