ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

The past two years have been marked by both challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and positive progress for military families and veterans, a report from Purdue University’s Military Family Research Institute found.  

The report, “Measuring Our Communities: The State of Military and Veteran Families in the United States,” analyzed the status of American military and veteran families across nine themes, including employment, housing, K–12 and postsecondary education and behavioral health.  

Questions about mental health and access to behavioral health providers prompted a frank discussion with Army senior leaders at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition.

Addressing a standing room-only, town hall-style forum with military families, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth gave her assurance that seeking help is “nothing to be ashamed about,” acknowledging that she has sought counseling during difficult times in her own life.

Military families should look to family and community relationships to build connections, a panel of experts said Oct. 11 during the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2022 Annual Meeting and Exposition. 

“Connections are extremely important for our families because of the unique lifestyle that we live,” said Karen Halverson, an Army spouse and AUSA senior fellow. “Being able to connect with people is a useful topic, perhaps the most useful skill that I use as a Naval officer and a longtime Army spouse.”

As they navigate the ups and downs of military life, Army families need grit to persevere and grow through the various challenges they face, military family leaders said Oct. 10.

In the face of rising consumer prices, the Defense Department has unveiled a 13-point plan to help service members and their families.  

“This is personal for me,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin writes in a Sept. 22 memorandum to Pentagon leaders and combatant commanders. “I have seen firsthand how much our military families sacrifice to keep our force strong, healthy and ready to defend this exceptional nation,” he says. “I understand the extraordinary pressures that our military families face, and we are determined to do right by them.” 

Maintenance issues, including response times and communication, were among the top concerns cited by soldiers and family members in the Army’s 2022 housing tenant satisfaction survey.

Overall, the survey found a slight decrease in customer satisfaction for residents in privatized, Army-owned and government-leased housing on Army posts.

Soldiers and Army spouses are looking for easier access to health care services and more support, particularly for their families and during the transition to civilian life, a new survey found.

The 2021 Military Family Support Programming Survey, conducted by the Military Family Advisory Network, combines responses from 8,638 people, including military spouses and active-duty personnel, to highlight the experiences and needs of military families. Of the respondents, just over 40% were affiliated with the Army.

Strong connections and robust quality-of-life programs are critical to the Army’s efforts to ensure soldiers and their families are taken care of, a panel of experts said during the Association of the U.S. Army’s inaugural Warfighter Summit and Exposition.

Speaking July 27 on the first day of the two-day event near Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the panelists emphasized the importance of building a strong community to help Army families navigate the stressors of military life.

While Army spouses have access to many on-post resources, including help with permanent change-of-station moves or adjusting to a new installation, they could benefit from additional support navigating those resources, a Rand Corp. report found.