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 | Nov. 12, 2009

Alabama kids reach out to Alabama military kids

By Staff Sgt. Katrina Timmons Alabama National Guard

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The deployment of a Soldier affects no one more than a child. Children of the brave men and women, who protect the liberties and freedoms of the United States of American often suffer and sacrifice in silence. 

They try to be brave for their mommies and daddies and their brothers and sisters, but it’s hard for them to understand the emotional, mental and physiological characteristics associated with the burdens of a deployment. 

"When a Soldier is mobilized or deployed, a large portion of time is spent on preparing the soldier and the family for what to expect,” said Kelli Hill, child and youth coordinator for the Alabama National Guard’s Child and Youth program. "A lot of times the children are overlooked during that preparation process, even though their lives are literally turned upside down. Deployment never affects every child or teen the same way.” 

Some of the children may show signs of depression or anger while others might be more mature or grow closer to siblings and other family members, Hill said.

"One of the goals of the ALNG Child and Youth program is to provide support and education to children and teens during deployment,” said Hill. 

Yellow Ribbon events provide the ALNG Child and Youth program with an opportunity to educate them on what to expect during the deployment. 

"We educate them on stress management, time management, anger management, and several other topics in a fun and educational environment,” said Hill. It also offers the children with an opportunity to connect with other kids and teens their same age that are going through the same kind of experiences.

Another way the ALNG Child and Youth program offers support to the children is by providing Hero Packs. With the help of Operation Military Kids (OMK), each deploying Soldier’s child receives a Hero Pack at a Yellow Ribbon event. 

Put together by non-military youth, Hero Packs are a tangible expression of support from the communities and OMK partners.

The backpacks are filled with a collection of family support materials, communication tools, and fun items such as a cameras, stuffed animals or Frisbees. Also included are handwritten letters and cards from non-military youth thanking the children for their service and sacrifices they make for our country. 

"It is important that our children not be overlooked during a deployment,” said Hill. "They need the support of their schools, educators, churches and the communities.”

 

 

Related Articles
The Republic of Zambia's Brig. Gen. Choonga Mutandalike speaks to senior leaders from the North Carolina National Guard, representatives from the Republics of Moldova, Botswana, Malawi, and Zambia at a hurricane response symposium in Raleigh, N.C. April 22, 2025. The symposium was part of a six-day event hosted by the National Guard’s State Partnership program, reviewing and sharing lessons learned from Hurricane Helene.
North Carolina Guard Welcomes SPP Partners to Hurricane Response Exercise
By Lt. Col. Ellis Parks, | April 25, 2025
RALEIGH, N.C. – Senior leaders from the North Carolina National Guard are hosting representatives from Moldova, Botswana, Malawi and Zambia this week for a hurricane response exercise. The six-day event, from April 21-26 in...

A HH-60M Black Hawk, assigned to Wyoming Army Aviation Support Facility, releases water during an interagency bucket drop training at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, on April 16, 2025. The training brought together Wyoming Aviation crews and partners including Wyoming State Forestry, Camp Guernsey Fire Department, Cheyenne Fire Rescue’s Wildland Team, Glendo Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Albany County Volunteer Fire Department, Yoder Volunteer Fire Department, Guernsey Rural Fire District, and the Platte County Fire Warden. The exercise was designed to sharpen skills like water bucket deployment, aerial coordination, and ground-to-air communications.
Wyoming Guard Aviators Sharpen Wildfire Response Skills in Training
By Staff Sgt. Cesar Rivas, | April 25, 2025
CAMP GUERNSEY, Wyo. – Wyoming Army National Guard aviators, in coordination with local and state firefighting agencies, conducted annual interagency bucket drop training April 16 at Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center,...

Tech. Sgt. Franklin Angel, 105th Airlift Wing production recruiter, poses for a photo with his two Blue Suit Awards at Stewart Air National Guard Base, New York, April 22, 2025. The Blue Suit Award recognizes the 14 top-performing recruiters from around the world, including those in active duty, the Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve.
Meet the New York Air National Guard’s Record-Setting Recruiter
By Senior Airman Sarah Post, | April 23, 2025
STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. – One recruiter at the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing is standing out from his peers, having recruited more Airmen in 2024 than any other recruiter in the Air Force and...