“We have an all-volunteer force—and it continues only because generations of Americans see the honor, dignity, and patriotism of military service. How can we hope to keep our military strong if we don’t give our families, survivors, and caregivers what they need to thrive? That’s what Joining Forces is about.”

FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN, AT A VIRTUAL JOINING FORCES EVENT ON APRIL 7, 2021.

Mission Statement  

The mission of Joining Forces is to support those who also serve: military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors.  

What is Joining Forces?

Joining Forces is a White House initiative to support military families, which includes: families of service members and veterans, caregivers and survivors. Our work is driven by their experiences.

First Lady Jill Biden participates in a tour and greets children Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at the Child Development Center at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California. (Official White House Photo by Kevin Lowery)

Focus Areas

Guided by the life experiences and the perspectives voiced during in-person and virtual listening sessions with military families and stakeholders, the work and priorities of Joining Forces will center on the needs of military families in the areas of: Employment and Entrepreneurship; Military Child Education; and Health and Well-Being.

  • Employment and Entrepreneurship: The Department of Defense’s 2019 Active Duty Spouses Survey indicates, even pre-pandemic, a military spouse unemployment rate of approximately 22%. Frequent moves and transfers, state licensing requirements, child care (costs, long waitlists for on-base providers, and lack of access to off-base providers), caregiving, and deployments, all contribute to the unique challenges military spouses face to building sustainable and long-term careers. Joining Forces will work with government at all levels and the non-profit and private sectors to mitigate these challenges and drive economic opportunities. We will work with employers to create more flexible, transferable, and remote job opportunities for military spouses, as well as increasing resources for those interested in entrepreneurial endeavors. We will also ensure that military families are included in the administration’s overall policies aimed at improving economic security for all families.
  • Military Child Education: There are more than 2 million children in classrooms in the United States whose parents are active-duty military service members, National Guard or reservists, or military veterans. Military life can be unpredictable: these children often experience multiple moves, extended separation from family members, and increased fear for their parents’ safety during deployments. We must understand and account for the lifelong impact of service on military-connected children and ensure that children in veteran families, caregiving families, and surviving families will also be included in the initiative’s work. We also recognize that military children with disabilities, including those enrolled in DOD’s Exceptional Family Member Program, face additional challenges with changes of duty station. Joining Forces will advance programming to support military-connected children in their classrooms, and help ease the burdens created by the highly mobile military lifestyle.
  • Health and Well-Being: Supporting the overall physical, social, and emotional health of military families is a national security imperative. While our country lauds the strength and resilience of military families, it is critical to acknowledge that they too shoulder the weight of the past 20 years of sustained warfare. Members of military families and caregivers may experience mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Caregiving for a wounded, ill, or injured family member can have an outsized impact on a caregiver’s health, financial stability, and economic security. Additionally, some military families report a lack of consistent access to enough food to live an active, healthy lifestyle. The global pandemic over the past year has intensified these stressors. We will also work closely with service providers in the civilian community to ensure they have the knowledge and tools to effectively support military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors.

Resources

First Lady Jill Biden disembarks an MV-22 Osprey after visiting Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms to meet with military families in March 2021.
At Joint Base Lewis-McChord, First Lady Jill Biden tours the first-ever children’s museum on a military installation and watches a demonstration of a sensorial exhibit, where children can experience the unique environment of the Pacific Northwest. The museum is a partnership between the base and the Children’s Museum of Tacoma.
Military spouses share their stories with First Lady Jill Biden during a listening session at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in March 2021.
First Lady Jill Biden visits with a Naval flight officer from an EA-18G Growler squadron at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in March 2021.
First Lady Jill Biden hears from military families during a listening session at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in March 2021.
First Lady Jill Biden was joined virtually by military families, advocates, and stakeholders from around the world to set forth the priorities of Joining Forces on April 7, 2021.
First Lady Jill Biden tours the Military OneSource call center in Arlington, Virginia on April 7, 2021, and learns about the resources and support available for active-duty service members, National Guard and reserves, recently separated veterans, families, and survivors through the Department of Defense program.

Crisis Line Information

If you or a loved one are in crisis, you don’t have to face it alone. The Military Crisis Line offers free, confidential support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for all servicemembers, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.

Contact the Military Crisis Line if you or a loved one are thinking about hurting yourself or having thoughts of suicide. The Military Crisis Line is staffed by caring, qualified responders, many of whom are veterans and understand the challenges that members of the military and their families face.

Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, Chat online or Text 838255.

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We'll be in touch with the latest information on how President Biden and his administration are working for the American people, as well as ways you can get involved and help our country build back better.

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