Published: May 19, 2025
Picture this: you’re a lower-enlisted military family who just received a 14.5% pay increase. Your Basic Needs Allowance has also seen an increase, meaning that your family will no longer have to skip meals. For the first time in months, you can afford fresh groceries, cover your bills, and maybe even set a little aside for the future. Life still isn’t easy, but it finally feels a bit more manageable.
At Blue Star Families, we continuously seek ways to address the issues that military and veteran families face. Our annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey is an essential part of our work to understand the challenges unique to military and veteran families.
Survey Responses Led to Real Change
Military families are raising their voices — and in doing so, they’re shaping a stronger, more responsive future for all who serve. The Military Family Lifestyle Survey is the largest and most comprehensive survey of its kind, with more than 107,000 responses since 2009. Your participation directly influences policy changes that impact our community and directly affected policies set forth in the National Defense Authorization Act.
Responses from prior surveys have informed Blue Star Families’ advocacy efforts and helped to drive key provisions in the 2025 NDAA, including:
- 14.5% pay increase for junior enlisted members (E-4 and below), benefiting approximately 500,000 service members.
- Expansion of child care programs, including fee assistance and competitive staff salaries, to support military families.
- Increase in the Basic Needs Allowance, addressing food insecurity for low-income families.
- Enhanced employment support for spouses, including expanded child care for job searches, easier professional licensure transfers, and the permanent establishment of the Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot Program.
These advancements are a direct result of feedback given by military and veteran families. By taking part in the 2025 MFLS, participants can continue to shape policies that improve the quality of life for military families. These experiences and insights are invaluable in driving meaningful change.
There’s Still More To Do, and We Need YOUR Help.
Your feedback in the Military Family Lifestyle Survey has already directly influenced policy changes that support military families. In 2024, the 4+1 Commitment, a collaborative initiative presented by Blue Star Families and Hiring Our Heroes, in partnership with the Department of Defense’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership, was established as a result of previous survey findings. This commitment encourages employers to implement policies that enhance employment opportunities for military spouses. In addition to this initiative, several other Blue Star Families programs were a direct result of the survey, such as Blue Star Families Chapters and Outposts, Blue Star Support Circles, and Blue Star Welcome Week.
While progress has been made, the journey isn’t over. Continued participation in surveys like MFLS and open forums ensures that your concerns remain at the forefront of policy discussions. Your voice is a catalyst for change, driving initiatives that aim to improve the quality of life for all military and veteran families. Take this year’s survey and help us continue to drive change.
After completing the survey, watch for our 2026 results release event early next year!
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