© GfK 2016

Veterans Pulse Survey

Bob Torongo, Ryan Tully

GfK Custom Research

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© GfK 2016

Introduction

• Uncover unique information about how America’s veterans view their

country, military experience, benefits and overall quality of life.

• Increase awareness of Veteran’s by publicizing and disseminating

findings via media relations and social media.

• Provide information to support legislative advocacy.

• Strengthen DAV’s position as a thought leader and “go to” resource

for information and knowledge about veterans.

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© GfK 2016

Summary of results

• The study results show dramatic and significant differences in the attitudes, perceptions, and

experiences of veterans between the generational service groups.

• These differences are prevalent not only in retrospective military service and transition to civilian

life, but also perceived differences in the government benefits received by and general treatment

of other generational service groups.

• Additionally, the data demonstrates differences in the usage and impact of non-profit

organizational assistance in transitioning to civilian life. The findings indicate clear systemic

differences in the overall pre- and post-military experience of veterans by generational service

groups and support the existence of distinct generational sub-populations within American

veterans’ population.

• The research further highlights the unique methodological challenges experienced in surveying

the different service groups and the nonresponse techniques implemented to improve cooperation

rates and data quality. The research contains both methodological and substantive implications for

future studies research governmental program evaluation, health policy and outcomes, and

outreach efforts for American veterans.

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Method

© GfK 2016

Methods

• GfK utilized KnowledgePanel®, a probability-based web panel designed to be

representative of the United States, to conduct The DAV Veterans Pulse Survey.

• The target population for the sample consisted of non-institutionalized adults age 18

and over, residing in the United States, who previously served on active duty in the

U.S. military for six months or longer, but were no longer on active duty.

• The survey consisted of two stages: an initial screening survey for veterans’ status

and the main survey with the study-eligible respondents.

• The data collection field period was 16 days: (8/4/15 to 8/19/15)

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Results

© GfK 2016

Veterans of all generations have a very positive

view of their military service

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Do you feel your service in the military had an overall positive impact on your life?

50%

35%

9%

3% 3% 1%

Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree NA/Not Sure

85%

© GfK 2016

The vast majority of America’s veterans would

serve again—79% say they would choose to “do it

all over again.”

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How much do you agree/disagree with the statements – If I had to do it all over again I would repeat my military service.

7.9 /10

© GfK 2016

Female veterans are also just as likely to say, if

they had to do it all over again, they would repeat

their military service.

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How much do you agree/disagree with the statements –

If I had to do it all over again I would repeat my military service.

45%

33%

11%

5% 4% 1%

Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree NA/Not Sure

78%

© GfK 2016

95% who served 15 years or more strongly

agree/agree that military service had an overall

positive impact on their life

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Do you feel that your service in the military had an overall positive impact on your life ?

83%

85%

95%

6 mos. To 4 years

5 to 14 years

15 and plus years

Active Duty Service Time

n=1484, Percent agree and strongly agree

© GfK 2016

Less than half of veterans believe benefits they

were promised have been delivered

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37% 44% 18% Awareness Benefits Received Disabled Vets

I am aware of all the

veterans' benefits I am

eligible for and how to

take advantage of

them.

I have received the

veterans' benefits

(health, disability,

financial, education) that

I was promised.

Disabled veterans have

received the benefits

they were promised.

.

28% Other Vets

I believe that other

veterans have received

the benefits they were

promised.

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Public Treats Us Well

Do you agree/disagree

with the statements - The

American Public treats

veterans well.

Government Treats

Us Well

Do you agree/disagree

with the statements - The

federal government treats

veterans well.

Promises Kept

Do you feel that promises

the government made to

you as a veteran have

been kept ?

Talent Market Germany Many do not believe the government or

American public treat veterans well

48% 22% 53%

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Service-Era Differences

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Pre 9/11 era veterans more likely to say

military service had an overall positive

impact on their life Do you feel that your service in the military had an overall positive impact on your life ?

86%

83%

89%

84%

WWII & Korean War

The text demonstrates

how your own text will look.

Vietnam Era

The text demonstrates

how your own text will look.

Pre-9/11

The text demonstrates

how your own text will look.

Post-9/11

The text demonstrates

how your own text will look.

© GfK 2016

Pre 9/11 era veterans more likely to say military

service had an overall positive impact on their life Do you feel that your service in the military had an overall positive impact on your life ?

53% 50%

59%

48%

32% 32% 30%

36%

60% 10% 40% 30% 50% 40% 30% 20% 3% 3% 2% 3%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

WWII & Korean War(n=133)

Vietnam Era(n=736)

Pre 9/11(n=393)

Sept. 2001 or later(n=222)

Service Era

Strongly agree

Agree

89% Pre 9/11

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Post 9/11 era veterans more likely have a disability,

Vietnam era disabled vets largely think the level of

disability compensation they receive is unfair

Disability Rating

Do you have a disability rating from the U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs ?

Is the compensation fair?

Do you believe the amount of compensation you are

receiving for your service-related disability is fair ?

13% 21%

30% 36%

4%

64%

40% 39%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

WWII & Korean War(n=133)

Vietnam Era(n=736)

Pre 9/11(n=393)

Sept. 2001 or later(n=222)Service Era

DisabilityRating

disagreecompensationis fair

Client logo [delete this grey box

if not required]

© GfK November 8, 2016 | Title of presentation 17

Some perceptions that 9/11 era veterans

receive better treatment .

11%

22%

43%

12%

5% 7%

Strongly agree AgreeNeither diagree or agree Disagree

33%

Treatment by the Federal government

The federal government treats veterans who served after

9/11 better than it treats veterans who served before 9/11

Treatment by the American public

The American public treats veterans who served after 9/11

better than it treats veterans who served before 9/11

17%

34% 32%

10%

2% 5%

Strongly agree AgreeNeither diagree or agree Disagree

51%

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Survey Cooperation Enhancements

© GfK 2016

Non-response follow-up

• As a standard, email reminders to non-responders were sent on day three of the field period. • Beyond the standard email reminder on day three of the field period, the following steps were also taken:

• Additional email reminders to non-responders were sent on days # 9 and 15 of the field period; • Telephone reminder calls by professional interviewers were made to non-responders starting on days #5 and 12 of the field period.

© GfK 2016

Methods • Screener cooperation rate of 59.2%; 1,701 total qualified completes

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0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Percentage Of Total Qualified Completes By Day

E-mail Reminder Telephone Reminder

Unweighted cases

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Methods

Unweighted cases; WWII & Korean War Era n=136, Vietnam Era n=736; Pre 9/11 Era n=393, Post 9/11 n=222

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0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Percentage Of Total Qualified Completes By Sample By Day

WWII & Korean War Era

Vietnam Era

Pre 9/11 Era

Post 9/11 Era

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Conclusions and Discussions

© GfK 2016

Conclusions and Discussion

• The study points to a general positive impact veterans

have of their service

• However, there is widespread belief the promises made

to veterans have not been kept with respect to benefits

• Veterans are eager to share their experiences, post 9/11

vets harder to contact

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Thank you!

Contact: Bob Torongo, Ryan Tully

email: bob.torongo@gfk.com, ryan.tully@gfk.com