The OverseasFamilies Survey:
• Who is the survey for? The survey is for Armed Forces (Regular and Reserve) personnel assigned overseas and their spouses or partners.
• When will the survey close? The survey opened onMonday 16 June 2025 and will close at 11.59pm,Saturday 30 August 2025.
• What are the aims of the survey? Survey results will inform Defence’s current and future policies and processes to help overseas families manage various aspects of Service family life.
• What will the survey cover? The survey focusses on childcare, spousal / partner employment, communications, education, and safeguarding.
• How can people take part? The survey can be accessed online – by both Service personnel and their partners – using a personal or MODNET device. Survey responses are anonymous.
• Previous results: View results from the 2023 Overseas Families Survey on GOV.UK. This survey is being delivered by the Ministry of Defence
How satisfied are you with family life while serving overseas?
Halfway through Defence’s Overseas Families Survey – have you had your say?
Wherever you are in the world, Defence is here to support you and your family to navigate various aspects of Service life, including:
Halfway through Defence’s Overseas Families Survey – have you had your say?
Wherever you are in the world, Defence is here to support you and your family to navigate various aspects of Service life, including:
- spousal / partner employment
- education and childcare
- communications
- Safeguarding.
If you’re serving overseas, it’s important that Defence understands your positive experiences and any challenges. Your feedback will help to improve Defence’s policies and initiatives to better meet your family’s needs. Take the Overseas Families Survey.
Shape your future.
Your feedback will help to enhance Defence’s support for overseas personnel and families, and will build on recent progress:
- Global Mobility Allowance (GMA) trial an overseas allowance that offers an easier claims process and greater flexibility on spending.
- New Overseas Allowances Reckoner tool – providing personalised allowance calculation estimates, for those preparing for overseas assignments.
- Extending the Get You Home (Travel to Europe) trial scheme – contributing towards up to two return journeys per month, to an eligible Service person’s family home in Europe.
- Disturbance Expenses rate uplift – enabling eligible Service personnel moving to the UK from overseas to claim the same, higher ‘overseas rate’ as those moving overseas from the UK.
- Wraparound Childcare (WAC) Overseas – helping Service families with up to 80% of costs for before and after school childcare.
Find out more on how Defence is simplifying overseas service finances.
What should I know?
- All Regular and Reserve Service personnel and their spouses / partners are encouraged to take part.
- All feedback is anonymous.
- You can use a personal device to complete the survey.
- You have until 11.59 pm, Saturday 30 August 2025 to make your voice heard.
- It should take you no more than 20 minutes to compete the survey.
The more people we hear from, the better able we are to make informed choices on how to improve your experience of Service life.
If you have questions about the survey, contact the MOD Armed Forces Families and Safeguarding team: people-AFFS-data-research@mod.gov.uk.
To view previous survey results, visit GOV.UK.
Useful information and resources
To explore allowances, opportunities, and benefits for you and your family as part of Your Offer, visit Discover My Benefits.
For useful signposting to information, guidance and support to help navigate Service family life, visit the Families Hub.
To explore Defence’s plan to drive forward positive initiatives for Service families, read the Armed Forces Families Strategy 2022-2032.
For information and support on a wide variety of topics affecting your Service and personal life, including relocation and local area information, contact the relevant HIVE:
You and your family can find information on overseas locations through the international HIVE (iHIVE) - explore the iHIVE.
