Using Marriage Education to Strengthen Military Families: Evaluation of the Active Military Life Skills Program

In addition to challenges all couples face in their relationships, military couples encounter difficult stressors unique to life in the armed services. Marriage education programs have the potential to provide military couples with the tools necessary to build healthy marriages. This exploratory study examines the effectiveness of the Active Military Life Skills Program (AMLS) in improving marital satisfaction, hope for success of and commitment to the relationship, communication and conflict resolution skills, and the ratio of positive to negative interactions. Results of analysis of data gathered from 23 Air Force personnel and their spouses/partners indicates the AMLS program was largely successful in meeting each of these objectives. Data analyses of measures for each program objective, as well as implications for social work practice, are discussed.