Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society

The U.S. military has been continuously engaged in foreign conflicts for over two decades. The strains that these deployments, the associated increases in operational tempo, and the general challenges of military life affect not only service members but also the people who depend on them and who support them as they support the nation – their families.

Family members provide support to service members while they serve or when they have difficulties; family problems can interfere with the ability of service members to deploy or remain in theater; and family members are central influences on whether members continue to serve. In addition, rising family diversity and complexity will likely increase the difficulty of creating military policies, programs and practices that adequately support families in the performance of military duties.

Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society examines the challenges and opportunities facing military families and what is known about effective strategies for supporting and protecting military children and families, as well as lessons to be learned from these experiences. This report offers recommendations regarding what is needed to strengthen the support system for military families.

The U.S. military has been continuously engaged in foreign conflicts for over two decades. The strains that these deployments, the associated increases in operational tempo, and the general challenges of military life affect not only service members but also the people who depend on them and who support them as they support the nation – their families. Family members provide support to service members while they serve or when they have difficulties; family problems can interfere with the ability of service members to deploy or remain in theater; and family members are central influences on whether members continue to serve. In addition, rising family diversity and complexity will likely increase the difficulty of creating military policies, programs and practices that adequately support families in the performance of military duties. Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society examines the challenges and opportunities facing military families and what is known about effective strategies for supporting and protecting military children and families, as well as lessons to be learned from these experiences. This report offers recommendations regarding what is needed to strengthen the support system for military families. Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 Introduction2 Family Well-Being, Readiness, and Resilience3 Demographic and Military Service Characteristics of Military Families4 Military Life Opportunities and Challenges5 Stress, Risk, and Resilience in Military Children6 High-Stress Events, Family Resilience Processes, and Military Family Well-Being7 The Military Family Readiness System: Present and Future8 Developing and Sustaining a Learning System to Support Military Family Readiness and Well-Being9 Committee RecommendationsAppendix A: Biosketches of Committee Members and Project StaffAppendix B: Agenda for Public Information-Gathering SessionAppendix C: Authors of Memos Submitted to the CommitteeAppendix D: Acronyms and Glossary of TermsBoard on Children, Youth, and Families