A System Stretched Too Thin
Military families live a life of constant motion, uprooted by Permanent Change of Station moves that demand sacrifices most civilians never face. The Department of Defense’s 2024 Active-Duty Spouse Survey, released on May 16, 2025, reveals the cracks in this lifestyle. For 49% of spouses, finding work after a move is a major hurdle. Why do we let families who serve our nation struggle so deeply?
The numbers tell a stark story. Out-of-pocket moving costs, lost wages, and scarce child care weigh heavily. While 49% of spouses find satisfaction in military life, a record 32% now want their service member to leave active duty. This shift signals trouble. Retention depends on family well-being, and the current system is letting them down.
Frequent relocations disrupt everything—careers, schools, health care. Spouses, often women, put their ambitions on hold to follow orders. The survey notes 61% of spouses faced recent anxiety, and 40% reported financial discomfort. How can we justify asking families to endure such instability without stronger support?
The Price of Constant Moves
Relocation costs hit hard. The 2024 survey shows 23% of military families moved last year, with 81% facing at least one move in their career. Many pay for lodging or storage out of pocket. Government Accountability Office reports estimate these expenses reach thousands per move, despite recent National Defense Authorization Act improvements. Families shouldn’t bear the cost of military needs.
Spouse employment suffers most. While 69% of spouses work or seek work, 20% remain unemployed—far above national rates. Over half say their pay falls short of living expenses. Child care shortages, cited by 67% as a barrier, worsen the problem. With child care tuition averaging $12,472 per child and the U.S. economy losing $122 billion yearly to care gaps, military families face an unfair burden.
Some prioritize military hardware over family support, arguing that readiness demands weapons, not welfare. This perspective misses the point. Research from the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness links strong spousal support to doubled retention rates for officers. Stable families bolster the force. Neglecting them weakens the very strength we aim to protect.
Solutions Within Reach
Practical reforms can change this. Advocates aligned with Democratic priorities propose expanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for military spouses, extending TRICARE to cover young adults and reproductive care, and adjusting housing allowances to reflect local costs. These steps invest in family resilience, building on the Military Child Care Act of 1989. Why not align military benefits with those of civilian federal workers?
Child care demands urgent action. Fee assistance and better staff pay could ease shortages, freeing spouses to work or study. Permanently funding the Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot Program would help spouses rebuild careers disrupted by moves. These ideas draw from decades of progress, like Head Start in 1965 and the Affordable Care Act’s support for military dependents.
Critics may call this excessive spending, insisting the military’s focus is defense, not family programs. History proves them wrong. The GI Bill and CHAMPUS strengthened both families and forces. Cutting support for spouses to buy more planes ignores research tying family stability to lower attrition and fewer suicides. A strong military requires thriving families.
No More Half-Measures
The 2024 survey demands action. With 13% of families using nutrition assistance and 18% skipping moves due to costs, the system is failing. Retention is slipping, threatening readiness. Policymakers must focus on families, not just equipment, to keep our military strong. Leaders like Tim Dill are exploring fewer unnecessary moves, but small steps aren’t enough.
Military families need more than kind words. Full move reimbursements, robust child care, and spouse employment programs can restore trust. The Department of Defense must act decisively to honor their sacrifices. We owe them a system that supports, not strains, their lives.
Will we meet this moment? Our military’s strength rests on its families. Let’s build a future where they flourish, not just endure. Their service deserves nothing less.