Race and Ethnicity in Military Families: The Hidden Impact of Service

How military service affects families' mental health — deployment, reintegration, and finding support.

Military families carry unique race and ethnicity burdens — often invisible to civilian society but real and significant.

Race and Ethnicity Challenges Unique to Military Families

  • Deployment separation: Repeated separations create attachment disruption and anxiety for all family members
  • Reintegration: Return from deployment requires major readjustment, often triggering race and ethnicity
  • Frequent relocation: PCS moves disrupt social supports that protect against race and ethnicity
  • Secondary trauma: Living with a service member with PTSD or race and ethnicity creates secondary psychological impact

Children in Military Families and Race and Ethnicity

Military children are resilient but face significant race and ethnicity risks. School changes, parent absence, and exposure to parent's race and ethnicity all require specific support.

Resources for Military Family Race and Ethnicity

Military OneSource, Military Family Life Counselors (MFLC), and installation behavioral health services provide free or low-cost race and ethnicity support for military families.

Related Resources

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