Results of the Blue Star Families Military Families Life Issues Survey presented to the Congressional Women's Caucus, the White House Council on Women and Girls and members of Congress in conjunction with the National Military Family Association on May 5, 2009.

1. Military Life Issues Survey Analysis & Findings May, 2009 Sharing the Pride of Service Funding for the Military Life Issues survey and event was provided by Blue Shield of California Foundation

3. Thank you to our partners! Blue Star Families: Military Family Issues Survey– March, 2009 Blue Star Families partnered with many of the country’s most respected military service organizations to distribute our survey online via partner websites and through physical locations at Red Cross Armed Forces local offices, and USO centers nationwide.

4. Composition of Sample by Branch of Service Army Air Force Army National Guard Navy Marine Corps Air National Guard (1%) All Other (1%) % of Respondents Blue Star Families: Military Family Issues Survey– March, 2009 37% 20% 7% 17% 17%

5. Composition of Sample by Geographic Region Southeast Northeast Southwest Alaska/Hawaii West Overseas % of Respondents Blue Star Families: Military Family Issues Survey– March, 2009 25% 15% 11% 6% 12% Midwest Mid-Atlantic 15% 6% 10%

6. Blue Star Families: Military Family Issues Survey– March, 2009 Families need help with morale and support surrounding deployments – 94% feel the larger community doesn’t understand or appreciate the sacrifices of military service Completely Agree 71% Somewhat Agree 23% Neither Agree nor Disagree = 3% Completely Disagree = 1% Somewhat Disagree = 2% To what extent do you agree with the following statement: “ The general public does not truly understand or appreciate the sacrifices made by service members and their families.” % of Respondents:

8. Blue Star Families: Military Family Issues Survey– March, 2009 OPTEMPO/ Deployments/ Training Time Effect of Deployments on Dependent Kids Moral Support for Families of Deployed Members What Military Family Life Issues are most important to you? Post-Deployment Family Readjustment 77% 85% 81% 79% % Important = % Extremely Important = % Very Important Deployment related issues are very important to most military families with the impact on children being of particular concern % MOST Important 16% 12% 8% 7%

9. Blue Star Families: Military Family Issues Survey– March, 2009 OPTEMPO Effect on Kids Moral Support Deployment Issues: Households with Children vs. Households without Children Family Readjustment = Total Sample = HHs with Kids % Rating Issue MOST Important 16% 12% 8% 7% = HHs w/o Kids 15% 16% 6% 7% 18% 3% 10% 7% % Rating Issue Extremely/Very Important: 77% 85% 81% 79% 77% 91% 81% 80% 77% 70% 81% 78% Sample Size : HHs with Kids = 1,295; HHs w/o Kids = 495 Even most families without kids are concerned about the impact of deployment on children; however, they were more likely to rate OPTEMPO and moral support their most important issues

11. Blue Star Families: Military Family Issues Survey– March, 2009 Military Pay/ Benefits PTSD/TBI/ Combat Stress Spouse Employment Opportunities What Military Family Life Issues are most important to you? Services to Families Living Off Base 85% 77% 65% 68% % Important = % Extremely Important = % Very Important Other issues that were of great importance to military families include pay/benefits and mental health challenges % MOST Important 21% 12% 6% 6%

12. Blue Star Families: Military Family Issues Survey– March, 2009 Educational Opportunities for Kids Educational Opportunities for Spouse PCS Adjustments Service Member Paternity/Maternity Leave Educational Opportunities for Service Member 73% 64% 59% 46% 60% % Important = % Extremely Important = % Very Important % MOST Important 3% 3% 2% 1% 1% What Military Family Life Issues are most important to you? Several additional issues were important to military families but not as concerning as the other issues facing them at this time

13. Blue Star Families: Military Family Issues Survey– March, 2009 Military Heath Care - Quality Military Health Care - Access Tricare Insurance Base Housing - Quality What Service to Military Families is most in need of improvement? Base Housing - Access Mental Health 16% 15% 14% 11% 11% 9% % Respondents Over half of respondents felt military health care is most in need of improvement while almost 25% felt base housing is the main issue Total Healthcare = 54% Total Housing = 22%

15. Blue Star Families: Military Family Issues Survey– March, 2009 Military Heath Care - Quality Military Health Care - Access Tricare Insurance Base Housing - Quality Satisfaction with Military Family Services Base Housing - Availability Mental Health 16% 15% 14% 11% 11% 9% Healthcare is likely considered more critical and therefore most in need of improvement, even though dissatisfaction with housing seems more widespread % Extremely/Very Satisfied % Extremely/Very Dissatisfied 44% 42% 55% 30% 28% 37% 27% 21% 40% 43% 33% 30% Which service is most in need of improvement?

16. Blue Star Families: Military Family Issues Survey– March, 2009 Financial Assistance/ Counseling Marital/Family Counseling CDC/SAS DoDEA Schools Satisfaction with Military Family Services Commissary/ Exchange MWR 5% 4% 5% 4% 3% 4% % Extremely/Very Satisfied % Extremely/Very Dissatisfied 40% 40% 39% 41% 63% 56% 27% 24% 25% 11% 15% 30% Which service is most in need of improvement? Chaplain Services 1% 64% 12% % Experienced with Service 51% 55% 40% 93% 85% 49% 61% Other services were rated more highly, particularly Commissary/Exchange and Chaplain Services

17. Blue Star Families: Military Family Issues Survey– March, 2009 War in Iraq/ Afghanistan Economy Education Terrorism Veterans Service What National Issues most concern or affect you? Healthcare Gov’t Corruption 89% 88% 84% 78% 86% 80% 72% % Concerned = % Extremely Concerned = % Very Concerned While respondents were concerned about many national issues, the Wars in Iraq/Afghanistan and the Economy were of most concern 28% 9% 8% 8% 7% 6% % MOST Concerned 25%

18. Blue Star Families: Military Family Issues Survey– March, 2009 Housing Market Taxes Immigration What National Issues most concern or affect you? Environment Transportation/ General Infrastructure 59% 67% 46% 53% 38% % Concerned = % Extremely Concerned = % Very Concerned Additional national issues were included in the survey but were of significantly less concern to military families % MOST Concerned 3% 2% 2% 1% 0%

20. Thank you to our partners! Blue Star Families: Military Family Issues Survey– March, 2009 Blue Star Families partnered with many of the country’s most respected military service organizations to distribute our survey online via partner websites and through physical locations at Red Cross Armed Forces local offices, and USO centers nationwide.