Effect of Soldiers’ Deployment on Children’s Academic Performance and Behavioral Health

U.S. involvement in the Global War on Terrorism triggered an increase in the number of soldiers deployed and the number of soldiers who deployed multiple times. The April 2011 report by RAND Corporation assesses the academic and behavioral challenges Army children face and offers recommendations to better meet these children’s needs.

The report finds a negative relationship between the length of time a parent had deployed and children’s test scores. This finding held across states and across subjects. Army children whose parents have deployed 19 months or more since 2001 have modestly lower achievement scores. Otherwise, there are no statistically significant differences in academic performance by rank of soldier, seniority of soldier, gender of deploying parent or gender of the child.

Military children also face psychological and behavioral health problems. The report notes that the number of available mental health providers with training in child and adolescent services is low. In addition to this shortage, civilian providers may not accept TRICARE, the health care program that serves military families. This further reduces access to providers

The report includes recommendations for the Army to address challenges faced by military children, such as providing resources to support students with their schoolwork and improving access to behavioral health service.

Researchers examined 44,000 school-age children in North Carolina and Washington who had parents in the Active force, Army Reserve and Army National Guard. Additionally, they interviewed school staff, TRICARE leaders and staff members from a counseling program that provides supports military families.

The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit research organization.

Read the report.