The Spirit of Community, The Army Family, and the Impact on Formal and Informal Support Mechanisms
Abstract: There is evidence that the “spirit of community” within the British military community is in decline. Servicemen are more likely to regard their profession as a job, rather than a vocation and a way of life. Likewise, military partners are becoming less involved with creating/maintaining networks of support for each other, their serviceman, and the military as a whole. This chapter explores the possible causes of this and will reflect on how the decline in community spirit will affect the current welfare offering available to Army families. The primary reason for the decline in community spirit is that families are less likely to regard the functioning of the military as part of their responsibility and they are no longer satisfied with the implicit expectation that they should put the soldiers’ career and welfare above their own. I argue that this change in attitude has been perpetuated by women’s move into the public sphere and their increased likelihood to have a career. This gradual turn away from the military community, toward a greater focus and involvement with the civilian community, has led some families to choose to live away from camp, in order to protect the partner’s career. This chapter reflects on how access to resources such as the HIVE and Unit Welfare Officer is impacted by living away from the base. It will also consider how informal networks of support amongst Army partners are impacted when living outside of Service Families Accommodation. Ultimately it will show how military family welfare may need to adapt in order to address the possible welfare concerns of the modern family.
Abstract: Introduction: Persistent inequities exist in obstetric and neonatal outcomes in military families despite universal health care coverage. Though the exact underlying cause has not been identified, social determinants of health may uniquely impact military families. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively investigate the potential impact of social determinants of health and the lived experiences of military individuals seeking maternity care in the Military Health System. Materials and methods: This was an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol. Nine providers conducted 31 semi-structured interviews with individuals who delivered within the last 5 years in the direct or purchased care market. Participants were recruited through social media blasts and clinic flyers with both maximum variation and homogenous sampling to ensure participation of diverse individuals. Data were coded and themes were identified using inductive qualitative research methods. Results: Three main themes were identified: Requirements of Military Life (with subthemes of pregnancy notification and privacy during care, role of pregnancy instructions and policies, and role of command support), Sociocultural Aspects of the Military Experience (with subthemes of pregnancy as a burden on colleagues and a career detractor, postpartum adjustment, balancing personal and professional requirements, pregnancy timing and parenting challenges, and importance of friendship and camaraderie in pregnancy), and Navigating the Healthcare Experience (including subthemes of transfer between military and civilian care and TRICARE challenges, perception of military care as inferior to civilian, and remote duty stations and international care). Conclusions: The unique stressors of military life act synergistically with the existing health care challenges, presenting opportunities for improvements in care. Such opportunities may include increased consistency of policies across services and commands. Increased access to group prenatal care and support groups, and increased assistance with navigating the health care system to improve care transitions were frequently requested changes by participants.