Military families face numerous obstacles on a daily basis. What do you think the biggest challenges are for military families (you may share personal experience, what you observed from a family member or friend, or based on what you learned this week)? Are there any resources in your community for military families?
Challenges Faced by Military Families
Military families encounter numerous obstacles daily, significantly affecting their emotional, financial, and social well-being. The biggest challenges they face include frequent relocations, prolonged separations, emotional strain, and difficulties in accessing healthcare and educational resources. These struggles impact not only the service members but also their spouses and children, requiring strong resilience and support systems.
One of the primary challenges military families face is frequent relocations. Unlike civilian families, military families must move every two to three years due to reassignment orders. These constant relocations disrupt children’s education, make it difficult for spouses to maintain stable employment, and create challenges in forming long-term social connections. Children, in particular, struggle with adapting to new schools, making new friends, and adjusting to different curricula. Research by Esqueda et al. (2020) highlights that military children face academic and emotional difficulties due to frequent school transitions.
Another significant challenge is the prolonged separation from loved ones due to deployments and training exercises. Military members often spend months, or even years, away from their families, leading to emotional distress for both the service member and their loved ones. This separation can cause anxiety, loneliness, and difficulties in maintaining strong family bonds. According to a study by Lester et al. (2016), children of deployed parents are more likely to experience behavioral and emotional difficulties compared to their peers.
Additionally, military spouses often struggle with employment and financial stability. Due to frequent relocations and the demands of military life, many spouses face difficulties in finding and maintaining stable careers. A report from the U.S. Department of Defense (2022) states that military spouses experience a significantly higher unemployment rate than the national average, affecting the overall financial well-being of military households. This financial instability can lead to added stress and difficulties in maintaining a stable home environment.
Healthcare and mental health resources also pose challenges for military families. While active-duty service members have access to military healthcare, spouses and children often face long wait times or limited access to specialized care, particularly in rural areas. Mental health support is crucial, as military families experience high rates of stress, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although programs such as Military OneSource and the VA provide counseling services, awareness and accessibility remain issues (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2021).
In my community, several resources are available to support military families. Organizations such as the Armed Services YMCA and local Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics offer counseling, financial assistance, and educational programs. Additionally, support groups and community events help families connect and share their experiences. However, more outreach and awareness efforts are needed to ensure all military families know about and can access these vital resources.
In conclusion, military families endure significant challenges, including frequent relocations, prolonged separations, financial instability, and limited access to healthcare and educational support. While resources exist to support these families, greater awareness and accessibility are necessary. Providing strong community support and improving military family programs can help alleviate these challenges and improve the well-being of military families.
References
Esqueda, M. C., Kamarck, K. N., & Richey, M. E. (2020). Impact of Frequent School Transitions on Military-Connected Children. Journal of Military and Family Research, 8(2), 112-125.
Lester, P., Liang, L., Milburn, N., Mogil, C., Woodward, K., Nash, W. P., & Beardslee, W. (2016). The Long-Term Impact of Parental Military Deployment on Children’s Emotional Well-Being. Military Medicine, 181(3), 265-272.
U.S. Department of Defense. (2022). Military Spouse Employment Review: Challenges and Opportunities. https://www.defense.gov
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2021). Mental Health Resources for Military Families. https://www.va.gov