Honor Military Children This Month and Throughout the Year

Please note that April is the “Month of the Military Child* Read on for a guest blog from Federal Education Association President Michael Priser and find resource links at the bottom of his blog.

When we think of words like “resilience” and “courage” we often think of the men and women of our armed forces, who demonstrate these qualities daily in their efforts to keep us safe.

But – I can tell you from years of experience – those same qualities run in their families, especially in the children of military personnel. At an early age, these children learn more about sacrifice and perseverance than most of us will ever know, and it is for that reason we honor them each April during the Month of the Military Child.

As a school psychologist in Department of Defense schools for over 20 years, I’ve seen military children deal with every imaginable situation.

Whether it’s the pain of separation that comes with a parent being deployed, the anxiety of worrying for an absent parent, or the horrible realization of fears with news that a parent has been killed, virtually every child of military personnel has faced such situations or has a close friend who has done so.

Even the strongest of adults could be overcome by any of these stresses, let alone a school age child. But time and again I have seen military children bravely face these fears and many more. With strength of character that can and should be called “heroic,” these children put aside their fears when they can, and confront them when they must, to carry on with their lives as students (and all the stresses, fears and anxieties that go along with that role).

These children bravely accept the sacrifice of lost time with their military parents, whose duty may send them to the other side of the world for months at a time. Even braver, they accept the silent but ever-present realization that runs throughout the military community that such a separation could become permanent with no warning.

The courage of these children does not go unrecognized. Their parents, of course, know and love them for it; we educators who work with them daily marvel at their ability to remain “normal” kids through all of it; and the children themselves are bound together forever in the solemn and unspoken sense of honor and sacrifice that comes with being a “military brat” – a term coined long ago amongst themselves and still worn with pride.

We must never forget and always honor the courage and sacrifice of our military personnel, their families and especially their children. April, as the Month of the Military Child, gives us a formal opportunity to do so, but it is a duty the rest of us carry throughout the year.

Michael Priser is the President of the Federal Education Association.  For more information on FEA , contact them here

 *In 1986 the U. S. Army began the “Month of the Military Child” (MOMC). Now MOMC includes military youth of all branches.  During April, designated as the Month of the Military Child, military children are applauded for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome by being a part of a military family. The Department of Education, the Department of Defense, the entire federal government and all sectors of our communities are asked to honor military children by providing a variety of resources, programs and opportunities to show their support. 

There are numerous ways that schools and communities can honor military-connected students during the Month of the Military Child. The Department of Defense Education Activity’s (DoDEA) has resources that can be found at their website including the:

• Students at the Center guidebook; This Web site outlines the important policies, procedures, and best practices that will enable military families, military leaders, and school leaders to provide military-connected children the best possible support for success
• The DoDEA Grant Program; grants for research-based programs that aim to increase student achievement and ease the challenges that military children face due their parents military service.
• Special Education Professional Development Summer Seminars; The Educational Partnership Program, through a contract with Cambium Learning Group, has provided special education professional development for over 700 educators and administrators at LEAs serving military-connected students through nine face-to-face training opportunities around the country.
• School Liaison Program; A General description of School Liaison Program for military-connected local education agencies and school liaison(s) at each military location. 
• Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children; These resources will help military-connected students with transition issues addressed by the Interstate Compact< > and other concerns.

 

Source: U.S. Department of Education