In 2022, our research revealed the core challenges military families, especially families of color, face when trying to feel included in their communities.

The study focused on three key military communities: Hill Air Force Base (Utah), San Antonio, Texas, and Hampton Roads, Virginia. Military families of color are disproportionately affected by issues like racism and lack of community support, directly impacting military readiness and retention.

• 1 in 3 active-duty families of color made the decision to turn down a military assignment (PCS or job) due to concerns about racism or lack of inclusion in the local community.

The challenges faced by military families of color are not just personal—they affect military readiness and long-term retention of service members.

Racism in local communities was the #3 reason why military families of color declined an assignment.

• Of those who turned down orders, 2 in 3 experienced negative career consequences. For 15%, it was career-ending.

Addressing these challenges doesn’t require massive budgets or resources. We have easy, low-cost solutions that can make an immediate difference, like Welcome Week and the Do Your Part initiative.

• These initiatives help create a welcoming environment for military families, encouraging community engagement and support with minimal cost.

Military families often identify primarily with their military affiliation, but many also have diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural identities. By being inclusive of military families, we are naturally fostering inclusivity across race, gender, religion, and other identities.

Military families of color will make up an increasingly larger portion of the U.S. military as most recruitable U.S. adults will be people of color within the next five years. This makes inclusivity not just a moral imperative, but a matter of national security to ensure long-term military readiness.

• 3 in 10 service members already identify as racial or ethnic minorities.

Blue Star Families can’t solve these challenges alone. It requires a collective, community-based effort. Everyone—from local communities, military installations, schools, and civilians—needs to be part of the solution by participating in Welcome Week and the Do Your Part initiative.

• Call to Action: Take simple steps to welcome military families. Host events, share resources, and be intentional about inclusion. It’s about doing your part, every day.

Our research has shown that while much attention has been given to service members of color, there was virtually no prior research into the experiences of military spouses and children of color. We conducted a comprehensive needs assessment that asked new questions and analyzed existing data, uncovering critical trends about military families of color that had been overlooked.

• The new report analyzes over 1800 open-ended responses with key resources and strategies directly from military families in 3 distinct communities.

When military families feel welcomed and included, it strengthens the entire community and improves retention rates within the military. Small actions, like those encouraged by Welcome Week and the Do Your Part, have a ripple effect, making communities stronger, more supportive, and better prepared to retain talented service members.

The solutions are right in front of us, and they are easy to implement. Let’s all Do Our Part by making simple, daily efforts to create a welcoming, inclusive environment for military families—no matter their background or identity. Participating in Welcome Week and other community-building efforts will ensure that military families feel supported and valued wherever they are.