Six months into the United States’ war with Iran, families of American troops are living amid intense anxiety, uncertainty and financial strain. Long deployments, sudden extensions of duty, and gaps in regular communication have left many families facing a kind of uncertain existence.
For families of troops stationed at various US bases and in the Middle East, ferrying children to and from school, managing household finances, and worrying about a loved one’s safety have become everyday realities. Courtney Sanders, head of the Chicagoland chapter of Blue Star Families, said the situation feels like constantly “sitting on pins and needles.” Her two daughters also serve in the US Navy.
The United States has more than 50,000 troops in the Middle East. Thousands more Marines and sailors have been sent there as the war has required. The six-month conflict has killed 18 American service members and wounded more than 750.
Sanders said the stress on family members rises and falls as the situation on the ground keeps shifting. Just when things start to feel a little normal, she said, news of a fresh attack, rising tension or a new deployment stirs their anxiety again.
In a March survey by Blue Star Families, nearly 200 family members of active-duty service members took part. Of them, 81 percent said their stress had increased because of the Iran war. To help families cope, the organization has launched online support, webinars, in-person meetings, and efforts to connect spouses of newly deployed troops with more experienced families.
The war has also led to unexpected extensions of duty for many service members. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has remained on deployment for more than 200 days without a port call, which Democratic lawmakers say is a record in the modern era. Various military publications have reported on rising stress and falling morale among the roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard during this period. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, however, has called these reports a “complete mischaracterization” of the situation.
It isn’t just psychological strain. Financial pressure has also increased for many families. National Guard members in particular typically hold civilian jobs during normal times. When they are suddenly deployed, a family’s main source of income can disappear. As a result, many families are struggling to cover food and other essential expenses.
Shannon, a member of a military family in North Carolina, said her husband was sent to the Middle East in February on just five days’ notice. For the first few months, she was able to communicate with him only in a very limited way. Her full name was withheld for security reasons.
Meanwhile, the overall situation of the Iran war remains uncertain. Even after six months, the conflict has not been permanently resolved, and it has become a major economic and military drain for both the United States and Iran.
The US Department of Defense said it takes the concerns of military families seriously and will take the necessary steps to ensure support and stability. But it said that as the war drags on, the psychological and financial strain on troops and their families alike continues to grow.