Blue Star Families' 12th Annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey Highlights Key Issues, Challenges, Opportunities Facing Service Members, Veterans, and Families
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Star Families, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting military families and strengthening communities, today released the findings of its 2021 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, the largest and most comprehensive survey analyzing the top issues impacting military- and Veteran-connected families. The most recent survey found that time away from family, relocation/permanent change of station (PCS), and spouse under- and unemployment ? all of which affect quality of life ? ranked among the top concerns facing military families.
This year's survey includes over 8,000 respondents worldwide and highlights the complex challenges that come with a military lifestyle, including rising costs associated with relocation, continued spouse unemployment trends, financial insecurity, mental health concerns in children, and perceived discrimination in the military. At the same time, most active-duty service members indicate satisfaction with their jobs and believe the work they do is meaningful.
"Every year, we bring light to the complex and unique challenges facing the men and women who serve our country, as well as their families, so we can strengthen what's working and improve what's not," said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. "Across the multitude of issues facing military families, one theme remains clear: that a stronger and healthier military means a better future for our country. We call on all national leaders, philanthropic organizations, and civilian communities to recognize these challenges and step up to help those who protect us."
"Since our founding more than a decade ago, our programs have directly impacted more than 170,000 Veterans and military family members, and our research and policy analysis support and inform the military-connected community ? including our valued partners at Blue Star Families," says Maureen Casey, COO of the D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. "The work we do alongside Blue Star Families is led by an unrivaled team of experienced researchers and informed practitioners who are on the ground hearing directly from our military and Veteran families to understand and highlight the most important issues and biggest challenges facing this community today. These findings not only lay the foundation for the work of the IVMF and Blue Star Families, but also for other partners, stakeholders, and decision makers."
Top findings from the 2021 annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey include:
The release of the 2021 survey data coincides with Blue Star Families' "The Military Family Experience 2022: Back to Basics," a two-day virtual event held on March 16th and March 17th. The event features Secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth; U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (Tennessee), U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (Georgia), Brigadier General Irene M. Zoppi (Rodríguez), Ph.D., U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.); Brianna Keilar, Anchor CNN New Day; and other defense and military family leaders.
The annual survey, first launched in 2009, provides an in-depth review and comprehensive understanding of the experiences and challenges encountered by military families. Blue Star Families collaborates with the D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF), presenting sponsor USAA, and other key partners including Lockheed Martin, CSX, CVS Health, AARP, Starbucks, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, Walmart Foundation, Verizon, the Barry Robinson Center, and the USO to increase dialogue and provide crucial insight and recommendations to help inform national leaders, local communities, and philanthropic actors to address military family challenges.
The research was conducted from April to June 2021. The full report, as well as issue-specific summaries, can be viewed here. Highlights from the report can be viewed below:
About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families is the nation's largest grass-roots military family support organization, with a mission to support military families to improve military readiness. Its distinctive approach builds stronger communities around military families through knowledge and programs that address the unique needs of those who serve. Blue Star Families' nationally recognized surveys and analysis give military families an important voice that informs policymakers and its military family programs. It uses the power of its collective resources and cross-sector collaborations to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of members of military families to strengthen the troops, their families, and our nation as a whole. For more information, visit bluestarfam.org.
SOURCE Blue Star Families
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