2 0 1 7 M I L I TA R Y FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E S U R V E Y

7,891

BLUE STAR

BLUE STAR

TOP 5ISSUES

MIL

ITA

RY

SP

OU

SES

RANKED AS MOST CONCERNING

RESPONDENTS VE

TE

RA

NS

SER

VIC

E M

EMB

ERS

Family stability/quality of life

Impact of deployment on children

Amount of time away from family

Military spouse employment

Dependent children’s education

Military pay/benefits

Impact of deployment on children

40%

32%

Amount of time away from family

Military pay/benefits

Dependent children’s education

46%

51%

24%

46%

43%

40%

39%

36%

47%

42%

34%

33%

32%

Military pay/benefits

Veteran employment

Rising number of SM/Vet suicides

PTSD/combat stress/TBI

Change in retirement benefits

Funding for the 2017 Military Family Lifestyle Survey provided through the generosity of our presenting sponsor USAA and from Lockheed Martin Corporation,Facebook, and Northrop Grumman.

I N C L U D I N GMILITARY SPOUSESSERVICE MEMBERS& V E T E R A N S

34%

30%

30%

42%

42%

51%

31%

39%

53%

67%

60%

IN COLLABORATION WITH:

33%

FAMILY SEPARATION

6+ months of separation in the last 18 months

4+ years of family separation since 9/11

FAMILY FINANCIAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH

of military spouses have been diagnosed with depression, rate is 50% higher than the national averageof employed military spouses

earned less than $20K in 2016

spouse unemployment/ underemployment is top obstacle to financial security

CIVILIAN COMMUNITY INTEGRATION TRANSITION

WOULD RECOMMEND SERVICE TO OWN CHILDREN

TOP STRESSORCHILDCARE

have not had an in-depth conversation with a local civilian in the past month

feel they don’t belongin their local civilian community

Military families who report weekly interaction with local civilian community were more likely to recommend military service to others

of veterans report adjusting to civilian life was difficult

female service membersand spouses

male service membersand spouses

Female Service Members-- Impact of service on children

Male Service Members-- Deployments

of female service members cannot find care that works

MILITARY FAMILIES ARE ASSETS TO NATIONAL DEFENSE AND THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. They are central to the health and capability of the All-Volunteer Force and are good neighbors actively engaged in making their civilian communities great places to live.

Blue Star Families’ annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey provides a comprehensive understanding of what it means to serve as a military family and is a blueprint for strengthening America by supporting military families.

of male service members cannot find care that works

72% of service members

77% of military spouses

POSITIVE IMPACTOF SERVICE

93% of female veterans

95% of male veterans

feel military service had a positive impact on their life

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY

92%

SATISFIED WITH MILITARY LIFE

feel volunteering in community is important

C O S T S TO S E R V E

C O M M U N I T Y S U P P O RT

D I V E R S E E X P E R I E N C E S O F S E R V I C E

SNAPSHOT MILITARY LIFESTYLE

2 0 1 7 M I L I TA R Y FA M I LY L I F E S T Y L E S U R V E Y

OF

TH

E

Willingness to recommend service continues to decline

201520162017

45%43%

40%

Recommend Service to Own Child

Employed

Unemployed

Not in Labor Force

47%

28%

26%

(actively seeking work)

55%of employed military spouses indicate they are underemployed

51% of employed military spouses earned less than $20K in 2016

CIVILIAN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

53%want greater opportunitiesto meet people, make friends, or expand professional networks in civilian community

51%

49%have less than $5K in savings

MILITARY CHILDREN

cannot reliably obtain childcare

with special needs child feel supported by their/their service member's chain of command

RECOMMENDING SERVICE

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

SUICIDE

SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT

BLUE STAR

FINANCIAL READINESS

MILITARY SPOUSE CAREGIVERS

are unemployed(actively seeking work)

identify paying off debt as top financial goal

of veteran spouses say their veteran has exhibited signs of PTSD in the last year

of veteran spouses have considered separation or divorce in the past year

Experienced suicidal thoughts during time in military

MilitarySpouses

(3% in past year)

Veteran Spouses

(6% in past year)

Active Duty Service Members

(3% in past year)

Veterans(11% in past year)

Post-9/11Veterans

(12% in past year)

14%8% 22% 27%

48%

29%

T O P R E A S O NA M O N G T H O S E P L A N N I N G T O E X I T S E R V I C E I N N E X T 2 Y E A R S

Concerns about impact of military service on family

1. Improve Vacation Benefit2. Move Less3. Improve Healthcare

of service members feel serving in military or other national service component is an important responsibility

86%

The number of military families who feel general public understands their sacrifices is increasing

2010 2012 2014

Percent of respondents indicating they were diagnosed with

Active Duty Military Spouses Veterans Veteran Spouses

Depression

Anxiety

12%17%

24%30%

37% 34%32%

36%

Rates of depression and anxiety were higher than the general U.S. population for all subgroups except Active Duty

67%

57%

B E S T W A Y S T H E D O D C A NS U P P O R TMILITARY FAMILIES

11%

CIVIL-MILITARY DIVIDE

43%

30%

eligible for new blended retirement benefit say they don’t understand it

6% 5% 8%

volunteered in the past year; of those, 78% volunteer in their civilian communities

2015 2016 2017

10%12%18%

71%

feel DoD does not provide adequate support to help children cope with unique military life challenges

56%