Although the military health care system is the second largest in the nation serving approximately 6,000,000 people, little research has examined military reproductive health care services or their quality. Medical services can be provided by regional military medical centers and by base infirmaries and dispensaries. Often base infirmaries and dispensaries lack specialized care for pediatrics and gynecology. Military families tend to be young and in need of obstetric and pediatric services. Satisfaction with health care is critical to the military family's sense of well being and security. Reproductive health services suffer from a shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists and an increasing patient load. Studies of military bases have found that obstetric services seemed adequate, but that access to family planning and birth control services was lacking. Elective abortions are no longer provided. Since 1981, Family Advocacy Programs have been developed in all service branches which describe protocols for reporting, assessing, and responding to child and spouse abuse. Military policymakers have failed to see the relationship between reproductive health and family violence. Military families experience the stresses of low income, frequent moves, and deployment of husbands. Comprehensive, accessible, and outreaching family planning and reproductive health services on a continuum for all military spouses are needed. Further research is needed on access to reproductive health services in the military and on the relationship between family planning and family abuse. (ABL)