The Hidden Cost: Military Families
Behind every service member is a family bearing invisible wounds. Deployments, relocations, housing crises, and the lasting impact on children — the costs that never appear in the defense budget.
By the Numbers
• 22% unemployment — Military spouses face chronic unemployment due to constant relocations. The average military family moves every 2-3 years.
• 24% on food assistance — Nearly 1 in 4 military families qualify for SNAP benefits despite serving their country.
• 3.5 deployments — Post-9/11 service members average 3.5 combat deployments, compared to 1 in previous eras.
• 6-9 school changes — Military children change schools 6-9 times during K-12, three times the national average.
• $886B defense budget — Yet military family support programs receive less than 1% of the defense budget.