Australian military personnel perspectives on family, service, and deployment: An analysis of open-ended survey data

INTRODUCTION: Qualitative research exploring the interplay among service, deployment, and family from the perspective of military personnel has focused on specific issues such as parenting. The literature on broader family topics is limited. The aim of this study was to address the research gap by analyzing responses to an open-ended question in a survey about health and family. METHODS: Australian Defence Force personnel (N = 1,556) completed a survey in 2011-2012 that assessed their health and obtained their perceptions of the impact of service on their families. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on responses to a broad, open-ended question at the end of the survey. RESULTS: Of the 502 (32%) participants who responded to the open-ended question, 264 (17%) provided a response that discussed the interplay between service and family or deployment and family. Living away from family for service reasons, heavy workloads, and non-family-friendly organizational practices were key issues that played a role in relationship breakdown and in personnel leaving military service or becoming reservists. DISCUSSION: This study revealed several personnel concerns not previously explored in a military family survey that have implications for family well-being and service retention. Armed forces need to ensure that policies relating to work-family balance are enforced in practice by all leaders and across all sectors.