Increasing numbers of civilian social workers are being hired by the Department of Defense to provide services in military family programs. Recent changes in the American military, commonly referred to as “total force” policy, will bring even more social workers into contact with both active-component and reserve-component military families. The total force policy has caused the military family to be redefined. Still, the military hierarchy, culture, organization, and social support systems are key factors to be considered in the delivery of social services to military members and their families. Critical differences in the needs of reserve-component and active-component military families challenge social work practice. Social work practice has not kept pace with the changing military family environment It is time to incorporate military families into practice as yet another diverse population with whom social workers will interact. This article describes the new American military family, provides principles for practice, and identifies how social workers can respond.
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