Each year, Blue Star Families (BSF) releases findings from its annual survey drawn from the input of military families. Hearing and understanding the voice of those who are living the military lifestyle is imperative to organizations that provide support for and services to those families.

Sarah Bumgardner, AAFMAA Director Partnership and Member Engagement spoke with Karly Howell, Associate Director of Research for BSF to take a closer look at the 2023 Blue Star Families Military Lifestyle Survey. In addition to her research work with BSF, Howell served in leadership roles at several non-profit organizations, guiding programs designed to help both individuals and families thrive. The spouse of a recently retired Veteran, Howell was involved in efforts supporting military families throughout her husband's 24 years of Navy service.

In their discussion, Bumgardner and Howell talk about the mission of this year's Blue Star Families Survey and its importance. They highlight why participation in this survey is so important, and talk about how some of the results have changed the military landscape for military families over the years. Their conversation also covers who should participate, why its so important for their responses to be captured in the survey, and how you can make sure your voice is heard. Watch the video for the full discussion.

Learn more about the 2023 Blue Star Families Military Lifestyle Survey and be sure to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube to catch our next AAFMAA Live!