A Look at Some of the Difficult Challenges for Military Families

There are roughly 1.3 million active duty military members in the United States and almost half are married. Moreover, about one-third have children. The reality is that, while there are many benefits, serving your country can place a strain on your family and relationships. When a married service member relocates for a permanent change of station (PCS), their partner and children also have to uproot their lives. This means finding a new job, changing schools, making new friends, and adjusting to new surroundings.

Fortunately, there are organizations that support military families and connect them with the resources they require following PCS moves or extended deployments. The Corvias Foundation, for example, has empowered military families and military-connected students since 2006 via educational support and guidance. Here's a closer look at the unique challenges faced by military families and how the foundation helps.

Long Deployments

Beyond the normal challenges associated with a PCS, military families sometimes have to manage additional responsibilities, stress, and uncertainty when their active duty loved one is deployed to another country. When this occurs, the spouse left behind may be forced to take on more work to keep the household running smoothly while also dealing with the stress and anxiety of raising children and missing their partner. In many ways, they essentially become a single parent.

In some cases, children take on additional responsibilities as well, like household chores or caring for younger siblings. While this can strengthen family bonds and foster resilience, it can also negatively impact the child's academic performance and mental health.

The mental burden of deployment is felt by the entire family. Fear and anger can be common emotions for those staying behind. They might also feel overwhelmed, worried, or lonely.

Kids Changing Schools

Children in military families did not sign-up for service but, like their parents, they also have to make sacrifices. There are about 1.5 million military children in the U.S., many of whom have to relocate with their families every two or three years. This means leaving behind friends and extended family, moving into a new home, changing schools, and adjusting to an entirely different reality. Because PCS season is usually in the summer, instead of enjoying their break from school many military children are anxiously preparing themselves for their impending move.

According to the USO, children of active-duty service members move between six and nine times during their prime education years (between the ages of 6 and 18). This stress and lack of stability can affect the child's academic performance and ability to fit in with other students. There are more than 160 Department of Defense Education Activity schools around the world, but only a small percentage of military children attend these, meaning the majority go to public or private schools with their civilian peers. These other students generally don't understand the emotional difficulties associated with military life, which can make military children feel even lonelier and more isolated.  

Spouses Having to Find New Jobs

Unless their current job has remote flexibility, military spouses have to find new jobs following PCS moves if they want to keep earning income. For some, especially those with specialized degrees, this can mean putting their own career aspirations on hold and working a variety of different jobs. Unemployment is an unfortunate reality for others. In 2017, the national unemployment rate was about 3%, whereas military spouses had an unemployment rate of 21%. Around the same time, a majority of participants in the Blue Star Families' Military Lifestyle Survey claimed underemployment or unemployment of their spouse was their primary obstacle to financial security.

Employment challenges remain even when the spouse is highly educated or qualified for well-paid positions. This is in part due to issues like state licensing and re-certification in some industries and a lack of available childcare.

Psychological Challenges and Relationships

Strained relationships can be another unfortunate reality for military families. When service members are deployed for extended periods of time, they miss milestone moments in their children's lives and may return to find their children are much different from when they left. Spouses and children, meanwhile, have to leave behind and make new friends every two or three years. This, along with other disruptions and challenges, can significantly impact the emotional development of military children.

About 7% of military veterans experience symptoms of PTSD at some point in their lives. Studies have shown that military children experience higher rates of depression and alcoholism than kids from civilian families. They are also more likely to express suicidal thoughts or attempt suicide.

It’s worth noting that most military families show impressive resilience—despite the challenges, they forge strong bonds and share a sense of pride in serving their country. Most military families lead happy, productive lives. Still, the challenges they face are unique and often not well understood by civilians. They deserve our support.

How Corvias Foundation Helps

The nonprofit Corvias Foundation was founded to support military families, especially in the area of education. Its three pillars guiding its operations are Community Connect, Resource Development, and Thought Leadership. The foundation works with community partners to help build relationships within the military community and establish a more inclusive educational environment. It raises money for and connects students with scholarships and facilitates services for literacy support, college guidance, and career exploration. Learn more at CorviasFoundation.org.