The Socioeconomic Benefits to Military Families of Home-basing of Armed Forces

The home-basing or relocation of military units from Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) to Continental United States (CONUS) and the proposed increase in time from three to six years at CONUS locations is hypothesized to generate considerable socioeconomic benefits. Analysis of the Survey of Army Families, 1987, and Army Family Survey Research data reveal that home-basing is likely to improve quality of spouse employment and the quality of family life of soldiers. An increase in time at a location by three years is likely to increase spouse earnings by 14 percent. An increase in spouse employment due to home-basing is also associated with an increase in spouse's satisfaction with Army life which, in turn, tends to increase spouse's desire for soldier-husband's retention in the Army. The home-basing is also likely to reduce child care costs to the Army and to the soldiers because of lower child care costs in CONUS relative to OCONUS. Three limitations of home-basing and Army policy measures for mitigating them are also discussed.