Army teens are discovering opportunities to develop skills, connect and take on new challenges through the Joint Services Teen Council. Run by the Office of the Secretary of War, the program brings together teens from across the services, including the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, National Guard and reserve components, for a week of training, discussions and unique experiences.
Each participating installation receives $1,500 just for attending and can apply for an additional $2,500 through the DOW JSTC Empowerment Grant to support projects that expand youth programming and create new opportunities for teens. Each service selects its own representatives, all of whom are active in youth programs at their local installations.
“Joint Services Teen Council functions as a means to bring youth together from every branch of service,” said Tamra De Benedetto, action officer with the Army’s Child, Youth and School Services Division, who manages Army youth program portfolios. “So, the kids come together, and the goal is to inspire and motivate them as leaders.”
That leadership shows up in small and big ways. De Benedetto said teens often return to their installations energized and ready to share what they learned. She explained that when participants return to their installations, they bring fresh energy and new ideas to help more kids get involved and to highlight everything the youth center offers.
The week also gives teens a chance to tackle issues that matter to them. They work on group projects and figure out real challenges facing military-connected youth.
“They bring together what we would call issues or concerns,” De Benedetto said. “As a group, the Joint Services Teen Council voted on three issues, and they actually presented them to leadership last year from all services.”
The program offers teens opportunities they can’t find elsewhere. Last year, the group toured Arlington National Cemetery, visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, saw how the ceremonial horses at the caisson stables are cared for and went to a private performance by the Army Band playing music from the 1950s.
These activities give teens a closer look at military traditions and also help them practice skills like speaking in front of others, working as a team and leading projects.
While the program gives teens a glimpse of military careers, De Benedetto said the main goal is personal growth. Seeing different parts of the Army and other services is a bonus, but the focus is on helping teens build confidence and become stronger leaders.
Teens who are selected for the program reflect that, as they have already shown leadership in their youth programs. Army participants often come from the Army Teen Panel, which represents youth voices at the installation level.
“They have to be involved in their youth program facility on their installation and already serving in a leadership role," De Benedetto said.
The grant funding tied to JSTC also supports projects created at the installation level, encouraging teens to bring ideas home and put them into action. Joint Base Lewis-McChord, for example, fully implemented their project and used the funding to expand opportunities for teens.
“JBLM really followed the process and met the criteria, and that was great to see,” De Benedetto said.
The program relaunched last summer, and early signs point to meaningful momentum. Jenna Shell, assistant deputy, child and youth programs, assistant secretary of the Army, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, highlighted the impact the council already has.
“Participation in the Joint Services Teen Council has a significant and positive impact on military-connected youth,” she said. “By giving them a platform to discuss the unique challenges military youth face, they can apply critical thinking, problem solving and leadership skills to advocate for change.”
For many teens, JSTC becomes a chance to stretch themselves. They build skills like leadership, teamwork, public speaking and problem solving, gain self-assurance and meet peers from across the military. They also carry their ideas back to their youth programs, where they can make a difference in their communities. And throughout it all, they do it in an environment designed to support them as they grow.
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