An exploration of the impacts of military deployment on the nuclear families of the military members of the South African National Defence Force (ARMY) in the Capricorn District, Limpopo Province

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the impacts of military deployment on the nuclear families of military members of the South African National Defence Force. Qualitative, exploratory research was conducted to determine the impacts of military deployment on the nuclear families of the SANDF. Data were collected through qualitative interviews. A purposive sampling technique was used wherein six families were sampled to explore the impacts of deployment on families with a member previously deployed to foreign missions by the South African National Defence Force. Inductive qualitative content data analysis was performed to analyse data. The study highlighted the areas of potential effects that deployment had before and after deployment of a service member as well as the daily lived experiences of the family during deployment of a family member. The study found that the increase in the changes in the composition of the family structure during deployment; continuous communication was very vital during deployment and the beneficial impacts of deployment. Most military families did not experience dire challenges during deployment but were normal challenges most civilian families experience. Instead, the military families developed resilience during the deployment period.