The Military Career is a Family Affair

The military response to its families has been based on a career structure developed when service members were single males. The effect of military policy and services has been to adapt the family to this career structure, rather than develop an explicit family policy based on family dynamics. Analysis of social science and military literature indicates that recent social changes have made adaptation to the expectations of military family life increasingly difficult and stressful. Until the military investigates the intersection of the military career demands with family needs, recent attempts to help the military family may not be totally effective in winning their allegiance.