Unsung Heroes in Small Boots: Honoring Military Children

April is the Month of the Military Child. It’s a time to honor and recognize the resilience, strength and sacrifices of children in military families. These young children, affectionately known as “military brats,” face a unique set of circumstances due to the nature of military life.

They are the sons and daughters of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and guardians. They have grown up in the long shadow of duty, sacrifice and frequent change. In essence, these children are unsung heroes in small boots.

As a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and former (acting) First Sergeant, I’ve seen firsthand how military children absorb the rhythms of service life. The pride of a parent’s uniform is often offset by long absences, sudden moves and the emotional toll of deployment. However, these children of servicemembers demonstrate a kind of strength and maturity that belies their youth.

A Life of Transitions and Triumphs

Military children endure a life of constant transition. By the time they reach high school, many of them have relocated to the parent’s new duty station six to nine times.

In addition, they bid farewell to friends, teachers and familiar places repeatedly. Each new duty station brings a new house, a new school and the daunting task of starting anew.

Despite these challenges, military children demonstrate remarkable resilience. They quickly adapt to unfamiliar environments, build connections in diverse settings and cultivate a global awareness that surpasses the outlook of their peers.

Military children are typically independent, resourceful and culturally adept. However, their strength often stems from the struggles they face.

Behind their maturity lies the emotional toll of frequent goodbyes, the uncertainty of parental deployments and the complexities of knowing their parents’ physical safety is never guaranteed. Military children often learn early how to manage anxiety as they shoulder responsibilities beyond their years.

How Communities Can Support and Uplift Military Children

The military lifestyle can be tough. Nevertheless, many children thrive with the support of school counselors, youth sports leagues and family readiness groups. These resources help bridge the emotional gaps that life in military service creates.

A friend of mine who works with military children in afterschool sports shared the experience of working with these kids. My friend says, “These kids are ready to lead, but they also need someone to support them. Sometimes, just listening makes all the difference.”

Purple Up! Day and the Importance of Recognizing Military Children

Every year around April 15, civilians and military members celebrate Purple Up! Day by wearing purple to show their appreciation for military children. Purple Up! Day represents the blend of all military branch colors.

In this way, purple is a symbol of unity and support. However, recognition for military families must go beyond symbolic gestures.

Schools with large military populations often rely on liaisons to help children adjust and succeed. Civilian schools are also learning how to identify and assist military-connected students during times of transition or parental deployment. These touchpoints are crucial, especially when consistency is rare in a military child’s life.

Stories That Stay with Us

Ask any educator, coach, or counselor who works closely with military children, and they’ll share stories of quiet leadership, empathy, and grit.

A coach I know described a boy who had just arrived from Germany and struggled to fit in with the local team. By the boy’s second week in the U.S., he was leading warm-ups. Just one week later, the team couldn’t imagine practice without him.

These small but profound moments reflect the internal strength that military children often carry. Many have learned to lead from the sidelines, encouraging others even as they grapple with uncertainty.

Military children learn to embrace change, rather than fear it. Their stories, though rarely featured in headlines, are powerful reflections of resilience — and they deserve to be told.

A Call for Greater Awareness

Recognizing the Month of the Military Child goes beyond a symbolic gesture; it’s an opportunity to educate, engage and support these children. It’s a call for communities to acknowledge the invisible burden these children carry and create environments that uplift and encourage them.

This recognition also reminds us that military service is a family affair. While servicemembers wear the uniform, their families – especially their children – serve alongside them in a different, yet equally significant, capacity.

As a former servicemember and a lifelong advocate for education and leadership, I firmly believe we owe military children more than gratitude. We owe them our understanding, advocacy and unwavering support.

How You Can Help Support Military Children

There are several ways individuals, schools and organizations can support military children year-round:

• Get involved in local programs: Volunteer with youth centers, sports leagues or mentorship programs that serve military families.
• Promote awareness in schools: Encourage educators to learn about the challenges military-connected students face and provide resources tailored to their needs.
• Support nonprofits serving military families: Whether through donations or partnerships, helping these organizations extends vital resources to children in need.

Resources Worth Exploring

Several organizations lead the way in providing support, education and advocacy for military children:

• Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) – Provides tools and training for schools, parents and communities to help military-connected students thrive.
• Operation Purple Camps – National Military Family Association – Offers free summer camps to help children deal with the stress of deployment and make new friends.
• Sesame Street^® for Military Families – Delivers age-appropriate videos and resources that help children cope with deployment, relocation and reintegration.
• Blue Star Families – Strengthens military families by connecting them with their civilian neighbors to create strong communities of support.

Military Children Deserve Recognition and Ongoing Support

We should pay tribute to military children not only every April, but also every month. We don’t honor them because they chose to serve, but because they demonstrate courage and grace. They have this quiet strength that’s often overlooked, but it’s what keeps our armed forces going. They may be small, but their sacrifices are huge.

Let’s not just wear purple shirts for a day; let’s show military children we care all year round with support, understanding and gratitude.

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