Military families: Pay and benefits are top concerns

WASHINGTON — With Pentagon budget cuts and a drawdown in Afghanistan looming, military families are increasingly worried about pay and benefits and less concerned about operational tempo, according to a survey released Wednesday.

The survey of more than 4,000 military families conducted by Blue Star Families reported that economic uncertainty tops the list of concerns.

More than 50 percent ranked retirement benefit changes or general pay and benefit issues as their No. 1 worry. The authors note, however, that the survey was conducted last November at the height of media coverage about proposals to cut retirement benefits.

Still, 70 percent said they were stressed about debt, savings or finances.

Read the full Stars and Stripes story here. 

Read the press release from Blue Star Families, a national non-profit organization supporting military families.