Posted on Jun 17, 2020
CPT Andrea Pratt
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I am a doctoral student, hoping to start working on my dissertation in a few months. I am really interested in talking to military members with school aged children - but I am trying to figure out the best way to reach out to service members whose military readiness was directly impacted by school choice... such as service members who decided no to re-enlist, or who turned down PCS orders, who decided to become geographic bachelors, delayed promotions or special assignments - specifically because the school options for their dependents were too unsatisfactory or non-negotiable options... how would I go about finding such service members (or, in some cases, ex-service members) in order to interview them? Is there anyone here who would mind me pinning their contact information into my idea boards so that I may possibly interview them for my study later on?

There are many studies on military families in terms of resilience and stress and mental health or family dynamics. I am interested in the relationship between military readiness and school choice as well as how military families evaluate school options when there are no national standards across state lines. Please let me know if you know where I can find service members or veterans, any branch, any location, who might have experiences to share with me.
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Responses: 9
SFC Retention Operations Nco
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I think that’s just about everyone in the Army. I chose my current assignment over significantly better, more competitive, job offers at the time because I was a single dad and this is where my kids had family at. My wife separated years ago on a chapter 8 when she got pregnant and her previous husband was constantly deployed at the height of the war.
You could go to any transition center like STLTAP to find currently separating people. USArmyWTF moments for people who already separated. And just about every active duty person with a family for the current people.

I can tell you as a Career Counselor, when people with families step into my office, that is their number one driving factor in their decision.
If they want to separate, it’s because their spouse doesn’t like it, or they don’t see their family enough. If they want to change their MOS it’s because they want a job that’s more family friendly. If they want to PCS it’s to be closer to their family.
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Jenn Moynihan
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col Charlie Brown PO1 H Gene Lawrence SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth TSgt Joe C. Maj Marty Hogan SPC Margaret Higgins Sgt (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SGT (Join to see) Sgt Trevor Barrett SMSgt Dr. G. A. Thomas
These folks may be able to help and/or point you in a good direction. I know my uncle and aunt (and my two cousins) moved to Germany after my their 9th and 10th grade years to finish overseas.

CPT Andrea Pratt Good luck! It really is a great study. As I've heard service members say "my kids didn't sign up for this....". :)
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Jenn Moynihan
Jenn Moynihan
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CPT Andrea Pratt - also since you are/were in the military can you interview FRG's etc?
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
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Thank you for the mention Jenn.
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LTC Program Manager
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This sounds like a difficult task but I think you’re on the right track. The only way to find these people is through networking in the right communities.

Best of luck
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