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The purpose of this study is to assess those health-related behaviors service members may have engaged in, have experienced, or will engage in that have the potential to impact readiness. The DOD uses data from the Health Related Behaviors Survey to monitor service members’ health related needs across the population, to improve health support for service members, to inform health care policy and programs, and to optimize individual and overall health and fitness.
The survey is confidential. Participants are selected randomly. Your responses will not be provided to the DOD in a way that can identify you.
Following are frequently asked questions and answers about the Health Related Behaviors Survey.
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This survey assesses the health and health-related behaviors of service members that have the potential to impact readiness. Results from scientific research using the data will be used to monitor service members’ needs, develop policies, and improve health programs and services for military members.
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This survey takes about 20 minutes.
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The Department of Defense asked the RAND Corporation and its data collection partner, Westat, to conduct an independent, objective assessment of service members’ health status and health related behaviors.
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RAND is a private, nonprofit organization that conducts research and analysis to help improve public policy and decision-making.
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Westat is a leading consulting services and technology solutions firm and manages the technical aspects of the web survey operations and can help you with any computer or technical problems.
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You were randomly selected from all active duty and Coast Guard personnel to represent your Service branch in this important research.
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We obtained your name from the Defense Manpower Data Center, which maintains DOD personnel records. Because we are doing an official, approved DOD survey, DMDC was authorized to give us military members’ names and contact information for research purposes only. We are just using your name to send you information about the survey via email and mail. Only study staff will be able to link your survey responses to your contact information via a unique survey ID code. The survey is confidential.
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RAND will report survey findings in a way that does not identify individuals to the Services, DOD, or the public. The information you provide will be combined with that from other military personnel to prepare statistical reports. At no time will your individual data be reported.
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This is your chance to be heard on issues that directly affect the health, well-being, and readiness of military members. The survey results will help inform DOD of potential health problems in the military and help suggest ways to solve or prevent them.
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Yes. As noted earlier, this survey is confidential. This means that RAND and Westat will not give DOD information about who participated in the study, or provide your responses to them in a way that can identify you. DOD has agreed to this condition to protect your privacy.
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Yes, you can use a computer at work to do the survey. You may also use a smartphone or tablet to complete the survey.
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The survey is entirely voluntary. If you choose to take the survey, you may stop at any time. You may also skip any question you do not wish to answer.
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Some service members may have completed surveys like this one in the past. This survey is conducted approximately every three years to get a comprehensive update about the health behaviors of military members. Since DOD wants to understand trends in members’ experiences in the Services, it is important that you participate in the 2024 Survey to tell us about your current health.
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You should go to the following website link: https://2024hrbs.com and use your unique code to log in. If you have problems accessing the website, contact the Westat Help Desk listed above.
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You may use the weblink above and your unique identification code to re-start the survey wherever you stop at a time that is more convenient for you.
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- Call the Westat Survey Helpdesk for computer, technical, or survey questions: by phone toll free at 855-703-6352 or by email at support@2024hrbs.com
- Contact RAND for questions about the overall study: Email: 2024HRBS@rand.org
- Questions about your rights as a participant in this study: Contact RAND's Human Subjects Protection Committee toll-free at 1-866-697-5620 or by emailing hspcinfo@rand.org. Please reference Study #2021-N0370.
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Some questions on the survey are sensitive in nature and it is possible that you may feel discomfort in answering one or more of these items. If you are having any suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately. We encourage you to contact your unit’s chaplain or a mental health professional. Other resources can be found below:
- Military Crisis Line Dial 988 then PRESS 1.
This is a free, confidential resource for ALL service members. Confidential support and consultation are available. Dial 988 (then press 1), or send a text to 838255. Live chat is available via the Military Crisis Line website: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/chat/
- In Europe, call: 844-702-5495 or DSN 988
- In the Pacific, call: 844-702-5493 or DSN 988
- In Southwest Asia, call: 855-422-7719 or DSN 988
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Military OneSource (https://www.militaryonesource.com) is a free 24 hour service that is available 7 days a week to provide a full range of services, across the deployment cycle, to military personnel and their families, at no cost. They can be reached at: Stateside: CONUS: 1-800-342-9647 / Overseas: OCONUS Universal Free Phone: 800-342-9647 or 703-253-7599 / En Español llame al: 800-342-9647 / TTY/TDD: dial 711 and then provide the toll-free number (1-800-342-9647). Live chat is also available via the Military One Source website.
- DoD Safe Helpline (https://www.safehelpline.org/) provides worldwide live, confidential support, 24/7. You can initiate a report and search for your nearest Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC). You can find links to Service-specific reporting resources and access information about the prevention of and response to sexual assault on their website or by calling the hotline at 1-877-995-5247. Live chat is also available via the DoD Safe Helpline website.
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Yes. When the survey results are available, an executive summary will be available.
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Last Updated: February 08, 2024