Family Study Recruitment Materials

Department of Defense
Deployment Health Research Department
c/o Naval Health Research Center

FIRST CLASS

PO Box 503310
San Diego, CA 92150

San Diego, CA

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BARCODE AREA
Subject ID: xxxxxxxxxx

COMPLETE YOUR FOLLOW-UP SURVEY TODAY!
The 2024-2025 Family Study follow-up survey is available.
Complete it today and receive a $10 Amazon gift code!
The Millennium Cohort Family Study is an authorized Department of Defense project. Note Report Control Symbol #DD-NAVY(AR) 2678, Office of Management and Budget
Approval #0703-0064, and Primary Institutional Review Board Protocol #NHRC.2015.0019

BECAUSE FAMILIES SERVE TOO!
Dear Participant,
On behalf of the Millennium Cohort Family Study team, I want to thank you for
your commitment to this critically important research. It has been my privilege
to serve on the Family Study team since it was launched in 2011. As we begin
our fourth survey cycle, we are reaching out to almost 30,000 spouses that have
already enrolled in the Family Study – representing spouses from all military
branches, spouses of Reserve and National Guard, spouses of Veterans, male
spouses, spouses that have served in the military, and spouses whose marital
status has changed, but have military-connected kids! We are the only study
that can examine the impact of military life over time and we are honored that
you have chosen to join us on this journey. The Family Study is a key resource for
decisions that are being made to protect and support military families both during
and after service. Your continued participation is vital!
Please consider completing your 2024-2025 follow-up survey today!
Very respectfully,

Hope McMaster, PhD
Principal Investigator, Millennium Cohort Family Study

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COHORT
11%

89%

Male

70%

Female

have some
college
education

13,623

100%

children are
represented in
the Family Study

90%
80%
70%
60%

5%

5%

14%
81%

40%

14%

30%

are Reserve/Guard
families

0%

15%

10%

are Navy families

are Marine
Corps families

14%

work part time

46%
1

are not employed
outside of the home
2

27%

3%

are Air Force
families

are Coast
Guard families

7500

are currently
serving or have
served in the
military

PARTICIPATION

15%

10%

are Active
duty families

are Army
families

work full time

20%

81%

45%

39%

50%

are separated
from the military

Spouses in the
study have
experienced
over 7,500
deployments

COMPLETION GIFT

HOW YOUR PARTICIPATION HELPS
MILITARY FAMILIES

$10

As a member of the Millennium
Cohort Family Study, we ask that
you take 45 minutes out of your
day to complete your online
follow-up survey.

As a token of our
appreciation for your
participation in the
2024-2025 Family Study
survey cycle, you will
receive a $10 digital
Amazon gift code at the
end of your survey that
can be used
immediately!”

Data from participants are
collected, combined, and
analyzed together.
Individual information and
data are not shared outside
of the study team.

The study team analyzes data from
all participants to better
understand how military
experiences impact families.

PARTNERSHIPS

PROGRAMS

POLICY

The study team writes reports, publishes articles and provide briefs
to decision makers. Through partnerships with advocacy groups,
support programs and military leadership, study findings help to
inform policy and programs for current and future military families.

3

NOVEMBER

National Veterans and Military Families Month


Department of Defense
Deployment Health Research Department
c/o Naval Health Research Center

PO Box 503310
San Diego, CA 92150
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY - DO NOT MARK
Dear NAME,

During National Veterans and Military Families Month, we acknowledge and
honor the strength and sacrifices of our service members, veterans, and their
families. Spouses and families serve as the backbone of our armed forces, and their
strength is unparalleled. The Millennium Cohort Family Study team pays tribute to
their unwavering dedication and invaluable contributions to our nation.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your contribution to
the Family Study. Your continued participation is vital to this unique research
effort. If you have not had a chance to complete your follow-up survey, please visit
www.familycohort.org, click "Start Survey," and enter your Subject ID: XXXXXXX.
We hope to hear from you because families serve too!
Very respectfully,

Dr. Hope McMaster
Principal Investigator of the Millennium Cohort Family Study
The Millennium Cohort Family Study is an authorized Department of Defense project. Note Report Note
Report Control Symbol # DD-HA(AR)2106, Office of Management and Budget Approval # 0720-0029,
and Primary Institutional Review Board Protocol # NHRC.2015.0019.

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Just a friendly reminder...

Department of Defense
Deployment Health Research Department
c/o Naval Health Research Center

PO Box 503310
San Diego, CA 92150
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY - DO NOT MARK

Please accept our small gift of recognition when you complete your follow-up survey.
Dear NAME,
As a member of the Millennium Cohort Family Study, you are part of a select group of
individuals with the unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of military
spouses and children. Even if you are no longer connected to the military or married to
your service member spouse, your perspective matters! We hope you continue your
involvement in this important research effort by taking some time out of your day to
complete your 2024-2025 follow-up survey.
To complete your survey, visit www.familycohort.org, click on “Start Survey” and enter
your Subject ID XXXXXXX. At the end of your survey, you will receive a $10 digital
Amazon gift code that can be used immediately!
Thank you for your time and continued support of this research effort.

Dr. Hope McMaster
Principal Investigator
Millennium Cohort Family Study
Postcard artwork provided by the child of a Millennium Cohort Family Study participant.
The Millennium Cohort Family Study is an authorized Department of Defense project.
Note Report Control Symbol # DD-NAVY(AR)2678, Office of Management and Budget
Approval #0703-0064, and Primary Institutional Review Board Protocol #NHRC.2015.0019

PRESORTED
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San Diego, CA
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Dear NAME,
As a member of the Millennium Cohort Family Study, you are part of one of the most important
research initiatives designed to understand the impact of military life on families over time. By
gathering the perspectives and experiences of nearly 30,000 participants, our study team can better
understand the challenges families, like yours, face every day.
We recognize that military spouses face unique stressors including frequent moves, disruptions in
education and career progression, and separation from spouses during deployments, trainings, and
unaccompanied tours. We know that these stressors can impact marriages and relationship well-being.
In the included infographic, we have highlighted findings from a study examining how different
strengths can help couples overcome the challenges they face. When the study was launched in 2011,
more than half of Family Study participants felt they had strong marriages. More than a decade later, it
is important to understand what factors may have protected your marriage or put it at risk. Knowledge
of risk and protective factors help the DoD understand how to support military families so they can stay
healthy and happy.
Our research is only possible by hearing from our participants every three years. If you have not had a
chance to complete your 2024-2025 follow-up survey yet, please consider doing so today.
Please complete your survey by going to www.familycohort.org, clicking on Start Survey, and entering
your Subject ID: XXXXXXX. At the end of your survey, you will have the opportunity to select a digital $10
Amazon gift code that you can use immediately!
Thank you for your time and continued support of this research effort.
Very sincerely,
Hope McMaster, PhD
Principal Investigator
Millennium Cohort Family Study

The Millennium Cohort Family Study is a Department of Defense project at the Deployment Health Research Department,
located at the Naval Health Research Center, in San Diego, California. OMB Control #: 0703-0064, RCS: DD-NAVY(AR)2678, and
Primary Institutional Review Board Protocol # NHRC.2015.0019

The Millennium
Cohort Family Study

WHAT STRENGTHS ARE YOU
BUILDING IN YOUR MARRIAGE?

Military life can be stressful for couples.
Building these strengths can help during challenging times:

Personal Beliefs

Family
Communication Skills

Access to Social Support

Sense of control over your life • Positive

Ability to listen and empathize • Discuss ideas

Family and friends you can turn to for help

outlook about the future • Spirituality, faith,

calmly • Solve problems effectively • Express

• Others who care for you and make

and compassion

feelings openly and honestly

you feel loved

How do military couples view their strengths?
Most service members and their spouses report high levels of the above strengths in their marriage.

58% of couples reported the highest levels across all strengths.
37% of couples reported moderate levels of strengths.

5%

Only
of couples reported the lowest levels across all strengths.
Without important strengths, life stress may take a greater toll on couples.

Couples with the lowest levels of strengths experienced:
Worse
mental health

Lower marital
relationship quality

Less satisfaction
with the military

Ways to build strengths in your marriage
Take an inventory of your
personal beliefs:

Work on improving communication in
your family:

Build your social support network:

• Participate in a survey of your

• Make a plan for staying connected when

• Make a list of family and friends you can

character strengths
• Get involved in spiritual or
charitable activities
• Seek out help from a professional
when you need it

family members are apart
• Contact your local family service
center to participate in a communication
skills workshop
• Check out Military OneSource and sign up
for a marriage enrichment weekend

turn to for support
• Communicate regularly with your most
important friends and family
• Seek out opportunities to connect with
others in your community

VIA Institute on Character. (2020). The VIA Character Strengths Survey. Retrieved from https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register
Pflieger, J. C., Porter, B., Carballo, C. E., Stander, V. A., & Corry, N. H. (2020). Patterns of strengths in U.S. military couples. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 29, 1249–1263. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01593-4

For more information, go to http://www.familycohort.org
The Millennium Cohort Family Study follows nearly 10,000 spouses of junior military personnel for 21 years to help the
Department of Defense understand the needs of families and provide better support.

Reminder Letter: Follow-Up Non-responders
Mail Date: TBD
Dear NAME,
I understand that finding time to complete the Family Study follow-up survey is not easy. You may be
wondering if the Family Study really matters and if it is different from other surveys. I want to assure
you that it is! One of the reasons that the Family Study matters and is different from other surveys is the
SCIENCE behind what we do.
When you joined the Family Study, you began a journey with a select group of spouses that we have the
privilege to hear from every three years. There are no other DoD studies that are as large and long-term
as the Family Study. We want to understand your experiences while your family is connected to the
military, as well as after service! We want to hear from spouses who don’t have children, as well as
those that choose to have children! We want to hear from spouses even when their marital status
changes! We care about you and want to make sure that military life is beneficial to you and your family.
This is why we work closely with Military Community and Family Policy, the White House, and numerous
other advocacy and policy groups to make sure that your experiences as a military spouse are
communicated to decision makers that can improve policy and programs.
We understand that families change over time and have tried our best to tailor our survey to address
your specific situation. By sharing your perspective and experiences, you will help to fill in the gaps of
how military life impacts service members, spouses, and children.
Please complete your survey today by visiting www.familycohort.org, clicking “Start Survey”, and
entering your Subject ID: XXXXXXX. At the end of your survey, you will have the opportunity to select a
$10 Amazon digital gift code, as a token of appreciation for your time.

Thank you for your continued support of this important research effort.
Very sincerely,
Hope McMaster, PhD
Principal Investigator
Millennium Cohort Family Study

The Millennium Cohort Family Study is a Department of Defense project at the Deployment Health Research Department,
located at the Naval Health Research Center, in San Diego, California. OMB Control #: 0703-0064, RCS: DD-NAVY(AR)2678, and
Primary Institutional Review Board Protocol # NHRC.2015.0019

CELEBRATING THE

MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD
BECAUSE FAMILIES SERVE TOO

Department of Defense
Deployment Health Research Department
c/o Naval Health Research Center

PO Box 503310
San Diego, CA 92150
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY - DO NOT MARK
Dear NAME,

Each April, the Month of the Military Child provides a chance for us to recognize and thank
the children of our service members and veterans. The Millennium Cohort Family Study team
and I understand the sacrifices that military-connected children make for our country, and
we are so grateful.
I have been a member of the Family Study team since my family PCS’d to San Diego in 2010.
My children have grown from babies to adolescents and have experienced numerous separations
from their father since we launched the first Family Study survey. My experiences as a military
spouse and mother have helped shape our surveys and provided insight into our findings.
The Family Study is currently the only ongoing DoD study of the health and relationship well-being
of military families, and I am proud that I have been a part of the team since the beginning!
I now have the honor of representing the Family Study as I move into the position of Principal
Investigator, and I want to sincerely thank you for your continued participation! Please know that you
are making a difference in the lives of current and future generations of military families by
remaining engaged in this remarkable study.
We will be launching our next survey cycle soon and hope to have your support in this ongoing effort.
Very respectfully,

Dr. Hope McMaster
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(AR) 2678, Office of Management and Budget Approval # 0703-0064, and Primary Institutional Review Board
Protocol # NHRC.2015.0019

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FIRST CLASS
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