Washington, D.C. – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus, joined her fellow her Co-Chairs, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA), for the release of the 2012 Blue Star Families Military Family Lifestyle survey today.  The third consecutive survey fielded by Blue Star Families details the many challenges faced by military families after more than a decade of continuing war, and the ways families and service members are coping.

“When a service member joins the military, it’s not just a job; it’s a family commitment to our country,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. “This year’s Blue Star Families Military Family Lifestyle survey will help us better understand the challenges that military families face every day, give us actionable data to meet their needs, and elevate our nation’s commitment in a way that makes our military families safer and stronger.”

Blue Star Families is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services including guard and reserve, with a mission to support, connect and empower military families.  This year’s report identified several key concerns, including pay/benefits, with specific emphasis on changes to retirement benefits, the effects of deployment on children, general operational tempo (OPTEMPO), military spouse employment, and issues surrounding Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). 

Today’s launch event was held at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center and was attended by government, military and community leaders, experts on military and family issues, and military service members and their families. 

To read Blue Star Families’ full report, go to http://bluestarfam.org/2012survey.