Abstract
This study examined the perception of young adults raised in military families with the purpose of obtaining a more holistic perspective on the impact of the military lifestyle. Participants (N=7) completed a demographic survey (via Qualtrics) and participated in semi-structured, hour-and-a-half long virtual interview (via Zoom). Interviews were recorded and transcripts were created, both of which were analyzed via Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The following major themes were identified: influence of military upbringing on child development; establishing a sense of identity and belonging; disadvantages of military upbringing; advantages of military upbringing; values and beliefs associated with military upbringing; and advice for military parents. Qualitative data is reported as quotes that represent themes and subthemes, utilizing participant-selected pseudonyms. Results of this study warrant further exploration of a military upbringing within other populations (e.g., children of officers), using different methods (e.g., longitudinal study), and with a more diverse set of participants (e.g., gender). Strengths and limitations, implications of the study, and recommendations for future research are discussed.