How Can the Military Best Support Guard and Reserve Families During Deployment?

Analysis of reserve component (RC) families' deployment experiences — those of service members and spouses — shows that most families feel they are ready or very ready for deployment and have coped well with it. However, most also experienced both problems and positive aspects that have an impact on their retention intentions and, potentially, their military effectiveness. Family support efforts should be assessed in terms of family readiness, family coping, and retention intentions — measures of military manpower and family-related outcomes that can guide long-term management of RC personnel.