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Military Families

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Extended and repeated deployments can cause significant stress to military families and may result in lower levels of reenlistment. RAND research has explored the need for military-sponsored child care and the role of military spouses, and continues to provide guidance to policymakers on how to attract and retain personnel with essential skills while also supporting military families.

Report
Preventing Domestic Abuse in the U.S. Armed Forces
Domestic abuse has severe consequences for service members, their families and, potentially, unit readiness. What strategies could help prevent domestic abuse before it occurs and help the military with communication to reach individuals who might have risk factors for domestic abuse?
May 16, 2023
Essay
Why Are U.S. Military Families Experiencing Food Insecurity?
Around a quarter of active-duty service members qualify as “food insecure.” But what's causing that, how to fix it—even what it means—is not clear. Food insecurity is a multifaceted problem that needs multifaceted solutions.
Nov 6, 2023

Explore Military Families

Report
Unemployment Among Post-9/11 Veterans and Military Spouses After the Economic Downturn
Policymakers need to understand whether military spouses succeed at finding jobs and how veterans fare economically after they leave the military. But these groups differ from the civilian population in important ways, making comparisons difficult.
Nov 9, 2012
Blog
RAND Research for Military Family Month
RAND is a resource for research and policy recommendations that address the challenges faced by military members, spouses, and their children.
Nov 7, 2012
Report
Assessing Operation Purple, a Summer Camp for Military Youth
Military family support programs have proliferated, but there has been little evaluation of whether the programs are meeting their key objectives. An examination of the curriculum, themes, and outcomes of Operation Purple found some positive effects from participation and helps lay the groundwork for future studies.
Jul 25, 2012
Blog
RAND Research Contributes to the 11th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation
Adequate compensation is critical to recruiting and retaining an all-volunteer force—in peacetime and wartime alike. To assess the effectiveness of U.S. military pay and benefits, the president directs a review of military compensation every four years. Four RAND studies contributed to this review.
Jun 29, 2012
Report
What is the Financial Impact of Combat Deaths on Surviving Spouses and Children?
Over the first four years following the death of a service member, recurring benefits offset more than two-thirds of the losses in estimated household earnings, on average. When combined with the lump-sum benefits the family receives, the benefits are likely sufficient to fully replace the lost earnings for several decades.
Jun 28, 2012
Commentary
Preventing Military Suicides Is a Nationwide Effort
The numbers of suicides among military personnel is a reminder for us involved in prevention to remain vigilant and work even harder. Let it be a wake-up call to the nation to assume some of the responsibility as well, writes Rajeev Ramchand.
Jun 14, 2012
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 36, No. 1, Spring 2012
Stories cover Iran's nuclear threat, social security in Mexico, programs for veterans, crime costs, U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, the health insurance mandate, legal defense, marijuana legalization, global education, and Louisiana's coastal planning.
May 11, 2012
Report
Assessment of the Content, Design, and Dissemination of the Real Warriors Campaign
Presents the results of an assessment of the Real Warriors Campaign, a multimedia program designed to promote resilience, facilitate recovery, and support the reintegration of returning servicemembers, veterans, and their families.
Apr 16, 2012
Research Brief
How Do Soldiers' Deployments Affect Children's Academic Performance and Behavioral Health?
With regard to Army families, the study examines the effects of long and frequent parental deployments on children’s academic performance as well as their emotional and behavioral well-being in the school setting.
Apr 9, 2012
Blog
Celebrating the Month of the Military Child
April is the Month of the Military Child, a national initiative to support and honor America's service members and their families. The celebration is being recognized with events around the country, and is a key national initiative of First Lady Michelle Obama.
Apr 5, 2012
Report
Compensation for Combat Deaths: Policy Considerations
This briefing identifies policy questions related to compensating service members and their survivors for fatality risk. It compares combat fatality patterns with fatalities occurring in other contexts and discusses current compensation programs.
Mar 15, 2012
Commentary
Military Families: What We Know and What We Don't Know
Never before in our nation's history have our service members and their families been so challenged and never before have their struggles (and successes) been the topic of so much scholarly attention, writes Sarah O. Meadows.
Mar 2, 2012
Research Brief
Assessing the Needs of Service Members and Their Families: A New Approach
Describes a new survey design framework that is centered on what service members and their families believe are their greatest needs.
Nov 21, 2011
Report
A New Approach for Assessing the Needs of Service Members and Their Families
A survey tool based on a new methodological framework can be used by the Department of Defense and local military commanders to gauge the problems and problem-related needs of service members and their families, how well those needs are being met, and the barriers and bridges to accessing services.
Nov 21, 2011
Periodical
Beyond the Shadow of 9/11
The 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks warrants a thoughtful review of America's progress and future strategy. In this RAND Review cover story, RAND experts offer perspectives on Afghan-led solutions, ways to counter al Qaeda, air passenger security, and compensation for those affected by terrorism.
Sep 1, 2011
Testimony
Effects of Deployment on U.S. Service Members and Their Families
Testimony presented before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee provides an overview of RAND's extensive research on how deployment affects service members and their families. Issues addressed include combat-related stress, psychological injuries, willingness to reenlist, and the impact of parental deployment on children.
Jul 27, 2011
Commentary
Honor Military Suicide Victims by Preventing More Deaths
Not only would the delivery of quality behavioral care prevent suicides, but it would also aid in the recovery of the nearly 20 percent of service members with post-traumatic stress disorder or depression, writes Rajeev Ramchand.
May 28, 2011
Report
How Is Deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan Affecting U.S. Service Members and Their Families?
Approximately two million individuals serving in America's all-volunteer force have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan over the past decade. An ongoing research program investigates the effects of deployment on those troops and their families.
May 13, 2011
Multimedia
The War Within: Preventing Suicide in the U.S. Military
In this May 2011 Congressional Briefing, behavioral scientist Rajeev Ramchand presents RAND research and analysis on recent increases in suicides among members of the U.S. military.
May 10, 2011
News Release
Army Children with a Parent Deployed Nineteen Months or Longer Experience More Academic Difficulties
Army children whose parents have deployed 19 months or more since 2001 score lower on standardized tests than other Army children whose parents have deployed for shorter periods of time.
Apr 4, 2011

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RAND Topic:
Military Families

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Teague Ruder

Senior Research Programmer

Teague Ruder is a senior research programmer at RAND who works extensively with survey and administrative data on a diverse set of projects focused on Military Health, Medicare, and Medicaid. Recent project include examining the impact of Medicaid reforms in New York State, describing patterns…
Wendy M. Troxel

Senior Behavioral and Social Scientist

Wendy Troxel is a senior behavioral and social scientist at the RAND Corporation and author of Sharing the Covers; Every Couple's Guide to Better Sleep. She holds adjunct professor positions at the University of Pittsburgh and University of Utah and is a licensed clinical psychologist and…

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