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2021 Military Spouse Group Survey Findings

published by Jennifer Bhill

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Military Spouse Group* Survey Findings

Fielded May 7 - June 6, 2021**

Prepared by

Have you EVER participated in a militaryspouse group? Yes (81%) No (19%)

Don't feel valued by their community

Spouse Group Participation

21%

Free signups


(+15%)

13,000

Friends

43%

Prefer to get info friends who have been there pre-PCS

39%

Prefer to get info from local social media groups after arriving

61%

Likely to ask a friend they have met in person for help.

11%

Social Media

Online

Feelings of Impact

Military's Impact on YOUYour Impact on Local Military CommunityYour Impact on Larger MilitaryMajor ImpactMajor ImpactModerate ImpactMinor ImpactInsignificant impactNo Impact050

Types of

Spouse Groups

Lifelong friends
Friends I can rely on
Social
Acquaintances
I have not made friends

Spouse Group Friendships

FRG
Key Spouse
SFRG
Officer Club
Enlisted Club
Religious
I don't participate

"Being in the military is a family affair, despite what some members of the military believe. Being in a spouse group allows my children and me to be around people who truly understand the lifestyle."

- Survey Participant

Felt Pressured to participate

38%

Felt Pressured by Military Leaders

20%

Felt Pressured by Tradition - "It's expected of me."

42%

How do you get information?

46% are CURRENTLY active participants.

I feel that my contribution tothe military is valued by:Strongly agreeSomewhat agreeNeither agree nor disagreeSomewhat disagreeStrongly disagreeSpouseMy familyMilitary spousesCommandSpouse's peersMil LeadershipCivilians050100

Jennifer Barnhill

Questions?

JenniferMBarnhill@gmail.com

Who do you ask for help?

In Person

Likely to ask a friend they have only met online for help.

How Relevant Are Spouse Clubsto:YouAll Military SpousesExtremelyVeryNeutralSlightlyIrrelevant025

SATISFACTION & MOTIVATION

How satisfied are you with the military lifestyle?

Free signups


(+15%)

13,000

Felt Pressured to participate

38%

Felt Pressured by Tradition - "It's expected of me."

42%

66% REPORT FEELING SATISFIED

Extremely satisfied (21.78%) Somewhat satisfied (44.67%) Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied (18%) Somewhat dissatisfied (11.33%) Extremely dissatisfied (4.22%)
Types of Friendship &Satisfaction Levels43%16%27%16%13%12%12%45%5%12%Lifelong FriendsFriends I can rely on at that locationSocial FriendshipsAcquaintancesI have not made friends in these g…I have not made friends in these groupsSatisfiedDissatisfied050100
How Important Are Your "Whys"?FriendshipVolunteeringDeployment HelpCommand InfoBenefit InfoHelp with KidsSupport ServicememberHelp Servicemember CareerExtremelyVeryNeutralSlightlyNot at all02550
Why Spouses ParticipateCommand InfoFriendshipSupport Servic…Support ServicememberBenefit InfoVolunteeringHelp with kidsHelp Servicem…Help Servicemember Career0100200300400

Deployment Support

What type of support do you expect to receive from the followinggroups:MilitarySpouse GroupsMilitary BenefitsPCS HelpEmotional supportMilitary InfoNo ExpectationsChild careHousehold HelpOther0510152025

Prepared by

Jennifer Barnhill

JenniferMBarnhill@gmail.com

Questions?

Resources

What is your PREFERRED way to learn about a new duty station?

PRIOR TO MOVING

Prepared by

Jennifer Barnhill

JenniferMBarnhill@gmail.com

Questions?

Why did you stop attending a military spouse group?1%3%4%5%7%7%7%8%9%9%9%10%10%11%My service member discouraged my participation (1%)I get military information from the installation (3%)Group’s poor reputation (4%)Didn't know about it (5%)Bad prior experience (7%)I get military information from my spouse (7%)Didn’t click with the members (7%)Gossip (8%)Not enough free time (9%)Didn't feel welcome (9%)Not offered in new location (9%)I have a job (10%)I get military information on social media (10%)Activities met at inconvenient times (11%)
Official Military WebsitesInstallation CommandOfficial Spouse GroupsFriends who have been thereLocal Facebook GroupsGoogle Search20s30s40s+01020304050
Official Military WebsitesInstallation CommandOfficial Spouse GroupsFriends who have been thereLocal Facebook GroupsGoogle SearchI don't use these methodsUnofficial Spouse Groups20s30s40s+010203040

AFTER ARRIVING

54%

NO LONGER PARTICIPATE

IN A SPOUSE GROUP

19%

HAVE NEVER PARTICIPATED IN A SPOUSE GROUP

Age

Recommendations

Prepared by

Outreach

Jennifer Barnhill

Questions?

JenniferMBarnhill@gmail.com

Outreach

Relevance

Information

Jennifer Barnhill

Junior military spouses need to be surveyed via nontraditional methods to discover if these findings follow similar patterns.

Military spouse contributions (volunteering, family support, career sacrifices, etc.) need to be seen to be valued by military leadership. 

Word of mouth marketing via Military Spouse Groups should be leveraged by DoD programming. Group members should be recognized by military leadership for their contributions.

Outreach

Relevance

Information

*"Military Spouse Group" is a generic term used to encompass all of the following branch-specific Family Readiness Support Systems: Soldier and Family Readiness Groups (SFRGs), Family Readiness Groups (FRGs), Key Spouse, Officer Spouse Club, Enlisted Spouse Club, Wives' Club, etc.


**Primary survey distribution method was through an article published on the topic and shared by Military Spouse Magazine's social media channels.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Prepared by

Living in the Continental US 

(CONUS)

Age

83%

10%

Jennifer Barnhill

Questions?

JenniferMBarnhill@gmail.com

18 - 25 (2%)26 - 35 (34%)36 - 40 (27%)41 - 45 (24%)46 - 55 (12%)56+ (1%)
Gender Female (97%) Male (2%) Nonbinary (1%)
Related Branch of ServiceArmy (16%)Navy (58%)Marine Corps (7%)Air Force (17%)Space Force (1%)Coast Guard (1%)

Have Children

84%

Have served in the Armed Forces

Employment StatusWorking (paid employee) (38.08%)Working (self-employed) (9.26%)Not working (temporary layoff from a job) (0.51%)Not working (looking for work) (8.58%)Working (volunteer unpaid) (11.32%)Not working (not looking) (30.36%)Prefer not to answer (1.89%)
Servicemember RankE1 - E3E4 - E6E7 - E9W1 - W3W4 - W5O1 - O3O4 - O6O7 - O9050