Month of the Military Child

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. A.C. Eggman
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  They're too young to vote, too young to serve or defend their nation, but they still contribute to the defense of their country in their own yet important way.

The contributions of military children will be celebrated across the Defense Department as April is designated as Month of the Military Child. At Dyess, the Child Development Center will hold a parade at the center April 17 and will also have a barbecue April 24 at the center to celebrate the month and recognize the contributions and impact children to the military family. 

"They are the anchor for the military member," said Diane Bradley, 7th Medical Group Family Advocacy assistant. "They are reminders (to the military member) of what is important in life and why they are fighting to maintain." 

The Month of the Military Child was established to recognize the essential role that military child care services and youth activities play in fostering readiness and enhancing the quality of life of military families. It is also a time to recognize the contributions, sacrifices and stressors military children endure. 

Some of the sacrifices and stressors for military children include frequent moves, integrating into a new school and having to make new friends and long periods of separation from one or both parents, said Mrs. Bradley. 

"They sometimes get overlooked in all the moving and readjusting military families endure," she said. "The see firsthand the sacrifices military members make to defend our country." 

Mrs. Bradley is not new to the military environment. Her father was in the Army and her husband retired from the Air Force. She said she thinks it is great military children have their own month to be recognized, but believes the children should be thought of all year.
Parents should talk to their children, keep them involved in activities especially during deployments.

"Parents should do the same things they do every month - talk to their children, keep them involved in activities especially during deployments and provide a loving and secure home environment," she said. "All children, especially military children, they are loved and they will be taken care of." 

Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger established the commemoration in 1986.