Defense Department Seeks Military Spouse Input Through Survey

The Defense Department has launched the 2024 Survey of Active Duty Spouses, its biennial assessment of the impact of military life on spouses and their families.

The long-running survey asks spouses about their satisfaction with military life and collects data about issues, such as financial well-being, spouse employment, military relocations, child care and the overall health and well-being of spouses, children and families. The DOD uses the results to prioritize resources and programs that address the pressing needs of the nation’s more than 594,000 active-duty spouses and their families.

Patricia Montes Barron, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Military Community and Family Policy, said the survey provides the department with a barometer on how to adjust family policy and programs in the coming years.

"We strongly encourage all active-duty spouses to take a few minutes from their busy days to complete the 2024 Survey of Active Duty Spouses, so we can hear directly from them about what is and isn’t working," Barron said. "The DOD is committed to the well-being of military spouses and relies on the survey findings to make the decisions that will best meet their needs."

The 2024 Survey of Active Duty Spouses includes expanded sections on remote work and financial well-being, in addition to measuring important aspects of military life, such as employment and child care. The survey, conducted approximately every two years, takes about 20 minutes to complete, and will take most spouses far less time. Spouses only answer questions that pertain to them.

Spouses can access the survey from early January for about eight weeks at https://www.dodsurveys.mil/ to provide their answers to questions about their current quality of life in the military.

About Military OneSource

Military OneSource is a DOD-funded program that is both a call center and a website providing comprehensive information, resources and assistance on every aspect of military life. Service members and the families of active duty, National Guard and reserve (regardless of activation status), Coast Guard members when activated for the Navy, DOD expeditionary civilians and survivors are eligible for Military OneSource services, which are available worldwide 24 hours a day, seven days a week, free to the user.