National Guard Service Members' Perceptions of Informal and Formal Supports: An Exploratory Study

An exploration of informal and formal supports that National Guard Service members use was conducted. Using an ecological systems perspective, this exploratory pilot study assessed awareness, access, use, satisfaction, and perceptions of the effectiveness of informal and formal supports in a small group of National Guard Service members. Results indicated that although Service members were aware of many formal (e.g., TRICARE, military supported child care) and informal (e.g., religious services, support groups) supports, use of many of the supports was limited.