Spousal support for staying on active duty dropped to 54 percent in 2021, compared to 59 percent in 2019. Image: Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe results of a 2021 survey of military spouses identify a host of opinions and concerns, most of which focus upon traditional matters that have traditionally garnered attention. Nevertheless, the data reflected the time during which the survey was conducted. The Covid-19 pandemic, which had finally peaked and was beginning to wane, played a role in spousal responses.
The Active Duty Spouse Survey was sponsored by the Pentagon’s Office of Military Community and Family Policy and conducted by the Defense Personnel Analytics Center’s office of people analytics between July 26 and Nov. 19, 2021. Some 21 percent of all spouses – 11,764 people in all – responded to either web-based or written questionnaires.
Some areas reflected little change. For instance, civilian unemployment among spouses remained at 21 percent – statistically the same as it has been since 2015. The percentage of spouses employed in positions for which they were educated or trained did increase significantly two years ago – to 62 percent, up from 54 percent.
Military spouses also reported slightly better financial well-being scores – 58 percent, compared to the 2020 U.S. average of 55 percent. Predictably, spouses of junior enlisted members were significantly more likely to be less financially secure than their counterparts “affiliated with other pay groups,” according to the survey. So too were spouses who were unemployed.
Food insecurity in 2021 was comparable to 2020 levels. Again, spouses in lower pay grades or who were unemployed tended to have a tougher time putting food on the table for their families.
Spousal support for staying on active duty dropped to 54 percent in 2021, compared to 59 percent in 2019.
While 76 percent of all active duty spouses received a Covid-19 vaccine as of the survey’s Nov. 19, 2021 closing date, those who refused or were hesitant had stated they were concerned about side effects. Spouses of senior officers and non-Hispanic white spouses made up the largest percentage of respondents who expressed “vaccine hesitancy,” according to the survey.
A little more than half of all respondents with children at home said their routine childcare arrangements came to a halt during the pandemic.
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