Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Veterans
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Veterans

How to Have a Healthy US Military – Invest in the Families Now

Wednesday, February 14, 2018, By Daryl Lovell
Share

New research conducted jointly by Blue Star Families and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University suggests that today, only 40% of military family respondents would recommend military service to their children – a decline from 45% in 2015. Further, the same study highlights that the extent to which military families feel supported while serving, and throughout the transition from military to civilian life, is strongly and directly correlated to the likelihood of recommending military service to others.

Dr. J. Michael Haynie, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation at Syracuse University and executive director and founder of the Institute for Veterans & Military Families at Syracuse University, will testify before the Senate Armed Service Committee today. Before beginning his academic career, he served for 14 years as an officer in the United States Air Force.

Dr. Haynie advocates for increased military family support, as he says the most reliable pipeline of future military service members will be the family members of those who currently serve.

 

Dr. Haynie says:

“Our military families play a central role in our nation’s defense – specifically with regard to the sustainment and viability of the nation’s all-volunteer force.

“The U.S. National Security Strategy emphasizes all of the nation’s resources as central to our national security, and explicitly identifies America’s support of wounded warriors, veterans, and military families as fundamental to our defense.

“Since the advent of the all-volunteer force, the pool of Americans who meet the minimum standards to volunteer has consistently declined, to a point where today it is estimated nearly three out of every four of the roughly 34 million 17- to 24-year-olds in the U.S. are ineligible to serve. Compounding this situation is the fact that only about one quarter of high-school graduates who might be otherwise eligible, can also pass the Armed Forces Qualification Test, which measures basic math, writing, and reading skills. There also needs to be a willingness to serve – particularly among the best and brightest of America’s youth.

“Today, given fewer Americans eligible for military service, and a declining number willing to volunteer, those both eligible and willing represent a treasured national resource.

“Importantly, throughout the now more than 15 years of sustained military conflict, the most reliable and robust pipeline of eligible and willing volunteers is represented by the daughters, sons, brothers, and sisters, of those who are now or have served in uniform. In other words, the health of our military families is inextricably linked to the future viability of the all-volunteer force. This is not speculation or conjecture, but fact demonstrated by research.

“Over the last five years, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University has engaged in a purposeful effort to inform and act on opportunities to advance in-service and post-service opportunities for service members, veterans, and military families. Over that period, more than 90,000 have benefited from educational, vocational, and business ownership programs offered by the IVMF and its partners.

“Investments positioned to care for and support our military families, to include a robust infrastructure supporting the transition of military families to civilian life, represents an investment in the nation’s future defense.  Further, such investments are also morally and ethically right.”

 

 

 

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Communications and Marketing

T 315.443.1184   M 315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu | @DarylLovell

820 Comstock Avenue, Suite 308, Syracuse, NY 13244
news.syr.edu | syracuse.edu

Syracuse University

  • Author
  • Faculty Experts

Daryl Lovell

  • J. Michael Haynie

  • Recent
  • Syracuse Pride on Display: Limited-Edition Poster Supports Future Generations
    Thursday, May 29, 2025, By News Staff
  • Maxwell Advisory Board Welcomes New Leadership
    Thursday, May 29, 2025, By Jessica Youngman
  • Syracuse Stage Hosts Inaugural Julie Lutz New Play Festival
    Wednesday, May 28, 2025, By News Staff
  • Timur Hammond’s ‘Placing Islam’ Receives Journal’s Honorable Mention
    Tuesday, May 27, 2025, By News Staff
  • Expert Available to Discuss DOD Acceptance of Qatari Jet
    Thursday, May 22, 2025, By Vanessa Marquette

More In Veterans

Tradition and Triumph: University Honors ROTC Excellence at 108th Chancellor’s Review and Awards Ceremony

A time-honored celebration of academic achievement, leadership and military history was on full display at the JMA Wireless Dome during the 108th Chancellor’s Review and Awards Ceremony on March 28. The annual tradition brought together students, faculty, staff, alumni and…

Rooted in Service: From Army Lawyer to Student Advocate

After years of legal service in the U.S. Army, Jaime Jacobson G’25 is continuing her commitment to public service through academia. Jacobson is currently a pursuing a master’s degree in higher education in the School of Education and draws a…

The Courage to Serve, the Power to Change: a Day of Impact at the NVRC

Syracuse University’s commitment to veterans and military-connected communities will take center stage on Wednesday, April 10, during a pair of events hosted at the National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC). The campus community is invited to attend both gatherings, which highlight…

Campus Community Invited to 108th Chancellor’s Review and Awards Ceremony

Syracuse University cordially invites the campus community to the 108th Chancellor’s Review and Awards Ceremony, a distinguished event honoring our Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets, on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the JMA Wireless Dome, followed…

‘Lasting Impact’: Sergeants Major on Giving Back Through Instructional Design

In January 2025, instructional design, development and evaluation (IDDE) professors Moon-Heum Cho and Rob Pusch visited the latest cohort of students in the IDDE Fellowship Program. The program is offered by the School of Education through the Sergeant Majors Academy…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Youtube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2025 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.