The Impact of Losing an Active Duty Military Service Member on Families
As their partners and children know all too well, it’s not just the individual members of the US military that make many sacrifices; their families bear the consequences of these too. The hardest to bear occurs when service members make the ultimate sacrifice and are killed in the line of duty. During the past decade, US military deaths have reached totals between 800 and 1100 per year. These numbers represent enormous loss in and of themselves, but they don’t account for the loved ones impacted by military deaths, which is a far greater number.
The death of a family member in active duty military service is a profound tragedy that leaves an indelible mark on the lives of those they leave behind. Military families face unique challenges in the aftermath of such a loss, beginning with receipt of an official military death notification. The challenges can last for many years afterward, even for entire lifetimes, encompassing a range of psychological, logistical, and financial difficulties, each contributing to a complex and often overwhelming journey of grief and adjustment.
How Are Families Impacted When a Military Service Member Dies?
Psychological Tolls
The loss of a military service member can pose intense emotional difficulties for families. The nature of military service means that the deceased may have died under sudden, violent, or traumatic circumstances, which can complicate the grieving process. Families may also struggle with conflicting emotions that often include shock, anger, and profound anguish, but also pride. All of this can be compounded by the public nature of their loss as they navigate their personal grief alongside that of their civilian and military communities.
Military families also face the challenge of finding (and keeping in touch with) networks of people who understand what they are going through. While the military community can offer valuable emotional support, the transient nature of military life can make it difficult for families to establish deep, long-lasting connections with others who have faced similar losses. This can cause survivors to feel unmoored or isolated in their grieving and healing processes.
Logistical Challenges
Military families may need to relocate, manage the affairs of their loved one, and navigate the complex military bureaucracy to access the benefits and support services owed to them. The process of moving in and of itself can be particularly stressful, as it involves significant upheaval during an already difficult time.
Families may also face difficulties in managing legal and administrative tasks, such as handling the service member's estate, understanding benefits, and dealing with military-specific procedures. This added layer of complexity can be overwhelming and can delay the family's ability to focus on their emotional healing.
Financial Concerns
Although families are entitled to receive some benefits from the government, they may still face financial challenges. The military provides a death gratuity, life insurance, and other forms of assistance intended to offer monetary support. However, these benefits rarely cover all the needs of the family, especially in the long term. Here are some of the biggest financial difficulties facing military families today:
Overall income and wealth. The average annual military income ranges from $68,884 to $87,611. Most are in low- to middle-income socioeconomic brackets, often living on a fixed income. Changes in station can come with relocation and housing costs that take up about half of this income. Further, frequent moves contribute to high unemployment rates among military spouses. Combined with the lost income of the deceased service member, all of these factors can cause serious financial instability for military families.
Immediate expenses. Families typically face immediate expenses upon the death of a service member, such as funeral and travel costs. If the surviving spouse is unemployed, it can quickly make a family exceptionally vulnerable, especially if the emotional toll of death renders spouses unable to work or manage finances effectively.
Accessing benefits. Navigating the process of accessing military spouse benefits after death can be complex and time-consuming. They may need to work with various military and government agencies, each with its own procedures and requirements.
Long-term expenses and financial stability. While the death gratuity and insurance benefits provide some financial relief, they may not be sufficient to cover ongoing living expenses. Families may need to make significant adjustments to their financial plans and lifestyle to cope with the loss of income.
The cost of higher education. Although it is often the best way to qualify for a good paying job, attending college or university in the US is unaffordable for the majority of Americans. For the children of deceased service members, the cost of higher education can lead to either not pursuing a degree or taking on substantial student loan debt that follows them well into adulthood.
The loss of an active duty military service member profoundly affects their family. While the military provides benefits to help ease this burden, the unique circumstances surrounding military deaths require tailored support systems and a compassionate understanding of what grieving families experience. Recognizing and addressing these challenges is essential to providing comprehensive support to grieving military families as they navigate their profound loss.
Support the Families of Deceased Military Members With MC-LEF
Since its creation in 1995, the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation (MC-LEF) has offered educational funding and other assistance to the children of fallen military service members. Thanks to our generous donors, MC-LEF currently establishes a $35,000 educational account for every child who loses a parent serving on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, Navy, or federal law enforcement. To date, MC-LEF has awarded over $93 million in educational accounts and other humanitarian assistance to over 5,900 recipients. We also cover the cost of cranial helmets for the children of active-duty Marines and Navy Corpsmen. Contact us to learn more!
All MC-LEF officers and board members are volunteers; we have only one paid employee. We pride ourselves on running our organization as cost-effectively as possible so that over 90% of our donor funds can be used to accomplish our mission of educating the children of those who sacrificed all. Please consider donating today!
