2014 Military Family Lifestyle Survey: Analysis and Findings Funding for the Military Family Lifestyle Survey and event was provided by our presenting sponsor USAA and through the generosity of Health Net Federal Services, UnitedHealthcare, JPMorgan Chase and Facebook The 2014 Military Family Lifestyle Survey was writing and analyzed IN COLLABORATION WITH

2014 Blue Star Families Lifestyle Survey: In Partnership with the IVMF and Key Partner Organizations Blue Star Families partnered with many of the country’s most respected military service organizations to distribute our survey online via social media, partner websites, member newsletters

Research Objectives and Methodology Objective: Obtain a better understanding of military families’ concerns and identify gaps in services, recommendations for policy change, and identify the priorities of military families as they change over time. Survey Design: Online survey approximately minutes in length; varies by “profile” Distributed via trusted partner organizations’ websites, social media, electronic newsletters. Respondents represent all regions of the U.S. as well as overseas military installations Sample: N=6270 survey participants; 3,328 completed (53% completion rate) “n” varies per question per applicability to respondent Respondents: Spouses 70% Self 21% Parent 5% Child 3% Sibling 1% National Guard/Reserve 18% Other – including domestic partnership, civil union 1% Timing:Survey was accessible online from February 12, 2014-March 17,

Military Lifestyle Top 5 Military Family Issues

88% report between 1 and 5 deployments since 9/11 10% report between 6 and 10 deployments since 9/11 2% report 15 or more deployments since 9/11 Since September 11, 2001, how many deployments (NOT INCLUDING TDY’s, schooling, and training) have you or your family’s service member had? Over half (55%) had experienced 3 or more deployments Deployments: Number of Deployments Since 9/11 n=2553

“Watching other kids have their dads to coach their basketball, baseball or football teams is especially hard when their dad is deployed. Even when he is not deployed his work schedule is 12 hours long and he has to be late for the practices or games. Then he is also sent for month long training that can also greatly interfere with a sporting schedule.” – Army spouse “…..between TDYs and the deployment, my son has already gone nearly half his life without his father, so each time my husband comes home, it's like they have to reestablish who the man of the house is. My son can get very aggressive and clingy each time Daddy leaves or comes home. I feel like I am constantly stuck in the middle.” – Air Force spouse Military Lifestyle: Separation not Due to Deployment 49% 11%41% N=2609

Geo-Baching: Voluntarily living apart from each other as family n=838 (total; only those who have geobached) 76% of respondents report they have not geo-bached 24% report they have chosen to live apart from each other voluntarily.

Military Family Behavioral Health: Spouse and Service Member Stress and Coping Bars represent % of respondents endorsing item frequency as “fairly often” or “very often” in the past year.

Mental Health and Wellness: Stressors Related to Time in Military Top Stressors: Deployment/Separation Financial Employment/Work Isolation from family/friends Top Stressors: Deployment/Separation Financial Employment/Work Isolation from family/friends

Military Family Lifestyle: Reasons for Joining the Military (Active and Veteran) n= % of active duty and veteran respondents join the military “to serve his/her country” as the primary reason Reasons for joining the military….

Financial Readiness: Obstacles to Financial Security Other Obstacles Top 3 OBSTACLES TO FINANCIAL SECURITY 40% Military spouse employment 38% Uncertainty in military life 34%Uncertainty in potential change in benefits n=(3374)

Spouse Employment: Demographics 43% of active duty military spouses reported they were working full or part time 28% Public Sector (government ) 54% Private Sector 17% Nonprofit Of the 57% who were not working, 58% reported they would like to be employed outside the home Of those spouses who reported they were not working and not seeking employment, the top reason reported by 74% of respondents was that “I prefer to stay home with my children.”

Children’s Deployment Experience: Under the Age of 18 “My children have experienced cultures and sights that other children only dream of. They have seen the places that they study in school. They have been forced to work hard to get involved in new schools and activities and become more assertive out of necessity. They can navigate successfully in foreign countries and find common ground with almost anyone. They have gained self-confidence and become aware that their is so much more to the world than them.” – Air Force spouse “Because there is a high expectation on military families discipline, honor - integrity - honesty - thinking of other before yourself and most important = respect. have been an integral part of our lives....and the lives of the children in my family.” – Navy spouse “My children are resilient. I see them make new friends easily, welcome change with a sense of adventure. They are adaptable and I think their experiences as military children have contributed to this.” -- Army spouse 91% reported the children have lived at home during a deployment or routine separation

“Re-adjusting to a new home and a new school is difficult. Starting over with friendships and maintaining the ones they have in a different place, is difficult. I worry that they will never have a sense of ‘home.’” – Marine Corps spouse “Having Daddy gone for deployment was hard on the kids. I feel that my older child regressed while he was away, and that I was not able to give them as much time and attention as I do when my husband is home.” – Air Force spouse “Our children do not understand the concept of grandparents, aunts, cousins, etc. They know who they are, but they have never had the experience of being dropped off with their grandparents, or stopping by for Sunday dinner. They have rarely had family around for birthdays or holidays. They really only have us, which can be stressful when my husband deploys.” – Air Force spouse Children’s Deployment Experience: Under the Age of 18

Caregiving: Time Spent and Responsibilities n = 795 n = % of caregiver respondents spend 40 or more hours providing care, the equivalent of a full time job 45% reported it would be “very” or “somewhat difficult” to take a break from caregiving

Mental Health and Wellness: Suicide In the past year, have you ever seriously thought about committing suicide? Respondents that indicated “Yes” Respondents that indicated either “Several days”, “More than half the days” or “Nearly every day”

71% felt well- prepared Transitioning: Veterans and their Families In planning for transition - familyand employment strongly influence the choices made by veterans withregard to planning for the transitionfrom military to civilian lifefollowed by healthcare and education. 29% felt unprepared for transition

Transitioning: Veterans and their Families 53% of veterans described the transition as difficult 55% of spouses described their service members’ transition as difficult

2014 Military Lifestyle Survey: Infographic

Questions To find the comprehensive report, executive summary, one-pager, or infographic Please go to military-family-lifestyle- survey For questions about the survey findings or results please contact