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The Army Family Advocacy Program (Army FAP) strives to prevent family violence and intervene to reduce the deleterious effects of exposure to family violence. This paper examines the individual, family, community, and treatment factors associated with family violence revictimization. Case files of 134 families with substantiated child maltreatment and associated Army FAP interventions that closed in 2013 were coded across risk and protective factors and intervention characteristics and were matched to Army Central Registry files to identify revictimization rates through 2017. Revictimization, experienced by 23% of families, was predicted by community risk and reduced by intervention dose. With the high rates of relocations, housing or neighborhood issues, and the isolation military families experience and the relationship of these concerns to repeated family violence, identifying the impact of community risk is particularly important. Similarly, research that elucidates the effective treatment components is needed.

AbstractFathering in the military context has been studied for decades. The general approach to this research has mirrored the way in which civilian fathering was studied, with an original emphasis on the deficiencies among fathers as parents, eventually giving way to examining the benefits of father involvement. Largely in the past decade, research has begun to examine the strengths of military fathers and how they can thrive as parents even as they live in a challenging work context. This review examines the literature on fathering in the military. In addition, the article encourages future research on military fathers to use more of a strengths‐based approach. Moreover, virtually nothing is known about civilian fathers who coparent with a service member. Future research should address this gap in understanding the full range of military family formations.

Underemployment is an involuntary condition where individuals consider their employment inferior relative to a standard. This study analyzes underemployment among veterans using data from a large longitudinal study and federal occupational data to explore the relationship between subjective perceptions and objective indicators. Veterans reported their occupations, salaries, and subjective underemployment. Each veteran's occupation was matched with O*NET job zone, education, and occupational median income data. Four groups were identified: neither subjectively nor objectively underemployed, subjectively underemployed only, objectively underemployed only, and both subjectively and objectively underemployed. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) examined salary differences. Most veterans' occupations required some education, and higher educational attainment correlated with increased underemployment. Two thirds of cases showed agreement between subjective and objective assessments, with underemployed veterans earning significantly less. This study highlights the reliability of self-reports as indicators of objective underemployment and underscores the need for innovative strategies to address veteran underemployment through early detection.

This study's goal was to identify how to increase National Guard and Reserve military family participation in research. Compared to Active Duty, families of National Guard and Reserve members are more geographically dispersed and less connected to a military base which can prove problematic for research recruitment and participation. We conducted a focus group study with Service Members and spouses (N = 14) to ascertain their perspectives on (a) whether National Guard and Reserve families would be interested in participating in research studies, (b) potential effective strategies for recruitment, (c) ideal data collection procedures, and (d) how to retain these families in longitudinal studies. Information provided in the focus groups was assessed using open and axial coding for themes. The majority of participants indicated that National Guard and Reserve families would be interested and willing to participate in research. Participants delineated several perceived participation barriers, however. The most-cited obstacles were time constraints and limited proximity to research study locations. Service Members and spouses were unanimous in their noted preference for internet surveys and indicated that researchers need to build relationships with potential participants, particularly if they intend to retain military families in longitudinal studies.

This study's goal was to identify how to increase National Guard and Reserve military family participation in research. Compared to Active Duty, families of National Guard and Reserve members are more geographically dispersed and less connected to a military base which can prove problematic for research recruitment and participation. We conducted a focus group study with Service Members and spouses (N = 14) to ascertain their perspectives on (a) whether National Guard and Reserve families would be interested in participating in research studies, (b) potential effective strategies for recruitment, (c) ideal data collection procedures, and (d) how to retain these families in longitudinal studies. Information provided in the focus groups was assessed using open and axial coding for themes. The majority of participants indicated that National Guard and Reserve families would be interested and willing to participate in research. Participants delineated several perceived participation barriers, however. The most-cited obstacles were time constraints and limited proximity to research study locations. Service Members and spouses were unanimous in their noted preference for internet surveys and indicated that researchers need to build relationships with potential participants, particularly if they intend to retain military families in longitudinal studies.

AbstractObjectiveRisk and protective factors associated with parental functioning (i.e., meeting child's emotional needs) and satisfaction (i.e., closeness) were examined among post‐9/11 veteran mothers during their civilian transition.BackgroundPost–military‐separation stressors (e.g., relocation, benefit changes) can strain well‐being and familial relationships. Stress, particularly in the presence of unresolved trauma from military‐specific risks, can impinge upon parental functioning and satisfaction, negatively influencing child outcomes (e.g., social–emotional, academic, behavioral).MethodA prospective cohort was identified from all active duty service members who separated in May–September 2016. Logistic regression analyses of surveys completed by post‐9/11 veteran mothers (n = 711) assessed effects of protective (i.e., resilience) and military‐specific risk factors (i.e., deployments) on parental functioning and satisfaction. Interactions between protective factors and deployments and combat (patrols and corollaries) were explored.ResultsCoping characteristics (e.g., healthy behaviors), absence of mental health conditions, and social supports were positively associated with parental functioning and satisfaction. Household financial security was not. Mothers who had deployed reported higher parental functioning and satisfaction. Mothers experiencing combat patrols were less likely to report high parental functioning.ConclusionMalleable protective factors positively influence parenting but do not buffer against combat exposure.ImplicationsInterventions bolstering protective factors for veteran mothers can foster coping, reintegration, and positive child outcomes.

Over the last 5 years or so, as veterans transitioned, they generally fared well in the civilian workforce. There are numerous programs designed to help veterans write a resume, translate their military skills, and practice interviewing. The goal of many of these programs is to aid veterans to find employment. However, many of the program components that are effective for job attainment may also lead to greater job success after initial employment. Participating in employment programs may lead to leaving a job for a better opportunity or receiving a promotion. This study examined the use of employment program components related to content (i.e., what is taught) and process (i.e., how the content is taught). For example, content such as interviewing skills and processes such as mentor/coach may be helpful among this sample of transitioning veterans. This study used an adapted common components approach (Morgan et al., 2018) to examine the degree to which participation in employment program components resulted in opportunities for better employment or promotion over the first 6 to 15 months after veterans transition to civilian life. Employment content components (i.e., resume writing, translating military to civilian work, and career planning) were associated with both leaving a job for a better opportunity and promotion. Mentor/coach was often a significant process component associated with the above content components. These findings can assist program developers, local program implementers, policymakers, and funders to promote the continued use of content and process program components that may further advance veterans' careers after transition.

Purpose– Military-connected students experience a high rate of parental absence due to their parents' military obligations. Military work-related parental absences can affect school-aged children's emotional and behavioural health and overall academic functioning. The paper aims to discuss this issue.Design/methodology/approach– The current review identified research studies that explored the effects of military-connected parental absence on school-aged children. Specifically, quantitative and qualitative research studies that examine the impact of military parental absences on dependent variables related to internalising and externalising behaviours and academic functioning were of interest. In all, 26 studies were identified for inclusion in the review.Findings– Overall, military-connected students who experience a parental absence due to military service are more likely to exhibit an increase in problem behaviours and a decrease in academic functioning compared to civilian peers or military-connected peers who were not experiencing parental absence.Originality/value– The current review elucidates parental absence within the military context, highlighting key factors that may contribute to increased and decreased behavioural and academic functioning of military-connected students. Results from the review in relation to risk and protective factors for military-connected students, future research and school programming directions are discussed.

Post-9/11 veterans indicate that obtaining employment is both a priority and a challenge. Numerous federal, state, community, foundation-funded and corporate programs have been created to assist veterans; however, there is little empirical evidence to know what programming is effective and for whom. This study examined predictors of employment program use among new post-9/11 veterans. Male veterans were less likely to utilize online job databases and resume writing assistance than female veterans. Veterans from the junior enlisted paygrades (E1 to E4) were less likely to use online job databases, career fairs, resume writing assistance, job placement, career counseling, and training or certification programs than more senior enlisted paygrades or officers. Veterans from racial or ethnic minority groups (e.g., Black non-Hispanic, Asian) were more likely to utilize a variety of employment programs than their White non-Hispanic peers. Veterans who were exposed to warfare and those with a current physical health condition were more likely to use employment programs. Moreover, veterans with an ongoing mental health problem were no more likely to use any employment programs than veterans without such problems. To increase the use of employment programs, accessibility and targeted engagement strategies should be developed for veterans of different backgrounds and circumstances. Future directions for the longitudinal analysis of veteran's utilization of employment programs and their effectiveness in obtaining employment are discussed.