Survey of Army Families V (2004-5)

Home
Commander
News
About FMWRC
Programs

The SAF is an Army-wide survey of civilian spouses of active duty Soldiers conducted every 4 four to 5 five years since 1987. It focuses on key areas of quality of life/well-being for Army families. SAF V is unique. For the first time three sub-samples, each with its own tailored survey, were selected based on the Soldiers spouse’s rank and deployment status since 11 September 2001. That is, the Soldier spouse: is currently deployed (CD), has deployed and returned (DR), or has not deployed (ND). Usable responses were received from a total of 24,793 spouses of Soldiers (8,988 officers and 15,805 enlisted) for a 43% response rate. Sampling error for the survey results is +/- 1%.

Encouraging Findings: The spouses think their family has adjusted well to the demands of being an “Army family” (70%); are satisfied with the Army as a way of life (57%); and would be satisfied if their Soldier spouses were to make the Army a career (63%).

Challenges include:

Deployments. The percent of spouses who believe they can cope well with separations of 1 one year or more has declined—35% in 1995, 30% in 2001 and 24% overall in 2004/5.
Army Demands and Way of Life. Overall, the spouses expressed being dissatisfied/very dissatisfied with the amount of time the Soldier is away (50%), the availability (33%) and affordability (42%) of child care, employment opportunities (29%), and career opportunities (28%). One-fifth (20%) reported their oldest child is coping or has coped poorly/very poorly with the Soldier spouse’s deployment.
Leadership. One-third (33%) of the CD and DR spouses are satisfied with the support Army unit leaders provide to deployed families.

SAF V Results are available in a variety of formats tailored to meet your needs. (Additional results will be posted on this website.)

Survey Instruments:
Currently Deployed
Deployed and Returned
Not deployed

SAF V Highlights [Word]

Summary Briefing SAF V Highlights [POWER PT]

Findings: SAF V and Trend Slides

Introduction

In-Depth Analyses:

Family Support Groups Spouse and family adjustments, support for retention, and perceptions of unit leaders as supportive are significantly higher among spouses involved in FRGs. Two-thirds of Army spouses (68%) indicated that their unit has an active FRG. One-fifth (21%) of spouses with available FRGs have not participated at all. Among the 68% of spouses with active FRGs, 40% said their family has received FRG help. The personal helpfulness rating of their FRG was directly related to rank, with junior enlisted spouses least likely to report helpfulness (33%) compared to senior officer spouses (64%).

Social Support Adjustment Among Army Civilian Spouses [Acrobat .pdf format]
Having fun and getting physically fit are the most common reasons for MWR participation. More frequent use of MWR is related to higher levels of positive spouse adjustment.

Deployment and Separation Adjustment Among Army Civilian Spouses [Acrobat .pdf format]
Successful adjustment is highly associated with perceived supportiveness of Army leaders and use of Army agencies.

Adjustment of Army Children to Deployment Separations
About half of Army children cope well with deployments.

Reunion Adjustment among Army Civilian Spouses with Returned Soldiers [Acrobat .pdf format]
Support for families from unit leaders and support programs during deployment is rated as weak to poor.

Army Support Programs and Civilian Spouse Deployment Adjustments
Health care is the most widely used service during deployment (79%) followed by recreation (42%), CDS (29%), ACS (23%) and Chaplains and FAC (17%).

Qualitative Follow-Up Study

Qualitative Follow-Up to SAF V (FRGs, Child Care, Deployment Expenses, Leadership)

For more information contact: MWRResearch@cfsc.army.mil

[Return to Research]

[Return to Plans and Operations]