Exceptional Family Member Program

The findings on the "Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)" from the Fall 2001 Sample Survey of Military Pesonnel provide officer and enlisted data on soldiers having EFM dependents, EFM's currently living with the soldier, having to return from a deployment/tour to deal with EFMP needs, enrolling in the EFMP, and reasons for not enrolling.

Findings include:

• The percentages of officers (10.8%) and enlisted personnel (12.1%) reporting in 2001 that they have an exceptional family member are statistically significantly higher than that reported in 1990 and in the 1992.

• One-twelfth (8.6%) of officers and one-seventh (14.4%) of enlisted personnel with an exceptional family member reported having had to return from a deployment/tour in order to deal with EFMP needs.

Of those who have EFMs:

• About three-fourths (76.4%) of officers and about two-thirds (68.1%) of enlisted personnel reported in 2001 that are enrolled in the EFMP.  The percentages reporting in 1997 and 2001 that they are enrolled in the EFMP are statistically significantly higher than those reported in 1990 and in 1992.