Satisfaction with service family life rises slightly, annual attitude survey finds

Satisfaction with the quality of life as a service family has improved year on year, according to the annual tri-service Families Continuous Attitude Survey.

The report provides information on the experiences and attitudes towards various aspects of service life, comparing this year with previous years to identify trends.

The latest survey shows that overall, satisfaction with quality of life as a service family rose slightly, from 52% last year to 55%. Dissatisfaction remained unchanged at 19%.

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Positive change in the numbers 

Fewer families are dissatisfied with the response to maintenance requests for Service Family Accommodation. In 2023, 74% of respondents were dissatisfied; that figure is now 39%. 

There has also been a big jump in the ability to access dental treatment, rising from 33% in 2024 to 43%. The report said figures had been low because of Covid-related issues. 

When asked about the frequency and length of operational tours, 73% of spouses felt the frequency was "about right", with 22% believing they were too frequent.

A further 55% said tour lengths were "about right", while 44% said they were too long.

The survey found that spouses are more likely to encourage their partner to stay in the military than leave. 

It found 29% of spouses encouraged their serving partner to stay "all the time/a lot" compared to 10% who encouraged them to leave "all the time/a lot". 

The survey was sent to 27,710 regular service personnel who were married or in a civil partnership. A total of 4,245 responded, giving an overall response rate of 15%.