Month of the Military Child - April 2010
What is it'
April is the "Month of the Military Child." Since it began in 1986, the Department of Defense (DOD) has teamed with various partners to recognize the sacrifices and applaud the courage of military children. More than 1.7 million American children under the age of 18 have at least one parent serving in the military. It is estimated the U.S. Army has more than 900,000 military children with one or both parents having deployed multiple times.
Throughout April, U.S. Army installations around the world and in local communities across the nation, in conjunction with Army Child, Youth & School Services, will conduct a variety of fun and exciting events, during which senior leaders can attend and speak to the sacrifices and challenges of military children and youth.
Why is it important to the Army'
The strength of our Soldiers comes from the strength of their families. Retaining Soldiers is critical to sustaining an all-volunteer force. Soldiers and families must be satisfied with their quality of life and believe that the Army is a good place for a family. They must trust that the Army will provide the programs and services they need to help them be resilient in the current environment. Month of the Military Child celebrations are one way Army senior leaders can demonstrate their commitment to Army children and youth and recognize them as "Everyday Heroes." Army senior leaders are encouraged to attend and/or provide remarks at events, produce appropriate media, and have personal contact with children and youth.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future'
The Army's "Month of the Military Child" page on Army OneSource lists general information about the month and installation and community activities. It also captures and displays personal stories, video, and photos posted by Army children and their parents. Army parents are encouraged to download, sign, and present their children with the "Everyday Hero" certificate to demonstrate appreciation of their children's courage and sacrifice.
As evidenced by the Army Family Covenant, the Army is committed to providing its children and youth with a quality-of-life commensurate with their sacrifices. The Army is committed to ensuring excellence in schools, youth services and child care, and is standardizing and funding programs and services that support Army children and youth.
Resources:
<a href="http://www.myarmyonesource.com " target="_blank"> Month of the Military Child Web site</a>
<a href="http://www.operationmilitarykids.org/public/home.aspx" target="_blank"> Operation Military Kids Web site</a>
<a href="http://www.armymwr.com " target="_blank"> Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command Web site </a>
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