The Department of Defense (DOD) operates a wide variety of programs designed to improve the life of military family members, and a task force is slated to begin an extensive review to measure the effectiveness of such initiatives. The 120-day study will investigate whether there are any gaps and will account for shifting demographics in the military community, reports American Forces Press Service.
Analysts say the biggest reason for the review is that many military families no longer live on bases. In fact, about 75 percent of families live in the communities surrounding military installations, rather than on the base itself. Investigators will look at everything from recreational programs to some that serve young children and teens. Researchers will rely heavily on feedback from servicemembers to measure how effective the programs are.
“What we’re looking at now [in that review] is building effectiveness measures on those programs [to see] which ones are effective, which ones are moving the needle, which ones have an impact,” Charles E. Milam, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy, told the news source.
Whatever the review finds, it’s undeniable there are many programs that play a vital role in the lives of military families, many of which they can access through recently revamped Military OneSource website.