In 2014, the RAND Arroyo Center conducted a formal needs assessment survey of active component soldiers and described the broad landscape of needs and resource use. Installations vary in several ways that can affect service delivery. This project analyzed existing survey data at the garrison level and gathered qualitative focus group data to provide unique information, enabling garrisons to see where they do well and where they have challenges.

Assessing the Needs of Soldiers and Their Families at the Garrison Level

Carra S. Sims, Thomas E. Trail, Emily K. Chen, Erika Meza, Parisa Roshan, Beth E. Lachman

ResearchPublished Jul 24, 2018

Cover: Assessing the Needs of Soldiers and Their Families at the Garrison Level
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The RAND Arroyo Center conducted a 2014 formal needs assessment survey of active component soldiers at 40 installations. The original study described a broad landscape of needs in such areas as quality of life support services provided to help families cope with a variety of challenges. In this report, new analysis of those survey data explores differences at the garrison level and includes additional focus group data. The analysis suggests that resources providing one-on-one, personalized help should be given priority and it is possible that emphasizing trust between soldiers and their leaders could help fulfill this need. Providing easily accessible information online and staffing services that provide information to soldiers and their families should also be continuing priorities. In intergovernmental support agreements and other community partnership activities, Army garrisons should consider focusing more on partnerships that help meet the needs of soldiers and their families. The Army might consider a series of solutions to achieve the right balance between fostering resilience and helping its soldiers solve problems early. One solution is to expose noncommissioned officers and other soldiers earlier and more frequently in their careers to information regarding what resources are available. Another solution is to set priorities at the aggregate Army level, rather than leaving lower levels to determine how to prioritize the many requirements that are passed down. Finally, the Army should consider strengthening the "no wrong door" policy at Army Community Service and broadening the policy to help soldiers and families navigate resources.

Key Takeaways

Garrison problems generally reflected those at the army level.

  • In the garrison-level survey analysis, prioritized problem areas chosen by soldiers at a local level reflected the earlier Army-level analysis: military practices and culture, soldier's well-being, and work-life balance.
  • Focus groups also highlighted health care system and childcare problems.

Garrison findings reflected variability in types of help needed.

  • The specific types of needs reported by soldiers varied among garrisons — but activities, information, and help provided by an actual person were most commonly reported.

Soldiers at different garrisons often sought help in different ways.

  • Fewer than 20 percent of respondents at any garrison reported that their needs were unmet.
  • Focus groups highlighted military resources that are particularly helpful, including chaplains and Army Community Service.

Some tension exists between a desire for resilience and a desire to seek help.

  • Soldiers at all levels reported in focus groups that they wanted to — or should — be able to solve their problems themselves without needing to bring leadership into the equation.
  • Focus groups revealed that individuals often do not realize that they need assistance until their challenges have become much more difficult to address.

Soldiers use a variety of methods to find out about resources to solve their problems, but barriers to resources were still a challenge.

  • The internet and word of mouth were the most common modes of finding out information.
  • Focus groups revealed that lack of knowledge, lack of experience with resources, and limited hours of operation were commonly perceived barriers to resources.

Recommendations

  • Resources providing one-on-one, personalized help should be given priority and it is possible that emphasizing trust between soldiers and their leaders could help fulfill this need.
  • Providing easily accessible information online and staffing services that provide information to soldiers and their families should be continuing priorities for Army installations.
  • In their intergovernmental support agreements and other community partnership activities, Army garrisons should consider focusing more on partnerships that help meet soldier and family needs because these partnerships offer creative ways to address some of the challenges faced.
  • The Army might consider a series of solutions to achieve the right balance between fostering resilience and helping soldiers solve problems sooner. One solution is to expose noncommissioned officers and other soldiers earlier and more frequently in their careers to information regarding what resources are available. Another solution is to set priorities at the aggregate Army level, given the time available to soldiers, rather than leaving it up to lower levels to determine which of the many requirements passed down they must prioritize.
  • The Army should consider strengthening the "no wrong door" policy at Army Community Service and broadening the policy to help soldiers and families navigate resources.

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Sims, Carra S., Thomas E. Trail, Emily K. Chen, Erika Meza, Parisa Roshan, and Beth E. Lachman, Assessing the Needs of Soldiers and Their Families at the Garrison Level. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2018. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2148.html.
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The research described in this report was prepared for the United States Army and conducted by the Personnel, Training, and Health Program within the RAND Arroyo Center.

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