Response rates increase when identifiable leaders communicate the importance of the survey. Your endorsement and support for the survey is crucial to the success of this effort.

Background Information

Survey Objective

Assess the nature of substance abuse, stress and mental health, and deployment related health issues in order to guide policy and program development.

Survey Sponsor

Department of Defense Health Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (DHCAPE).

Survey History

Conducted within the military since 1980, and among the Reserves since 2006.

Target Audience

Reserve personnel including those in: Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and Marine Corps Reserve.

Survey Results

Survey responses are confidential and will be reported overall and by Service. The results will be used to:

• Assess substance use and its consequences in the military
• Appraise stress and mental health indicators, especially related to deployment
• Evaluate the receipt of medical and mental health care
• Monitor special topics, such as gender-specific issues and oral health
• Benchmark military health status and behaviors against Healthy People 2020 objectives

Survey Depolyment

• Personnel will receive the online survey in their .mil inbox in Sept. – Nov. 2014
• The confidential survey will take approximately 40 minutes to complete and is voluntary; it can be completed in more than one sitting
• Please encourage personnel to take the survey when they receive it; individual responses will not be tracked

Survey Timeline

• July 2014:  Beta test of survey website to resolve any access issues
• August 2014:  Respondents receive e-mail notifying them of survey
• September 2014:  Survey website goes live and is available for ten weeks. Weekly reports will provide response rates by Service
• Spring 2015: Survey results available