Fact Sheet: Domestic Violence in the Military

This fact sheet includes statistics that reflect recent research concerning domestic violence and the military. Just as in the civilian community, domestic abuse is an issue in military families and communities. In 2001, there were more than 18,000 incidents of spousal abuse reported to the Department of Defense's Family Advocacy Program. 84% of these incidents involved physical abuse. It is often even more difficult for victims involved with the military to discuss and report abuse because of geographical isolation from friends and family and a concern that a report will jeopardize the job of the active duty personnel involved in the relationship.