Each day, military and veteran families face challenges and have experiences often unique to military life.
Frequent relocations, missed birthdays and holidays, military spouse unemployment, and financial insecurity: Blue Star Families wants to hear about those lived experiences to drive for real change.
The annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey (MFLS) is how Blue Star Families takes the real, lived experiences of military and veteran families and turns those data points into real action.
The MFLS is the largest and most comprehensive survey of military and veteran families, with more than 114,000 responses collected since its inception in 2009. The collective data of thousands of military and veteran families members tells a powerful story — one that Blue Star Families shares with policymakers, military leaders, and community partners.
Insights from surveys helped shape key provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including these provisions included in H.R. 5009, the “Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025” law:
- A 14.5% pay increase for junior enlisted service members (E-4 and below), positively impacting approximately 500,000 service members.
- Expanded childcare programs, including fee assistance and competitive wages for providers.
- Increased access to the Basic Needs Allowance, helping address food insecurity among military families.
- Stronger employment support for military spouses, including expanded child care during job searches, improved professional licensure portability, and the permanent establishment of the Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot Program.
Survey responses inform Blue Star Families programming, including the 4+1 Commitment, Blue Star Support Circles, and Blue Star Welcome Week — all designed to strengthen connection, support and belonging across the military community.
By taking the MFLS, you’re helping to define what military and veteran family support should be. Your story matters. We hope you will share it and help drive change forward for families like yours.
Take the 2026 Military Family Lifestyle Survey
To participate, you must be military-connected, 18 years of age or older, have access to a device with Internet, and provide consent. The survey is for research purposes only, and should take about 20 minutes to complete online. When you share your experiences, you can choose to enter a drawing for one of 10 $100 Amazon gift cards. If you have any questions about this research, please contact Dr. Emily Becher at survey@bluestarfam.org.
