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Military Community Representation on State Boards and Councils

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Key Message

States may better serve the unique demographic of military families by including military community members in state-level boards and councils. States can ensure that military quality of life and operational priorities are considered across pertinent policy areas by establishing a statewide military affairs commission or specifying membership of military community representatives on existing public advisory bodies.

Analysis

State boards and councils can be established by executive order of the governor or by state law. These boards and councils represent installations and their military communities. States have enacted changes to the composition of their boards and councils, including military demographic consideration, to ensure that installation mission readiness and family readiness concerns are considered.

Insights

Adding a military perspective to state health improvement boards and other councils promoting wellness, nutrition and mental health can improve community-level, health-related, quality of life scores, increase readiness and retention and address the needs of isolated service members and their families.

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State Policymakers

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