Few people would think to compare marriage to the military. However,
             being experienced with both, I realize that the two institutions have more
             in common than they seem to. For example, both involve a great degree of
             commitment, symbolized by a contract and manifested in a daily reminder of
             one's selfless duties. Moreover, both marriage and the military involve a
             sort of basic training, in which new bonds of family and friendship are
             forged and new habits learned. As I reflected on my two marriages and my
             military service, the similarities between the two became even clearer. Of
             course, the differences between marriage and military life are obvious: the
             former involves none of the weaponry and battle tactics of the latter, at
             least we hope. Furthermore, marriage is supposed to be much more
             egalitarian than military social structures, even though this often is not
             the case. Regardless of the glaring differences between marriage and
             military life, both are social, political, and economic institutions that
             When one enters the military, he or she takes an oath and signs a
             contract. Similarly, marriage involves a contractual agreement as well.
             These contracts are legally binding but they are also highly symbolic. In
             both cases, the contract means commitment. When I signed my marriage
             license, I promised to spend my life with that person. Marriage contracts
             normally don't have expiration dates. However, military contracts are
             usually drafted with a certain time limit expressly stated. For instance, I
             committed to being in the reserves for a certain number of years. On the
             other hand, a marriage contract is supposed to be permanent: "Till death to
             us part." Unfortunately, about half of all marriages in North America,
             including my first marriage, end in divorce. With both the military and
             wedlock, breach of contract can be a huge hassle with unforeseen and
             ...