The most extreme cases, which are few and far between, become fodder for the media as happened both in 1994 when Time magazine published a feature entitled "The Living Room War" and again last January when 60 Minutes aired a disturbing segment called "The War at Home."

There are media claims that domestic violence in the military is several times higher than in the civilian sector. Reporters attempt to establish a connection between military warfighting training and violence in the home.

The fact is, Army officials do not deny domestic violence exists. And they operate Family Advocacy Programs at every installation that focus on prevention, victim advocacy and commander involvement.

"The whole country is becoming more sensitive to the issue of family violence. Communities are doing more to protect women and children. We’re aware of our families’ needs and FAP is just one of many programs designed to help families with a variety of situations," said Brig. Gen. Craig B. Whelden, commander of the U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center, the agency responsible for the Army’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs, including Family Advocacy.

Whelden continued, "We’re taking proactive, aggressive measures to prevent, identify and intervene at the earliest known time of an incident, we are establishing a victim advocacy program, and we have a financial safety net called Transitional Compensation.

What most victims are most afraid of is reprisals from the abuser and that the primary breadwinner will be either kicked out of the military or somehow lose pay as a result of being demoted or otherwise punished," explained Delores Johnson, the Army’s FAP manager at the CFSC.

"Transitional compensation was set up specifically to encourage spouses to report without fear of reprisal and to make sure there is transition pay if, in fact, the soldier is court-martialed, loses pay or has some other kind of disciplinary or judicial action taken against him that affects the family’s income," she said.

Congress established Transitional Compensation in 1994 as part of the fiscal year Department of Defense Authorization Act (PL 103-160). The legislation authorized temporary payments at the rate specified for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. The current monthly DIC rate is $881 for spouses and $217 for each child.

In response to Department of Defense Instruction 1342.24, the governing Army regulation (AR 608-1) was changed to reflect the new laws in 1997 and again in 1998. The TC program is centrally funded and managed at CFSC.

Benefits start the date a court martial is approved or administrative separation is initiated. Payments continue for a minimum of 12 months, but cannot exceed 36 months.

Victims are also entitled to commissary and post exchange privileges as well as medical and dental care related to abuse during the time they receive TC benefits.