Blue Star Families Military Family Lifestyle Survey cover. – Blue Star Families
Results from two of the most recent surveys conducted by Blue Star Families show a significant disconnect between civilians and the military regarding how much military families are appreciated for their sacrifices and service to the nation.
In a Blue Star Family/YouGov survey of civilians released last year, 45% of respondents said they “believe the American public truly appreciates the sacrifices made by military families.”
However, only 19% of military families agree with that assessment, according to the just-released results of the Blue Star Families’ Military Family Lifestyle Survey.
“That is a pretty standard response,” said Rachel Linsner, Associate Director of Research at Blue Star Families about the military response to that question. “That disconnect is one of the things Blue Star Families is working to address.”
Respondents in the civilian survey last year voiced great respect for military families:
- 61 percent said military families are important in creating a peaceful world;
- 55 percent said military families play a pivotal role in national security;
- 85 percent agreed with the statement that the country has a responsibility to care for military families.
Despite the disconnect with civilians, 80 percent of the women and 70 percent of the men in this year’s Military Family Lifestyle Survey expressed pride and satisfaction in their service. Another 70 percent of active-duty family respondents said military service had added value to their lives.
Surprisingly, this high level of pride and satisfaction was not enough for respondents to recommend military life to others – only one-third said they would.
“The likelihood of recommending military service has been steadily declining,” said Linsner. “There has been a push and pull about military families feeling good about their service and the value of it, but there are ongoing concerns they have about quality-of-life issues that are clearly affecting morale.”
A top quality-of-life issue most cited in the Military Family Lifestyle Survey was military pay – 46 percent of respondents cited it – double the number from four years ago.
The 2024 Military Family Lifestyle Survey was released in February. The issues most cited by respondents were:
Active Military:
- Military pay 50%
- Basic Housing Allowance 44%
- Time away from family 39%
- Military spouse employment 34%
Military Spouses:
- Military spouse employment 54%
- Military pay 45%
- Time away from family 40%
- Basic Housing Allowance 38%
Veterans:
- Access to health care 50%
- Public understanding of issues 37%
- Veteran employment 34%
- Benefits 32%
Veteran Spouses:
- Access to health care 57%
- Benefits 39%
- Public understanding of issues 36%
- Military spouse employment 31%
Also frequently cited is the cost of relocation. Military families relocate once every two to three years on average, and while the military pays for the move, not all the related costs are covered. Seven in 10 respondents said they paid $500 or more for a relocation.
Other quality of life issues cited:
- Only 26 percent said their Basic Housing Allowance (BAH) actually covered their costs;
- 54 percent of active-duty spouses said continuing unemployment was a pressing challenge, with 39 percent saying it took three or more months to find work, while 25 percent said it took nine months or more;
- 64 percent said the cost of child-care is a significant problem;
- 40 percent said they are on a waiting list for mental health care and 44 percent said the same thing about medical help for a child.
“We hear a lot about childcare costs and worry about finding childcare providers,” said Linsner, “and access to health care is still a top issue; wait times for mental health care specifically is something that comes up again and again.
“Health care is always cited as a benefit of service. When we ask active military personnel who have stayed in the service longer than they thought they would, the health care benefits are a major reason why.”
Other findings in the Military Family Lifestyle Survey:
- Suicide remains a dark cloud in the military community and of great concern to military families – seven percent of service member respondents admit to having had suicidal thoughts and 25% of active-duty family respondents reported their unit or command experienced a suicide with the past year;
- 83 percent believe the United States will engage in a major conflict in the next 3-5 years.
Blue Star Families is a national non-profit founded in 2009 by military spouses to help strengthen military families by connecting them with neighbors, individuals, and organizations to create vibrant communities of mutual support.
Blue Star Families has about 350,000 members including chapters in various states and communities around the world.
