Military combat arms training and aggressive conflict resolution tactics in the marital relationships of enlisted male military members

This research examined the types of marital conflict resolution tactics that are used by enlisted married male U.S. Army soldiers who are currently assigned to infantry, field artillery, and air defense artillery occupations (combat arms soldiers), compared to enlisted married male soldiers who are assigned to other duties other than in these specialties (noncombat arms soldiers) within an overseas U.S. Army installation.;One hundred fifty-six respondents (76 combat arms and 80 noncombat arms soldiers) participated in the study. The revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2) was used as the measurement instrument.;The study addressed the types and methods of conflict resolution tactics utilized (i.e., negotiation, physical assault, psychological aggression, and sexual coercion) by combat arms and noncombat arms soldier to determine how each group resolved conflicts within their marriage. Combat arms soldiers utilized significantly more aggressive conflict resolution tactics through physical assault, psychological aggression, and sexual coercion. Further, no differences were found between noncombat arms soldiers demonstrating successful negotiation skills compared to combat arms soldiers.;The implications of this study are broader than the issues presented concerning soldiers in the U.S. Army. The U.S. Marine Corps and civilian law enforcement agencies are two examples of occupations that have a "warrior" mentality. This brings to light the importance of social research addressing marital conflict and tactics used to resolve them.