Military Service and Family Life

[M]ilitary youth who live on base go to school with other youth who are also military-connected, making them inevitably able to relate to each other and understand many of each other’s unique experiences. For military families who live off base, it can sometimes be harder for youth to connect, due to a lack of access to military community members (Kaeppler & Lucier-Greer, 2020; O’Neal et al., 2022). 

Military families may experience unique challenges and transitions that deeply influence their day-to-day lives, and these experiences often shape how military-connected youth engage with their communities (Belin, 2025). For Extension professionals and other providers working in youth development, having an understanding of military culture is important for designing and implementing programs that are responsive and impactful.

Family caregivers remain an essential piece of the U.S. healthcare system, providing unpaid support to loved ones while juggling personal, financial, and professional responsibilities. According to Caregiving in the U.S., 2025, nearly 63 million Americans, about one in four adults, now serve as caregivers, marking a 45% increase since 2015 (AARP & NAC, 2025).

Data from the 2024 Active-Duty Spouse Survey reveal a complex picture of progress and persistent barriers for military families. While more spouses are joining the labor force, high unemployment and underemployment remain, worsened by frequent PCS moves and limited access to affordable childcare. These challenges underscore a critical truth: supporting military spouses isn’t just a family issue—it’s a force readiness imperative.

This blog post focuses on the family unit as a social support system for military-connected youth.

Service providers around the country are uniquely positioned to connect with and support our nation’s military spouses where they live, work, and raise their children. Understanding how domicile is established is essential for helping military spouses navigate residency and tax issues.

Military youth experience a unique lifestyle, which can sometimes cause significant stress and be difficult for others who are not military-connected to understand. Three specific factors have been identified in research as unique stressors endured by military youth: frequent moving, extended parental separations, and physical and mental health risks experienced by military service members, which affect the family unit (Frederick, & Siebler, 2022). While these factors can be experienced by all youth, military youth experience them more frequently, creating patterns of instability and uncertainty. 

Military spouses often find themselves battling on the employment front, working to secure and maintain careers while managing the unique lifestyle demands of military life. Despite these challenges, there are positive strides being made to support military spouses in their employment journey through in person and virtual employment readiness services.