An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | March 3, 2010

2010 census important to military families

By Susan R. Anderson Army News Service

WASHINGTON - With only 10 questions, the 2010 census is the shortest to date.

However, with so many servicemembers deployed, military families in particular may still have questions regarding how to answer certain questions, said a 2010 census media specialist.

The first question on the census is, "How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment or mobile home on April 1, 2010?"

"If a spouse is overseas, then that person receiving the questionnaire should not count the spouse that is overseas. That spouse overseas would be part of an overseas enumeration," and he or she will be listed by their home state, said Robert Crockett.

"If your spouse is on a military vessel with a U.S. homeport, then they should be counted as part of your household. If your spouse is on a military vessel from a foreign homeport, then they should not be counted as part of your household," he said.

Military families stateside will receive the census form in the mail just like everyone else.

Servicemembers and their families located overseas will not receive a form. The Defense Manpower Data Center will provide records to the Census Bureau for servicemembers and military families overseas, based on home of record.

Families stateside who do not return the form within the indicated time will receive repeated notifications from the Census Bureau. Then if the forms are still not received, families can expect a knock on the door from a census worker.

If someone is apprehensive about speaking with a stranger, they can ask to see the identification card that all census workers must and will carry, Crockett said, or a phone number to their supervisor.

While participation in the census is required by law, Crockett points out that all answers are protected.

"The census is not intrusive... it's protected by law and none of this information is shared with any other agency whatsoever," he said.

Those who have filled out a census form in years past may notice differences. Based on findings that suggest the simpler the form, the higher the participation, the 2010 census form is limited to the most fundamental questions, Crockett said.

The American census was first conducted in 1790, and was the first census in history used to empower the people. It is repeated every 10 years.

For more information on the 2010 census, visit www.census.gov. Follow the link to the 2010 page for frequently asked questions and a host of interactive activities, including testimonials and trackers that allow you to follow your community's return rate.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Air Force leaders from the 154th Air Expeditionary Wing pose for a photo during Talisman Sabre 25 in Northern Territory, Australia, July 24, 2025. Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States, which advances a safe and secure Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and partners, while enhancing our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns.
Air Guard Demonstrates Critical Indo-Pacific Capabilities During Talisman Sabre 25
By Maj. Eve Derfelt, | July 31, 2025
BRISBANE, Queensland – Airmen from Hawaii, California, Guam, Idaho and Wisconsin Air National Guard units participated in Talisman Sabre 25, Australia’s premier military exercise that underscored the U.S. Air National Guard's...

South Dakota National Guard Soldiers with members of the Surinamese Armed Forces during a first-of-its-kind jungle warfare exchange that concluded July 18, 2025. Service members from the SAF and the SDNG spent ten days sharing critical skills in survival, navigation, and patrolling. This successful collaboration is a part of the National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP).
South Dakota Guard, Suriname Armed Forces Strengthen Partnership
By Staff Sgt. Breanne Donnell, | July 31, 2025
PARAMARIBO, Suriname – The South Dakota National Guard and Suriname Armed Forces, or SAF, strengthened their partnership during a first-of-its-kind jungle warfare exchange that concluded July 18.Service members from the SAF...

Soldiers from the D.C. National Guard hone marksmanship skills at Twickenham Park Range in St. Catherine, Jamaica, on July 17, 2025. As part of the Caribbean Regional Training Camp, activities included zeroing, firing from different positions, march-and-shoot practice, and a march-and-shoot competition. The District of Columbia National Guard's (DCNG) partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the U.S. National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
D.C. Guard Tests Skills With Jamaican, Barbadian Forces
By Senior Master Sgt. Jason Melton, | July 31, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Soldiers from the District of Columbia National Guard; Jamaica Defence Force, or JDF; Jamaica National Reserve; and Barbados Defence Force Reserves recently participated in the Caribbean Regional Training...