2010 Military Family Lifestyle Survey

Findings and Analysis

Funding for the Military Lifestyle Survey and event was provided by Blue Shield of California Foundation

Blue Star Families partnered with many of the country’s most respected military service organizations to distribute our survey online via partner websites, member newsletters, and through physical locations.

Demographics

Top Military Life Issues

What are the Top 3 military life issues that most concern you?

% of Respondents Ranking Issue #1:

Pay/Benefits

Effect of Deployment on Kids

OPTEMPO

Kids’ Education

Spouse Employment

Moral Support for Families

Spouse Education

PTSD/Combat Stress/TBI

Services to Off Base Families

Practical Support for Families

PCS Adjustments

Family Reintegration

Service Member Education

Maternity/Paternity Leave

41%

34%

30%

26%

30%

23%

22%

12%

16%

21%

16%

14%

8%

6%

% of Respondents Ranking Issue in the Top 3:

OPTEMPO:Breadth & Depth of Deployments

Has your service member been deployed during your marriage?

Since 9/11, about how many months has your service member been deployed?

Yes82%No

18%

7%

23%

21%

25%

14%

5%6%

Unsure

Less than 6 months

6-12 months

13-24 months

25-36 months

37-48 monthsMore than 48 months

During your service member’s deployments, how would you describe your personal stress level?

38%

1%

52%

0.3%

Nearly all respondents report increased stress during deployment with over 1/3 citing much more stress

Spouse Deployment Stress Level

OPTEMPO & Spouse Stress

OPTEMPO &Spouse Mental Health

During your service member’s deployments, how would you describe your overall personal mental health?

40%

18%

4%

8%

Despite the fact that most spouses reported higher stress levels, nearly half indicate no problems with overall mental health

4%

Spouse Employment

• 49% said that being a military spouse had a negative effect on their ability to pursue a career

• 13.5% have experienced some form of employment discrimination based on their military spouse status

Spouse Employment

• 19% of respondents have had challenges with maintaining their licenses across state lines

• This contributes to the significant number of spouses who wish to work, but are not

Licensing Difficulties:

If your profession requires a license of any type, such as a teaching license, have you encountered any challenges in the maintenance of the license due to geographic relocation?

Spouse Employment: MyCAA

The Military Child & Deployment

The Military Child & Education

• Mobility• Standardize curriculum• Standardize access to

programs (gifted, special needs)

• Sensitivity to student emotions

• Deployment• Professionals’ knowledge

of deployment stressors• Students without a peer

support network

Highlighted Quote

“The education system in all the states we have lived in

or moved to...have different curriculum, which means my children miss out on

some aspects of their education and sometimes

they repeat things that were taught in one state the

following year in a new state.”

13

In 2010, fewer military spouses completely agreed that the general public doesn’t understand sacrifices associated with military service compared to 2009

% of Respondents:

71%

23%

3%2%1%

64%

28%

4%3%1%

To what extent do you agree with the following statement:“The general public does not truly understand or appreciate the sacrifices made by service

members and their families.”

Community Engagement

Military Family Volunteerism

Where have you volunteered?

Social Media: Informational Sources

Jr. EnlistedE1-4

WarrantW1-W5

Co. GradeO1-O3

Field GradeO4-O6

Military.com

Milspouse.com

MilitaryOneSource.com

What are the military-related sites that you visit on a regular basis to gather information about the military community or services?

ConclusionsNeed for a move from reactive and piecemeal approaches to planned, comprehensive strategies in program development and systems of services.

Big Issues: Pay and Benefits

Military Kids – education and effects of deploymentOPTEMPO – introduction of Individual Augmentee (IA) assignmentsSpouse Employment

Emerging/Notable Issues:Changing Military Families – parents of service member concerns,

blended families, EFMP family membersCommunication – reliance on and use of social mediaVolunteerism

Next StepsMilitary and Civilian Leadership:

Involve non-traditional participants from both military and civilian communities

Highlight potential of public-private partnerships

Targeted follow up with specific legislation (i.e. spouse employment and children’s education)

Blue Star Families:

Continue research into specified and emergent themes:Increase in parental responsesVolunteerismBest Practices for meeting needs of military families

Compile diverse research from other DoD and independent agencies as it relates to military family life