Nuclear Family Is Alive And Well At Fort Bragg

Fort Bragg soldier Gerald Peoples and his wife, Karyna, may be newlyweds, but they still have old fashioned family values.

"We try to do everything together as a family, instead of separately," says Karyna.

And according to census reports, it is what is keeping military families together. Pope Air Force Base and Fort Bragg have the highest percentage of married couples with children in the country. Gerald says being away from his family during deployment makes his time with them extra sweet.

"Being deployed and that [makes you think] about stuff when you are away from your family and when you get back together, it's something special," Gerald says.

Suzanne Walker, a clinical counselor and military wife of 30 years, says being a soldier helps to make husbands and wives better life partners.

"Once you make a commitment to the military, then you make a commitment to have a family - you realize there are certain things you have to set as priorities," Walker says.

Another reason why military families stay together is the strong emphasis on communication. Both Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base have extensive programs and services geared to giving military families support and guidance.