Traumatic events affect not only the individual trauma survivor, but also, people who have significant relationships with trauma-exposed and traumatized individuals (e.g. spouses, partner, and children). Much of the literature on traumatic stress focuses on treatment of the individual, without a theoretical and clinical description of the systemic impact of trauma. The couple relationship provides a unique context for examining the interpersonal/systemic impact of trauma and understanding how trauma exposure can impact both the primary trauma survivor and the spouse/partner.The current study was conducted by the Trauma, Research, Education, and Consultation at K-state (TRECK) team which includes undergraduate and graduate student researchers. The study included data from 45 local military couples recently deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan . A mixed method design, including quantitative measures and separate qualitative interviews with each partner, was used to identify individual trauma symptoms, levels of relationship satisfaction, and other variables related to the impact of trauma on each individual and on the couple's relationship.  Soldiers' TSC-40 scores significantly predicted 41 % of the variance in soldiers' relationship satisfaction scores and 9% of the variance in female partners' satisfaction scores. Female partners' PPTSD-R scores predicted 19% of the variance in their own and 9% of the variance in the soldiers' relationship satisfaction scores. The study revealed that an increase in individual symptoms predicted decreased relationship satisfaction in soldiers and their spouses/partners. Stress of war deployment impacts both the soldiers serving their country and their spouses/partners.