Annual Survey Of Army Families

During the late 1980's soldiers and family members were asked a series of questions about the Army's social and recreational services in four world-wide surveys: the DoD Family Survey (1985), The Annual Survey of Army Families (1987), The RAND Corporation Survey (1987), and the Army Family Research Program or AFRP Survey (1989). Specifically, the respondents were asked whether they used given services, were satisfied with it, and what benefits they derived from such services. The purpose of this report is to provide insights into what these services actually do by contrasting what different groups of respondents (e.g., officers, enlisted soldiers, and spouses) and different surveys say about these services. In addition to summarizing the findings, the report also makes recommendations (where appropriate) for how to improve given services. General community services have much higher use than do the more "clinical" or services that are "targeted" to a special group. In general, spouses are more likely than soldiers to use Army services. Soldiers who used services were more likely to see their leaders as supportive of families than those who did not. Retention intentions were also related to satisfaction with the community, particularly among junior enlisted personnel.

This report identifies challenges that Army families face and resources they need, from the perspectives of spouses, including how spouses prioritize needs and how the Army can best address their most-pressing unmet needs.

The U.S. military has been continuously engaged in foreign conflicts for over two decades. The strains that these deployments, the associated increases in operational tempo, and the general challenges of military life affect not only service members but also the people who depend on them and who support them as they support the nation â€" their families. Family members provide support to service members while they serve or when they have difficulties; family problems can interfere with the ability of service members to deploy or remain in theater; and family members are central influences on whether members continue to serve. In addition, rising family diversity and complexity will likely increase the difficulty of creating military policies, programs and practices that adequately support families in the performance of military duties. Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society examines the challenges and opportunities facing military families and what is known about effective strategies for supporting and protecting military children and families, as well as lessons to be learned from these experiences. This report offers recommendations regarding what is needed to strengthen the support system for military families.

What does it mean to serve our country today? From the experts on military life comes this year's essential snapshot of the strengths and challenges of our nation's bravest families. All the data, findings, and recommendations in this report come straight from military families themselves, offering a unique opportunity for their experiences to be heard. Since 2009, Blue Star Families' annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey has provided a yearly overview of the opportunities and obstacles encountered by military families. The survey's response rate makes it the largest and most comprehensive survey of service members, veterans, and their families available today. Whether you are a leader in philanthropy, community, government, or academia, the survey offers you crucial insight to the sacrifices that military families make to keep all of us safe. Your purchase of the survey report will elevate the voices of families who sacrifice so much for all of us by supporting Blue Star Families' work to tell the story of military life to a broad audience and ensure all Americans understand what it takes to protect our country. For more information on Blue Star Families, visit bluestarfam.org