This master’s thesis examines support systems for military families during deployments of armed forces personnel to international operations and missions. The aim of the research was to analyse existing forms of support for military families in Slovenia and compare them with support systems in the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Special attention was given to the influence of broader social and institutional contexts on the development of military family support systems. The theoretical framework is based on the concept of military families, the theory of greedy institutions, Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory and welfare state typologies. The research was conducted using document analysis, supplemented by a survey questionnaire among members of the Slovenian Armed Forces and the United States Armed Forces. The comparative analysis was carried out using predefined indicators of support, including healthcare, psychological, social welfare, spiritual support, and leisure activities. The results show that support systems vary among the selected countries in terms of scope, diversity and above all the way they are organized. In the United States and the United Kingdom, the armed forces take the lead in providing support, while in Slovenia and the Czech Republic, a significant portion is already covered by general welfare state systems. The research also demonstrates that direct comparisons between Slovenia and larger military systems are not entirely appropriate without considering the broader social and institutional context of individual states. At the same time, the findings suggest the need for further development of more targeted forms of support aimed directly at partners and children of Slovenian Armed Forces personnel.
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