{"id":31433,"date":"2024-06-27T21:44:51","date_gmt":"2024-06-27T21:44:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/06\/27\/do-military-families-really-need-to-move-so-much\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:57:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:57:02","slug":"do-military-families-really-need-to-move-so-much","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/fedlife\/2024\/06\/27\/do-military-families-really-need-to-move-so-much\/","title":{"rendered":"Do military families really need to move so much?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Moving to a new base every few years is among the most taxing requirements military families face. But is all that effort to uproot really necessary?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new report from a leading advocacy group argues it\u2019s time to give the pace of those moves, known as permanent changes of station, a fresh look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re seeing PCS as being a big moment that puts people in a situation of vulnerability,\u201d Shannon Razsadin, chief executive officer of the Military Family Advisory Network, told Military Times on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group\u2019s 2023 Military Family Support Programming Survey, released Wednesday, explored some of the perennial challenges that burden military families. The 109-page report questioned whether changing the frequent shuffle between bases \u2014 which military officials argue is necessary to meet operational requirements and fill empty jobs \u2014 could affect recurring issues related to financial stability, such as military spouse unemployment, and other concerns such as children\u2019s education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs there a capacity to expand telework to provide more stability?\u201d the report asked. \u201cThere is an opportunity to explore the cost savings of less frequent moves, not just for military families, but also for taxpayers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The survey drilled into some of the second- and third-order effects of frequent moves, when people struggle with everything from the amount of time spent in temporary lodging to security deposits, extra rent and unreimbursed expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese things are adding up. When you move every two to three years, and layer on top of that potential gaps in employment, you have this \u2018aha\u2019 moment where it\u2019s not surprising that people are having a hard time getting ahead,\u201d Razsadin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than half of the survey\u2019s respondents made a PCS move in the previous two years, the advocacy group said. Those who did were more likely to report poor family well-being than those who hadn\u2019t moved, at 25.7% and 20.3%, respectively, according to the survey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About 4 in 10 respondents who PCSed in the past two years reported low or very low food security; around half reported it was \u201cdifficult or very difficult\u201d to find a place to live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MFAN survey, conducted online from Oct. 2 to Dec. 10, 2023, sought to hear from current and former members of the military community. Of the 10,149 participants, 39% said they were active duty spouses, 19% were veterans, and 11% were active duty troops. Seventy-six percent of respondents identified themselves or their spouse as enlisted, whether active duty, retiree or veteran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The survey isn\u2019t a scientific poll because researchers did not verify the identity of respondents, or conduct a random sample, for instance. The 2023 report is the survey\u2019s fifth iteration since it began in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers measured family well-being using the Family Health Scale, a research tool of 10 questions that measure factors like relationships, health care, lifestyle, financial health and housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other findings related to PCS moves include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n