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 | April 1, 2015

Month of the Military Child in April recognizes young family members

By Amaani Lyle DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON - To highlight the year-round contributions, courage and patriotism of the military community's youngest members, the Defense Department observes April as the Month of the Military Child, a Pentagon official told DoD News.

Established by then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger in 1986, the month recognizes some 1.9 million U.S. military children ranging in age from infants to 18 years old who have one or both parents serving in the armed forces, said Barbara Thompson, the director of DoD's Office of Family Readiness Policy.

"We want to highlight their sacrifices [and] support of the military member in their families, so it behooves us to take time from the busy calendar of our events and recognize military children," she said.

Permanent-change-of-station moves, deployments and training activities, among other facets of military life, can present unique challenges to children who must constantly adjust to distance, unfamiliarity and uncertain schedules, Thompson explained.

"That can be a real sacrifice, because each parent is a very important part of that child's makeup," she said. "So we want to make sure that when they move or change schools, all of those transition times are supported with resources, programs and services."

DoD offers a variety of programs to help military children overcome these challenges, Thompson said.

Available programs offer assistance

For example, the Child Development Program offers child care up to age 12. Similarly, youth development programs offer older children opportunities for recreation, and character, social and emotional development.

Thompson reported that parents, too, have resources to help best guide and nurture their children of all ages.

The New Parents Support Program helps parents during pregnancy and childbirth, and children up to 3 years of age, to reach their full potential through home visitations and parent support groups, she said.

Military OneSource is another resource available 24/7, 365 days a year, to support parents to learn more about parenting skills, as well as to find support for themselves, Thompson added. It also offers telephonic, face-to-face, online and video nonmedical and financial counseling, which she described as "strengthening pillars" for military households separated from extended family or settling into a new environment.

"On the installations, we have military family support centers," she said, "where a multitude of services for transitions and life skills are offered to make sure our families can be resilient and strengthen them in their efforts to be the parents they want to be."

Family support has evolved over the last 40 years to become the family readiness system, which is a collaborative network of agencies, programs, services and professionals who promote the readiness and quality of life of military families both on installations and in the community, Thompson said.

"There is no ‘wrong' door," she said. "So regardless of where you're seeking support, whether it's with your pediatrician or with your chaplain, he or she will also know the resources to support you in your efforts to navigate the military life course."

A visual tribute

Across the services, Thompson said, parades, fairs, art and poetry contests will abound as installations develop engaging and amusing activities to solidify the bonds among families and communities.

"We want to make sure that children's voices are heard during the Month of the Military Child," she said. "It's a fun time to be with their families [and] to take part in the various activities that the services developed to recognize military children."

Community outreach initiatives include partnerships with the Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's 4-H youth group to promote "Purple Up!" On April 15, Thompson said. Students, school sports team members, teachers and community leaders will wear purple as a visual tribute to military children.

"It is hard to be a military child, and they're doing it super well," Thompson said.

 

 

Related Articles
National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force partner with military and civilian cyber operators in enclaves to simulate the process they would follow to respond to and mitigate a cyber attack Aug. 11, 2025, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, during Cyber Fortress 25. The exercise focused on electric cooperatives and provided an opportunity to test Virginia’s cyber response plan, better prepare for future collective responses and build resiliency. In addition, representatives from several foreign militaries participated in the exercise, including a number from Finland, Virginia National Guard’s State Partnership Program's partner. The Fort Belvoir-based 91st Cyber Brigade and Information Operations Support Center hosted the exercise which includes a re-certification of two cyber protection teams and one battalion headquarters as part of their federal mission.
Virginia Guard, Cyber Operators Train at Cyber Fortress 25
By Cotton Puryear, | Sept. 19, 2025
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.  – National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force partnered with military and civilian cyber operators Aug. 2-17 at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia,...

Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Aaron Stiner, assigned to the 102nd CERFP, demonstrates the procedures for removing a coverall hazard suit with members of the Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center staff taking part in a mass casualty training event at the Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center on September 16, 2025, in Clackamas, Oregon. The medical personnel and other first responders, along with members of the Oregon National Guard 102nd Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP), collaborated during the exercise, which aimed to develop a response to a real-world incident, identify gaps, and improve response procedures.
Oregon Guard Supports Two Hospital Mass Casualty Training Exercises
By John Hughel, | Sept. 19, 2025
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Oregon National Guard's 102nd Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear, or CBRN, Defense Enhanced Response Force Package, known as CERFP, partnered with two regional medical centers during a four-day...

Members of the Albanian Armed Forces receive military equipment from Airmen and Soldiers of the New Jersey National Guard in Tirana, Republic of Albania, September 14, 2025, as part of a key Defense Security Cooperation Agency and National Guard Bureau initiative to use Air National Guard flights for transport of Building Partner Capacity materials to State Partnership Program participants. The effort supports a recent federal executive order on reforming foreign defense sales for increased speed and accountability. Note: shipping labels have been blurred for operational security.
New Jersey Guard Supports State Partnership Program Equipment Transfer
By Lt. Col. Agneta Murnan, | Sept. 19, 2025
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – New Jersey National Guard members recently supported a key Defense Security Cooperation Agency and National Guard Bureau initiative in coordination with the state’s longtime partner, the Republic of...