Motivating Military Families to Thrive

Since 1973 excellent programs supporting military families have developed. However, a unified program across the Department of Defense (DoD) that meets family needs and connects to communities is elusive. Military Family Life Project data show that participation in many programs is limited, but when the programs are used, they often work well. The data suggest the “coercive bureaucracy” that envelopes the military extends to the family and limits motivation to utilize programs. We propose that the military employ the Self-Determination Theory to motivate families to elevate above basic survival so they can thrive. With 73% of families living outside of military installations, their participation in programs will require community involvement because the government cannot meet the needs of most families by itself. Connecting government and community programs requires a transparent unified program structure. We propose that product life-cycle management will elucidate and integrate existing programs across the entire service life cycle and enhance community connectivity.