Growing Up as a Military Child: A Personal Viewpoint

Growing up in a military family comes with both extraordinary opportunities and unique challenges. As a child of military servicemembers, I experienced a life filled with movement, cultural immersion, and constant change – shaping the person I am today.

I grew up as a Navy brat. Our family moved every two to three years. Unlike most families, I could live in foreign countries and have lived or visited 49 of our 50 states. The one I’m still waiting to visit is Oregon.

As a military child, I had to learn to be the new kid in school. Sometimes, our moves happened mid-year, making it even harder to adjust.

It was tough, but I learned to be flexible. Unlike other kids, I did not know my cousins, aunts, uncles and other family members. I was always jealous of friends who had the opportunity to grow up in one place with their families.

Developing a Sense of Adventure as the Result of My Military Child Experience

The flexibility I learned as a part of military life turned into one of my greatest strengths. I learned to be adventurous, and I loved to explore new places.

Because of this sense of adventure I developed, I took my children – who grew up in one place – to explore many states. All three of my children joined the military, and I suspect it was due to the adventure it offered.

My mother was European. She hated moving but adapted to it, and she never let my sister and me know she hated it.

My Experience of Being a Military Child in Spain Remains a Vivid Memory

One of my most vivid memories is when we moved to Spain. My mother decided to enroll us in a local school. We had to wear uniforms, which I had never done. I am not Catholic and had never seen a nun.

My sister and I went to a large open patio at our school. Suddenly, a woman in this strange outfit started speaking something I did not understand.

My sister and I ended up sitting in a corner by ourselves, and we were the only ones left in the patio area. A nun came over and started yelling at us.

I was nine and my sister was four. The nun grabbed my sister and another nun grabbed me; it was scary. We had no idea what was happening or what we had done wrong. As it turned out, one of the nuns spoke English but never spoke to us in English.

Adapting to this new environment took time. I learned Spanish in about a month, and my sister – being younger – learned to read and write in Spanish before she did in English. That experience taught us the power of resilience and the importance of cultural understanding.

Advice to Servicemember Parents

One of my sons with a wife and three children has made the military a career. While they have not had to move overseas, he has been deployed for many months. I see that the kids have developed resilience.

As I advise my son and daughter-in-law, I always tell them to listen to your children. Stay in tune with the school. My most challenging time during a PCS was at school, and children can be cruel.

Would I change anything about my life as a military child? Absolutely not.

I joined the military after college and enjoyed that adventure as well. Those early experiences prepared me for a life of adaptability, curiosity and strength.