Prospective Studies of US Military Forces: The Millennium Cohort Study

Millennium Cohort

Family Study
Because Families Serve Too

Dear [NAME],
When you and your spouse joined the Family Study and the Millennium Cohort Study a few
years ago, you became part of a special community of couples that inform leadership, guide
interventions and shape support programs designed to target the specific needs of military
couples and families. As a member of the Millennium Cohort Family Study, you have the
opportunity to represent all military spouses. We are re-contacting you because your continued
participation makes it possible to form a more complete picture of how military life influences
family dynamics, structure and relationships. Whatever your circumstances and feelings, whether
you have children or not, we would like to encourage you to provide your input by completing
your Family Study follow-up survey.
We realize that relationships and families change over time, so we contacted you last year and
asked you to share your experiences since the last survey. We have heard from a large number
of the military spouses who participated in the initial 2011-2013 survey. However, the results of
this important study will have the greatest impact if we can hear from you, since your unique
input will help make the Millennium Cohort Family Study a powerful resource for understanding
the unique strengths and challenges experienced by current and former military couples.
In an effort to be as inclusive and comprehensive as possible, our survey has been updated to
ensure an understanding of the evolving situations and circumstances of military spouses over
time. As such, the survey includes sections intended for participants with current or prior military
service, with and without children, as well as those who are separated, widowed or divorced.
Even if your spouse is no longer in the military or if your marital status has changed, your
participation is critical to defining how military life affects families.
To complete your survey, please visit the study website www.familycohort.org, click “Start Survey”
and enter your Subject ID: XXXXXXX.
Very Respectfully,
Carrie Donoho, PhD
Captain, MS, USA
Spouse of a Veteran and Active Duty Family Study researcher
The Millennium Cohort Family Study is an authorized Department of Defense project. Note Report Control Symbol #DDNAVY(X)XXXX, Office of Management and Budget Approval # 0703-0064, and Primary Institutional Review Board Protocol #
NHRC.2000.0007

PO Box 85777 San Diego, CA 92186-5777

www.familycohort.org

800-571-9248

[email protected]

A U. S . D E PA R T M E N T O F D E F E N S E S T U DY

Does military service impact the
health and well-being of military families?
When you joined the Family Study, you took a step
towards helping answer this important question.
Your continued voluntary participation is vital to
reaching this goal!

Millennium Cohort
Family Study

Dear (Insert Name)
Approximately two years ago you completed a survey for the Millennium Cohort Family Study which was
designed to assess the health and well-being of military families over time. We are writing to ask for your
continued participation in this important U.S. Department of Defense study.

BECAUSE FAMILIES SERVE TOO

Because relationships and families change over time, it is very helpful to hear from military families
every few years, so we would like to invite you to share your experiences since the last survey. Even if
your marital status has changed or you are geographically separated from your spouse, we greatly value
your continued participation and input, as this study is aimed to evaluate both the short- and long-term
impact of military service on families.
This year’s follow-up survey includes several new questions that we hope address issues that you
consider important. We have also removed some questions and modified others in an attempt to make
the follow-up questionnaire as relevant as possible to the life experiences of our 10,000 participants. In
addition, the follow-up survey will only be offered on the web, in order to make the results of the study
available as quickly as possible.
Please complete your survey by going to WWW.FAMILYCOHORT.ORG, click on START SURVEY, and enter
your Subject ID:

W W W. FA M I LY C O H O R T. O R G
The Millennium Cohort Family Study
PO Box 85777
San Diego, CA 92186-5777
Toll-free: 800-571-9248
Email: [email protected]

In recognition of your contribution to the Family Study, we are enclosing a small token of our
appreciation as a way of expressing our gratitude for your previous and continued efforts to make a
difference in the lives of current and future military families. We truly value your time and input in
order to complete the survey.
Very sincerely,

The Millennium Cohort Family Study Team

Lunch Bag Email Text
Two versions: One for Non-dual military families and one for dual-military families
NON-DUAL MILITARY FAMILIES
Purpose: reference recent postal contact and gift. Continue to push for web completion.
Subject Line: Millennium Cohort Family Study - How are you?
Dear _[name]__,
Earlier this week, you should have received a package with an invitation to complete a follow-up survey
as part of your enrollment in the Millennium Cohort Family Study. We also included a small token of our
appreciation for your continued help with this very important U.S. Department of Defense study. The
Millennium Cohort Family Study is the first of its kind to evaluate both the short and long-term effects of
military service on military families from all branches and components of the U.S. Armed Forces.
We are sending you this email to provide a link to the Family Study website, which we hope makes it
easier for you to access and complete the follow-up survey. Just go to www.familycohort.org, click
START SURVEY and enter your subject ID: xxxxxxx.
Unlike some studies, the Family Study is designed to follow you over time in order to understand
changes in the health and wellness of you and your family. Even if you or your children are not
experiencing any health concerns or changes since your first survey, your responses are still very
valuable in understanding the possible effects of military life experiences.
Thank you for working with thousands of other military spouses to protect the health and well-being of
current and future military families.
If you did not receive our postal mailing with the small token of appreciation, then we may not have
your most updated address. We greatly value your help and want to assure that we send future
mailings to the correct postal address. Please update your contact info at: [update contact info website].
Very Respectfully,
The Millennium Cohort Family Study Team
We hope we have reached an appropriate email address. However, if you do not want us to use this
address, please visit: [unsubscribe email link]
The Millennium Cohort Family Study is an authorized Department of Defense project. Note Report Control Symbol # DDNAVY(X)XXXX, Office of Management and Budget Approval # 0703-0064, and Primary Institutional Review Board Protocol #
Naval Health Research Center.2000.0007.

1

Lunch Bag Email Text
DUAL MILITARY FAMILIES
Purpose: reference recent postal contact and gift. Continue to push for web completion.
Subject Line: Millennium Cohort Family Study - How Are You?
Dear _[name]__,
Earlier this week, you should have received a package with an invitation to complete a follow-up survey
as part of your enrollment in the Millennium Cohort Family Study. We also included a small token of our
appreciation for your continued help with this very important U.S. Department of Defense study. The
Millennium Cohort Family Study is the first of its kind to evaluate both the short and long-term effects of
military service on military families from all branches and components of the U.S. Armed Forces.
We are sending you this email to provide a link to the Family Study website, which we hope makes it
easier for you to access and complete the follow-up survey. Just go to www.familycohort.org, click
START SURVEY and enter your subject ID: xxxxxxx.
We understand that both you and your spouse are serving, or have served, in the U.S. military. That
makes you especially important to this study. We would like to hear from you even if your marital status
has changed or if you are geographically separated from your spouse. We realize that the health and
well-being of spouses may be affected somewhat differently in dual military families than when only one
member of a family serves, so we hope to hear from you.
Unlike some studies, the Family Study is designed to follow you over time in order to understand
changes in the health and wellness of you and your family. Even if you or your children are not
experiencing any health concerns or changes since your first survey, your responses are still very
valuable in understanding the possible effects of military life experiences.
Thank you for working with thousands of other military spouses to protect the health and well-being of
current and future military families.
If you did not receive our postal mailing with the small token of appreciation, then we may not have
your most updated address. We greatly value your help and want to assure that we send future
mailings to the correct postal address. Please update your contact info at: [update contact info website].
Very Respectfully,
The Millennium Cohort Family Study Team
We hope we have reached an appropriate email address. However, if you do not want us to use this
address, please visit: [unsubscribe email link]
The Millennium Cohort Family Study is an authorized Department of Defense project. Note Report Control Symbol # DDNAVY(X)XXXX, Office of Management and Budget Approval # 0703-0064, and Primary Institutional Review Board Protocol #
Naval Health Research Center.2000.0007.

1

Department of Defense
Deployment Health Research Department
c/o Naval Health Research Center
P.O. Box 85777
San Diego, CA 92186-5777
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY - DO NOT MARK

During National Military Family Month, the Millennium Cohort
Family Study Team would like to thank you for the many
contributions you make every day in support of the military and
our nation. We join the country in celebration of the Military
Family and honor the commitment and sacrifices made by the
families of our nation's Service members.
We appreciate your participation in the Family Study follow-up
survey. Through your continued involvement, the Family Study
is able to provide invaluable information to military leaders and
policymakers to positively impact families like yours.
Very respectfully,

Dr. Valerie Stander
Principal Investigator of the Millennium Cohort Family Study

The Millennium Cohort Family Study is an authorized Department of Defense project. Note Report Control Symbol #
DD-NAVY(X)XXXX, Office of Management and Budget Approval # 0703-0064, and Primary Institutional Review Board
Protocol # NHRC.2015.0019.

PRESORTED
FIRST CLASS
U.S. Postage
PAID
San Diego, CA
Permit #3909

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Department of Defense
Deployment Health Research Department
c/o Naval Health Research Center
P.O. Box 85777
San Diego, CA 92186-5777
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY - DO NOT MARK

During National Military Family Month, the Millennium Cohort
Family Study Team would like to thank you for the many
contributions you make every day in support of the military and
our nation. We join the country in celebration of the Military
Family and honor the commitment and sacrifices made by the
families of our nation's Service members.
If you have not yet completed your Family Study follow-up
survey, please visit the following link:
www.familycohort.org, click “Start Survey,” and
enter your Subject ID: XXXXXXX.
Through your continued involvement, the Family Study will be
able to provide invaluable information to military leaders and
policymakers to positively impact families like yours.
Very respectfully,
Dr. Valerie Stander
Principal Investigator of the Millennium Cohort Family Study
The Millennium Cohort Family Study is an authorized Department of Defense project. Note Report Control Symbol #
DD-NAVY(X)XXXX, Office of Management and Budget Approval # 0703-0064, and Primary Institutional Review Board
Protocol # NHRC.2015.0019.

PRESORTED
FIRST CLASS
U.S. Postage
PAID
San Diego, CA
Permit #3909

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Memorial Day
May we never forget freedom isn’t free.

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, CA

Millennium Cohort

Department of Defense
Deployment Health Research Department
c/o Naval Health Research Center
P.O. Box 85777
San Diego, CA 92186-5777

Family Study

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY - DO NOT MARK

Dear ,
On this Memorial Day, the Millennium Cohort Family Study Team remembers
those who sacrificed their lives for our nation, and we thank you for your family’s
contribution to protecting America’s freedom.
The Family Study Team is dedicated to improving the lives of Service members
and their families. Your participation in this study helps provide valuable
information to healthcare providers and military leaders about the short and
long-term concerns of military families.
If you have not completed your online survey, please visit www.familycohort.org,
click “Start Survey”, and enter your Subject ID: XXXXXXX. We truly value your
time and participation in this important study. Please know that your continued
involvement in the Family Study will make a difference in the lives of military
families.
Very Respectfully,

Carrie Donoho, PhD
Captain, MS, USA
Spouse of a Veteran and Active Duty Family Study researcher
Primary Institutional Review Board Protocol # NHRC.2015.0019

PRESORTED
FIRST CLASS
U.S. Postage
PAID
San Diego, CA
Permit #3909

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED