Prospective Studies of US Military Forces: The Millennium Cohort Study

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10/10/12 10:32 AM

Dear _[name]__,
A few years ago, you were very helpful in completing a survey for the Millennium Cohort Study which
assesses the health and well-being of Service members over time. We are writing to ask for your
continued help with the largest effort ever undertaken to understand if military service affects the
health of military members during, as well as after, their military service is completed.
We appreciate greatly your previous help with this effort that involves all branches and components of
the military. You may notice that this year’s questionnaire has been changed, removing some questions
and adding others that seem to be helpful in understanding what happens over time with regard to
health issues.
Please complete the survey by going to: www.millenniumcohort.org, click on Start Survey, and enter
your Subject ID: xxxxxx.
Thank you for your continued help in making this the largest and most important DoD study in US
military history and working with us to protect the health of members of our military service.
Very sincerely,
The Millennium Cohort Study Team

Dear _[name]__,
During the last few weeks, we have requested your continued help with this long-term study of
the health and well-being of Service members. It is the only prospective study that is able to
evaluate the effects of military service on long-term health.
We have not, to the best of our knowledge, heard from you. We have enclosed a paper survey,
hoping that this will make it easier for you to fill out and return.
As a member of this study, you are adding to the picture of the overall health of military Service
members throughout their lives. Your past participation, and the participation of others like
you, has already helped us to provide valuable information the health impacts of deployments
and other military experiences. For example, we found that combat-related trauma and
predeployment insomnia symptoms increased the risk for developing post-traumatic stress
symptoms, depression, and anxiety following deployment. Findings from this study are
intended to influence training, health care, and policies of Department of Defense as well as
Department of Veterans Affairs related to serving in the U.S. military.
We thank you for completing the enclosed survey and returning it in the postage-paid
envelope. Or, to complete the survey online, please go to the website:
http://www.MillenniumCohort.org
Enter your unique Subject ID: xxxxxx.
Be assured that this is an authorized study supported by the highest levels of the Department
of Defense. Defense Manpower Data Center Reference # 00-0019, Report Control Symbol #
DD-NAVY(X)XXXX, Office of Management and Budget Approval # 0703-0064, Office of the
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), TRICARE Management Activity Protocol #
CDO-06-206, and Primary Institutional Review Board Protocol # NHRC.2000.0007.
We look forward to hearing from you as one of our valued Millennium Cohort members!
[Insert Signature]
If you have any questions, please contact the Millennium Cohort team at our toll-free number,
1-888-942-5222, or DSN 553-7465, or email [email protected].

Please complete your survey
We hope to hear from each one of you, so that the study is as informative as it can be to you and to future
generations of Service members and Veterans.

Each survey cycle, we ask many of the same questions, such as level of physical activity and amount of
cigarette smoking. Habits may change over time,
and asking about these factors every 3 years
provides a series of “snapshots” that will help give us
a better picture over time.

Since you enrolled in the Millennium Cohort
Study, you have been asked to complete a health
survey every 3 years.

But the same questions… again?

Another survey? Why?

The study is designed as a “follow-up study”
where the same participants are followed over
time. No one can take your place. This type of
study helps researchers to examine a variety of
factors and their influence on a variety of health
conditions that may occur over the course of a
lifetime. This is the largest follow-up study of its
kind in military history, and you are key to its
success.
Your continuing participation and dedication
make it possible to learn about the long-term
impact of military service, even after you have
left the service.

Even if not very much has changed, or if you have
stayed healthy, we ask that you respond. Keeping
your information up to date is critical to our ability to
draw the correct conclusions from this kind of study.

www.millenniumcohort.org

What about new questions?
As we learn more as time goes on, we may add new survey questions to better understand the various health
concerns of Service members and Veterans.
For example, on the current survey, we have added questions about diagnoses of traumatic brain injury and
degenerative joint disease. Rest assured that when we add new questions, we will work to prioritize and scale
back other questions. We value your time and appreciate your ongoing help.

Thank you
Special thanks to those who have completed the survey. It’s still not too late!

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY - DO NOT MARK

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Permit #3909

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

Take Action

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

PLEASE KEEP US UPDATED
Have you recently moved or changed your email address?
Has your name changed?

Please visit our website and log in to

Use your Subject ID located below the
barcode on the address side of this

How do I fill out my survey?
If you haven’t already, you can complete your
survey online:
www.millenniumcohort.org
Click on Start Survey and enter your Subject ID
located below the barcode on the address side of
this newsletter.
Feel free to contact us with questions:
Email: [email protected]
Toll-free: 1-888-942-5222
DSN: 553-7465

Millennium Cohort F.A.Q.

www.millenniumcohort.org

VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL WALL, WASHINGTON, D.C.

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

On this Memorial Day, we recognize the valiant efforts of the
hundreds of thousands of men and women who put country before
self and gave their lives for our nation. They felt a sense of duty,
and they dedicated their lives to fulfill that duty.
We want to remind you that you are a part of the largest health
study in military history and one of the largest cohort studies in
world history! You should feel confident that you are contributing
to an effort of profound public health importance. Please know that
you are making a difference by remaining engaged in the Cohort
over time.
Thank you for your continued support of this important project!
Respectfully,

Dennis Faix, CDR, MC, USN
On Behalf of the Millennium Cohort Study Team
Primary Institutional Review Board Protocol # NHRC.2000 .0007

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

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

A SNAPSHOT OF THE MILLENNIUM COHORT STUDY
EEDUCATION
DUCATION LEVEL
LEVEL

S

16%

S

2014

H

2010

17-24
years old

2007

41-64
years old

32%

21%

47% OF ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE
DISABILITY FROM THE VA

38%

H

23%

35%

’

C

55%

65+
years old 1%

B

%
52

2004

25-40
years old

C
COHORT
OHORT RESPONSE
RESPONSE R
RATE
ATE
36%
43%
44%

2001

AGE
A
GE OF
OF THE
THE COHORT
COHORT

HOW MUCH CAFFEINE
DOES OUR COHORT DRINK

HOUSEHOLD
INCOME

Servings of Caffeine per Day
0-2 / day

6+ / day

4%

+
$100K

9K
$75-9

5K
$50-7

0K
$25-5

<$25K

3-5 / day

1%

live all over the world and
bring their unique
experiences to the Cohort.

19%

14%

22%

OUR STUDY
PARTICIPANTS

32%

19%

35%

25% of our parƟcipants CURRENTLY smoke

GENDER

69%

60% of those who
wh
ho have EV
EVER
smoked in their lifetime have
successfully quit

31%

The purpose of this study is to assess the health risks
of military deployment, military occupa ons, and
general military service. You were selected to
represent your fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen, and
Marines, and your con nued par cipa on posi vely
impacts former, current and future Service
members. Ul mately, the greatest benefits of this
study will not be known for many years. This is why
it is essen al to stay involved with the study even
a er you are out of the service.

75%

8(+) mes / week
2-7 mes / week
0-1 mes / week

64%

WHY SHOULD YOU CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE?

21%

HOW OFTEN DOES
THE COHORT EAT
FAST FOOD

MOST COMMON HEALTH ISSUES

12.1%
12.1%
12.5%
13.1%
14.2%

Hypertension
Migraine Headaches
Acid Reflux
Depression
Tinnitus

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3/14/16 9:26 AM

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

PRESORTED
FIRST CLASS
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SAN DIEGO, CA
PERMIT #3909

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

FPO
Subject ID: XXXXXX Mail ID: XXXXXX-XXXXXX

The Millennium Cohort survey cycle is coming to a close. So
far, only 40% of your fellow Marines have responded to their
surveys. In order for us to fully understand how military
service affects long-term health, we need to hear from you.
Even if you have left the service or are not experiencing
any health problems, we want to hear from you! You may
complete your survey online at www.millenniumcohort.org.
Just click Start Survey and enter your Subject ID (found below
the barcode above).
Thank you for considering our request and for your service.
Very respectfully,

*******************AUTO
Sample Name
Any Street
Any Street 2
Any City, State Zip_Code

Dennis Faix, CDR, MC, USN
On Behalf of the Millennium Cohort Study Team

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3/14/16 9:26 AM