Marriage and Divorce Trends for Graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy

Numerous data support the benefits of a stable marriage and document the negative consequences of marital distress and divorce. An estimated 40% to 50% of first marriages in the United States end in divorce (Bramlett & Mosher, 2002). Military members experience similar divorce rates overall but fewer divorces among officers (Karacaoglu, 2003). The marital status of U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) graduates was assessed and evaluated for unique risk factors for this population. Results indicate that USAFA graduates from class years 1990 through 2002 have a lower divorce rate than the general U.S. population. When assessed separately, there is no effect of the timing of the wedding or the type of spouse on marriage disruption rates. However, there is an interaction between these two risk factors that increases the probability of marriage disruption for those who marry other USAFA graduates within 6 months of graduation. Implications and further research endeavors are discussed.