Military Families

Demographics

Over half of U.S. military members are married, and over one third are married with children. Nearly 6 percent of military members are single parents. The term military spouse usually refers to a civilian woman for three main reasons. First, women continue to make up a small percentage (approximately 15 percent) of the U.S. military. Second, military women are less likely than their male counterparts to be married or have children. Finally, nearly half of married enlisted women and one-third of women officers are married to another member of the military.

Almost 7 percent of military members are in dual-military marriages, where both spouses are service members. Active-duty military families typically have young children. Although interracial marriage has increased throughout American society, a greater percentage of service men and women are involved in interracial marriages than are civilians. Time spent on overseas tours of duty, integrated living spaces, and increased egalitarian policies and language in the military have likely led to these increased numbers.

Importance of Family to the Military Member

The satisfaction of a soldier with the military is highly dependent on their spouses' and children's experiences with the military. A spouse's evaluation of the military lifestyle and policies significantly affects not only how that person feels about the military but also how the service member feels about the military. In the past 30 years, the military has focused a great deal of research on how spouses and families affect the military member's reenlistment, performance, and general evaluation of the military.

A recent study of Army soldiers demonstrated that happiness with the military's environment for families affects many soldiers' evaluation of the military in general, particularly if they have children. Difficulties with moves and spouses' employment often lead to families' negative feelings about the military. Other military factors, such as odd and long hours worked by the active duty member and his or her rank, also affect families' perceptions of the military.

...