DoD Panel_Brochure

PANEL BROCHURE CONTENT

[WILL BE INCLUDED IN INITIAL MAILING TO HOUSEHOLD.]

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What is the Ask U.S. Panel pilot?

The Ask U.S. Panel pilot is a national survey by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Defense. The purpose of the pilot panel is to collect the opinions of individuals living across the United States (U.S.), including service members and their spouses. The pilot results may be used to develop a long-term panel. Data collected may be used to improve military life and policies. The Ask U.S. panel will consist of individuals living across the U.S., including active-duty service members and spouses of active-duty service members.

How was I selected for the Ask U.S. Panel military sample pilot?

You are one of 2,500 active-duty service members and spouses across the U.S. that was randomly selected to participate. In order for the Ask U.S. Panel to be successful, it is important to have participants that represent the military as a whole.

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For additional information, contact the RTI Ask U.S. Panel pilot team at:

1-866-558-0774 from 9:00 am-12:00 am Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am-11:00 pm on Fridays, 10:00 am-9:00 pm on Saturdays, and 1:30 pm-11:00 pm on Sundays (EST)

[email protected]

You can also learn more about the Ask U.S. Panel pilot by visiting [WEBSITE]

OMB Number: ####-####

Expiration Date: ##/##/####

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The Ask U.S. Panel logo

DoD logo

U.S. Census Bureau logo

RTI International logo

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Why should my I participate?

Participation in the Ask U.S. Panel pilot is voluntary. There are no penalties for refusing to answer any questions. However, your cooperation is important because it will ensure our survey results represent an accurate picture of active-duty service members and spouses of active-duty service members. Your answers not only represent you, but also hundreds of other active-duty service members and spouses. The data collected by the panel may be used to inform policies affecting active-duty service members and their families. The information you provide will also help DoD and the U.S. Census Bureau improve how data may be collected in the future.

You may choose not to take part in the Ask U.S. Panel, but because our sample is randomly selected, no other active-duty service member or spouses of active-duty service members can take your place. By taking part in the Ask U.S. Panel, you will represent the views and opinions of many other individuals like yourself.

Do I receive anything for participating?

Yes. As a token of appreciation, you received $5 in the panel invitation and will receive an additional $20 for completing your initial enrollment survey. Furthermore, you will receive an additional $10 for completing a 15-minute survey later in 2022.

What does participation in Ask U.S. Panel pilot involve?

You will first complete a 20-minute enrollment survey to confirm your eligibility and enroll in the panel. Panelists will be asked to be a part of the pilot panel for one year, in which they will be invited to complete one additional 15-minute survey in 2022. Surveys will be about a variety of topics, such as food and nutrition, housing, employment, and education. Panelists will be asked to participate in one additional survey. Participation in the additional survey is voluntary and you may skip the survey if you do not wish to complete.

How will you protect my privacy?

The U.S. Census Bureau, the Department of Defense, other partnering federal agencies, and RTI, a not-for-profit research organization, are committed to assuring the confidentiality of the information you provide. All survey responses will be combined with the answers of many others and reported in a summary form. Our interest is only in the combination of all responses and not anyone’s individual answers. Your name and any other identifying information will never be associated with the answers you provide on surveys – this information is only collected for contact purposes so that we may send you invitations to future surveys. Your privacy and confidentiality are protected to the full extent required by law.

Who is sponsoring the Ask U.S. Panel pilot?

The U.S. Census Bureau is the primary sponsor of the Ask U.S. Panel pilot. Other federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, also contribute funding and sponsor surveys for the Ask U.S. Panel.

Who is RTI International?

The U.S. Census Bureau has partnered with RTI International (RTI), a not-for-profit research organization, to do the Ask U.S. Panel pilot. RTI conducts research both in the United States and abroad under agreements with federal, state, and local governments; public service agencies; universities and foundations; and commercial clients. You can learn more about RTI by visiting www.rti.org.

How do I know if the Ask U.S. Panel pilot is legitimate?

You may find out more information regarding U.S. Census Bureau survey programs at https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/surveyhelp/faqs.html.

You may also contact the U.S. Census Bureau at [email protected] or the RTI International Ask U.S. Pilot Panel Data Collection Task Leader, Dustin Williams, at [email protected] to confirm the legitimacy of the Ask U.S. Panel

The study has also been approved by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The valid OMB control number for this information collection is ####-####. The expiration date is ##/##/####.