For example, even in the midst of feeling sad or anxious about the separation, family members may also feel pride for their service member. My children grieved the death of a friend’s father at the ages of nine, seven, and five. Although these relocations may disrupt academic and social networks, military children often function as well as, or better than, non-military children. Military children and families deserve greater attention from psychology.”. Community environments affect children’s adjustment and coping, and parental stress, which can be mitigated by community support. Let your child know that you are there to support them and that they can always tell you if they are feeling overwhelmed. Emerging evidence suggests that military children struggle with more mental health and behavioral problems than their civilian counterparts, particularly at times of deployment.” Watson and Schertz go on to pose a number of questions about military children as they age out of dependent status and transition into civilian life. Previous research has found that the families that function most effectively during relocations and other major transitions related to military life tend to be active, optimis… problems. Deployment: When a parent is deployed, a child … Because of frequent transitions, it is unfortunately easy to miss warning signs that a child needs help. For example, at FE Warren, AFB I’ve made a lot 10) We speak a different language. At that time, only 15 percent of active-duty troops—who were nearly all men—were also parents, so the hardship on children was neither prominent nor researched. Most families do well after peacetime deployments since these deployments are usually safer and shorte… Surprise! This is especially challenging for children who learn differently or have special needs. It’s important to help your child prepare for any shifts in responsibilities and not ask your child to do anything that is above what would be developmentally expected of them. Military families are not that different from civilian families. Children of military and veteran families experience unique challenges related to military life and culture. Issues of military families prior to deployment and after return ... take on the challenges while others do so with resentment. No, often times military families are assigned to For example, at FE Warren, AFB I’ve made a lot As most current studies only focus on the effects of deployment during the time of actual deployment, more long-term studies are needed to determine both the short and long-term effects of deployment on children and families. With demands on service members and their families being greater now than in past years, policy makers might consider funding more support programs for family members as well. The military might consider implementing additional training programs for their service members on how to discuss deployment with family members. Military life means moving a lot. They may have more household chores or more obligations in looking after their younger siblings. However, in recent years, unprecedented lengthy and multiple combat deployments of service members have posed multiple challenges for U.S. military children and families. It's one of the many side effects of being a military brat. Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Veterans Strategic Analysis & Research Tool (V-START), Veterans Program for Politics and Civic Engagement. Being part of a military family can be both incredibly rewarding and sometimes frustrating. Many of the challenges military families face are moderated by interacting factors, such as branch of service, age, education, ethnicity, and pre-existing problems and assets. American Psychologist (2011); 66(1), 65-72. The effects on children with pre-existing psychological or other conditions of being a member of a military family at time of war also need to be examined. As a military brat, you learned at an early age that there is much you have no control over so you better make the best of what you have. Moving means not only adjusting to new things, but also having to leave things behind – best friends, favorite teachers, excellent soccer coach, and more. Military families overcome challenges that most civilian families can't imagine! Deployments average 3 to 15 months. Writing about the challenges you've faced during military life can set you apart from other college applicants. Although many children in military families adjust well to the challenges of military life, some children, especially those with special needs, may still face significant problems. FORT CARSON, Colo. -- They never chose the Army, but many of them were born into it. 1,381,584 of the military-connected children are ages 4-18 years old. I am different because of my opportunities and challenges. Life in the military has its challenges, but also opportunities. It begins with a review of the basic demographics of military families and a discussion of the variability among military families. • Alternatively, family members may exhibit increased resilience and personal growth, and become closer after deployments. Military children face challenges others often do not encounter until adulthood. Changing schools multiple times over, and navigating gains and losses that are inherent of military life, requires exceptional sacrifice. Life in the military has its challenges, but also opportunities. The Unique Challenges of Military Families This training module provides civilian mental health providers with an overview of the unique characteristics of military family life. Publication Type – Peer-Reviewed Journal Article. No matter what, these separations are stressful, especially for the youngest members of our force – military children. The challenge is starting over in a new school, town, or new country; leaving friends and familiar places. Military Children from WAMU's Breaking Ground project sheds light on the challenges of being the child of soldiers. No job is just a mommy or just a daddy job. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have led to concerning psychological, behavioral, and academic outcomes for children in military families. The list can go on forever about the negatives of living in a military family, but there are also some really awesome things about being a military brat, such as becoming strong and … Future studies should focus on identifying the specific strengths and assets that help military children function well during a deployment, including reviews of current interventions to determine their success in helping military children and families throughout the deployment process. When military families establish strong relationships and have strong, supportive social networks, they perform well and display more resiliency during challenging times. One in Five Minds and Clarity Child Guidance Center accepts no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. Approximately 10 to 12 percent of military-connected students are served in special education programs. Further, military families are particularly vulnerable to the negative repercussions of the favorite child complex. Since many service members experience mental health problems upon their return, research is needed on the effect the service member’s mental and/or physical health concerns have on family members, including coping, adjustment and health concerns in grandparents, and others beyond the traditional nuclear family. We’re in a unique position where we may meet someone one day in the United States, and either never see them again in your life or you may run into that person again years down the road, when you’re both living in a place like Germany. Constant moves and saying goodbye to friends takes a … She is member of the STRONG STAR Multidisciplinary Research Consortium and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, whose mission is to alleviate and prevent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other deployment related problems in active duty service members and their families. The Children of Military Service Members Challenges, Supports, and Future Educational Research. It’s easy to … In her work at STRONG STAR, Dr. Jacoby conducts prevention and supportive programs with military families with young children experiencing deployment. Moving means not only a new home but also new neighbors, new classmates, new teachers, a new classroom, new sports teams, and the list goes on. One thing you always hear about military brats is that they move around a lot, and that’s true. It’s refreshing to see recognition for the affect that has had on their lives. Check in with your child’s doctor and seek support if you suspect your child might be struggling with a deployment or separation. The Children of Military Service Members Challenges, Supports, and Future Educational Research. These separations bring a mix of complex emotions for everyone in the family. Most importantly, being a military family has made us all very resilient. A child of a deployed or recently returned service member may experience increased worry about the safety of their parent or anxiety when separated from either of their parents. Here are my Top 10 Ways the Military Family Is Unique. These include deployment-related stresses such as parental separation, family reunification, and reintegration; disruption of relationships with friends and neighbors due to frequent moves; and adaptation to new schools and new community resources. Editor’s Note: Elizabeth Howe, the daughter of U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Dave and Mrs. Dulce Howe and senior at Tabb High School, won the Langley Officer’s … • Although military families cope well with short separations, deployments greater than six months can have adverse effects on children’s physical health, behavior and academic performance, potentially increasing depression and anxiety in military children. Anyone who has experienced a move knows how stressful it is. Frequent classroom changes do not give a teacher time to understand how a child learns best. Adapting to new people, places, and things is hard for everyone, and children can face various challenges as they work hard to adjust to their new surroundings. Without focused support and resources, military children face social and emotional challenges, difficulty understanding policies and adjusting to curriculum and school climate, difficulty qualifying for or continuing with special education services, and … An opportu-nity being a military child IS making new friends and seeing new places. This can leave military children feeling lonely or socially isolated. December 2011; ... to a greater number of child difficulties and well-being . This means that frequent moving comes not only with stress of readjustment, but also with feelings of sadness and grieving. While not inherently “bad,” a sudden spike in responsibility is stressful for anyone, especially children who are still learning about how to be responsible for tasks. To continue encouraging well-being among military children, parents and community members should work together to foster an open environment, where children can raise questions and concerns. Military-related separations often come with a shift in family roles and responsibilities. Much of the time, this means that the home-front parents take on parenting “double-duty.” However, school-aged and adolescent children often experience an increase in responsibility too. It is just as important to recognize their assets and to promote them. Communities, neighborhoods, schools and extended family play a significant role in the well-being of military children during deployment. Additionally, current programs need to be expanded, and would ideally focus on more comprehensive approaches to social stability and reducing the stigma associated with seeking mental health care. The Future of Children and the Military Child Education Coalition jointly developed this issue of the journal to promote effective policies and programs for military-connected children and their families by providing timely, objective information based on the best Being a military child is somewhat like being a part of an elite club. Research and programs need to take a comprehensive approach that is strengths based and problem focused. If your child is serious about wanting to attend a military academy, you’ll need to start thinking about the application process during the early years of high school. While there are many positive elements of growing up in a military family, being a military kid means always having to adjust and adapt to an array of changes, and that’s not an easy task! Below are four of the top challenges that our military kids face, some common difficulties kids experience as a reaction to those challenges, and some tips to help your children through them. Positive youth development. problems. Any copyright remains with the author and any liability with regard to infringement of intellectual property rights remain with them. Programs exist that are intended to help, but their effectiveness is largely unknown. And it’s usually not just a relocation down the street. Kavitha Cardoza/WAMU Check Out The Full Story From WAMU's Breaking Ground Project The Challenges of Military Child Public Education and Homeschooling Access to quality education and persistent transition problems for military children are continuing sources of frustration for military families and affects retention across all services. Notify military personnel assigned to installations with known challenges regarding access to adequate public education via their orders and provide contact information for the School Liaison Officer to start working solutions before arriving at the new … This emotional cycle of deployment begins when news of deployment is released to the family. Lastly, previously acquired developmental milestones, such as using the potty, sleeping through the night, or talking in sentences, may temporarily back-track. 3. Each relocation brings with it the numerous problems associated with transitioning between education systems that may not translate. Since the Vietnam War in the 1960s and ’70s, the military’s demographic has changed. I am different because of my opportunities and challenges. Programs for military children and families often focus on the prevention or reduction of problems. When family members find meaning in the service member’s work, they tend to function better. Over 80 percent of these children – 1,105,267 students – attend Pre-K through 12 public schools. This article reviews existing research on military children and families, with attention to their strengths as well as their challenges. If you believe your child is struggling with these challenges, use whatever support is available to you, such as a therapist. • There are about 1.85 million children in the U.S. with at least one parent in the military, many of whom relocate more frequently than non-military children. Talk with your child before the move to help them prepare, build a support system, and check in with them frequently in the months after the move. It is natural for humans to connect and bond to our environment and to experience sadness and grief when we leave them behind. Gen. Dave and Mrs. Dulce Howe and senior at Tabb High School, won the Langley Officer's Spouses Club's 2012 Scholarship contest. What items could you add to the list? It is important to help your child know that it’s okay to feel nervous or scared, and that you are there to help them through the tough parts. The basic requirements are that applicants must be a U.S. citizen between 17 and 23 years old (25 for the U.S. Some Quick Resources and Suggestions to Support your Military-Connected Child, Mansfield, A. J., Kaufman, J. S., Engel, C. C., & Gaynes, B. N. (2011). Kavitha Cardoza/WAMU Check … The opinions, representations and statements made within this guest article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of One in Five Minds or Clarity Child Guidance Center. Other children may act out or become more oppositional as they struggle with feelings of anger at having to be separated from their parent. Experts explain mental state of military children. According to Dr. Jonathan Zaff who presented at the 2011 CNA Conference, 80 percent of military children are functioning relatively well despite the challenges. Children may respond to this stress in different ways. I learned that growing up as a Military Brat meant not just being part of a military family, but being part of the military family. Too much responsibility, especially for things above what would typically be expected for their age, can cause a child to feel undue pressure, anxiety, or resentment. Because schools teach content at different paces and with different teaching styles, a child may enter a classroom where they are expected to already know content they haven’t been taught yet. For most families in the United States, long separations between children and … Williams and I are both Army brats -- her father is a retired lieutenant colonel and mine is an active-duty sergeant major. The military teaches you to be strong and independent at such a young age. Editor’s Note: Elizabeth Howe, the daughter of U.S. Air Force Brig. The first time I personally had to deal with a loved one dying was in college. On average, military families are assigned to a new installation every two to three years. Military children typically attend between seven to nine schools before they graduate, moving approximately every two years. Though each child's reaction to stress is unique, we know that children of deployed parents are at an increased risk for these difficulties when compared with military children whose parents did not deploy1. You can also help your child to brainstorm creative ways to maintain connections with loved ones living far away by using technology such as video chatting, sending pictures, and videos. We’re in a unique position where we may meet someone one day in the United States, and either never see them again in your life or you may run into that person again years down the road, when you’re both living in a place like Germany. Being a military spouse can actually make some parts of going back to school easier. This also applies to child care services and pre-school enrollments. And sometimes, they occur during peacetime. For most families in the United States, long separations between children and their parents are rare – unless you are a military family. Military children have always had to deal with the stressors of being the new kid on the block. And, with each move comes many transitions. Over time, these unique stressors can take a toll on even the most resilient kids. Future studies should focus on the relationships between these factors, and how they interact to determine post-deployment outcomes for these families. It is extremely hard when your parent leaves, but you have to realize that that is their job. You can help your child understand and process their grief by encouraging them to share their feelings and letting them know it’s normal to feel sad. Every school district in the country has military-connected students. Feelings of grief and loss can also occur if a parent returns from a deployment with a significant emotional or physical injury as a child must adjust to a parent no longer being able to do what they could do before. 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