Missed Moments: The Sacrifices Made By Forces Families

Aiming to highlight the unique challenges faced by military families, SSAFA surveyed the Forces community past and present on the impact that serving has on family moments…

The results have shown there is another level to the sacrifices they make for our Nation – and proved that these are not always understood by the civilian population.

Over a third of military families said that they have been separated for ten months or longer due to the demands which come with their choice of career – which can involve travelling to remote areas of the UK for training, deployment abroad and being on a tour of duty within conflict zones. 81% of the civilians surveyed had no idea that military personnel could be away from home for so many months.

Nearly three quarters of respondents from military families said they’ve not been together for significant family events like birthdays, weddings, funerals and anniversaries, with over half stating that they have missed major moments in their children’s lives, such as their first words, first steps, first day at school – and even the birth of a child!

With family time together being so precious, nearly half of military families said that when they do get to spend time together as a family they feel ‘pressured’ to enjoy time that they have, putting an extra strain on these moments to be perfect.

In addition to extended time apart, the survey has revealed that over a third of military families have been forced to delay some of life’s major milestones, such as getting married, buying a house, and starting a family, due to a long deployment.

Interestingly, it has emerged that younger members of the military community are being more affected by this. When questioned, two thirds of military families aged 16-24 stated that they have delayed a major life event, compared to only one in ten of those aged 55+.

Justine Baynes, Director at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, said: “It’s easy to forget that serving in our Armed Forces means more than defending the Nation – there is also a human price that every member of the military pays. Being away from home and your loved ones for any period can be difficult – but imagine doing it for months at a time with limited communication.

“Whilst it is accepted to be a part of the job at hand, it’s important that we remember that missing birthdays, school plays and those special moments that create memories can take a toll. SSAFA understands the many challenges faced by military families – that’s why we have been supporting the Armed Forces family for over 130 years.”