What is Military Family Syndrome?

The term “military family syndrome” first came into use after the Vietnam War to describe the behavioral and psychosocial problems of children of deployed parents, as well as the effects of deployment on the relationship between the child and the parent remaining at home [4].

Is Being a military child traumatic?

Children in military families experience high rates of mental health, trauma and related problems. Military life can be a source of psychological stress for children. Multiple deployments, frequent moves and having a parent injured or die is a reality for many children in military families.

What does it mean to come from a military family?

Military family: Immediate family members related by blood, marriage, or adoption to a current member of the U.S. armed forces, including one who is deceased.

How military families are affected?

In study after study, deployment has been associated with poorer mental health in military families, behavioral problems in children, a higher risk of divorce, and higher rates of suicide. Not surprisingly, service members and spouses regularly name deployments as the most stressful aspect of military life.

What are military families?

Military families are made up of caring, fun-loving and dedicated husbands, wives, children and pets that are not that different from civilian families – they just work around a career that creates a different lifestyle.

Is military life hard on families?

Military life can be very stressful on families. Long separations, frequent moves, inconsistent training schedules, late nights in the office and the toll of mental and physical injuries on both the service member and the family can all add up over time.

How common are military families?

Overall, roughly eight-in-ten veterans (79%) have an immediate family member who served in the military. This compares with 61% among the general public.

Why being a military kid is hard?

It is hard for a military child to get used to traveling all the time. It can be challenging to have to leave your best friends behind, move to a new place, and try to make new friends. In addition, there are more stressors like getting settled and then having to move after a short period of time.

What are three challenges military families face?

The top issues related to this are time away from family, spouse employment and underemployment, child care availability and affordability, the stress of relocation. “All these things are wrapped up in the military family's need for stability,” Strong said.

How often do military families move?

Military families relocate 10 times more often than civilian families -- on average, every 2 or 3 years. Service members are more likely to be married at a younger age and have young children at home compared to their civilian counterparts.

Is the term army brat offensive?

-- The word "brat" is usually a negative term and typically used when describing badly behaved children. However, "military brat" is not considered to be a derogatory term and is usually one of endearment.

What does pad brat mean?

In the United Kingdom, the term 'pad brat' is sometimes used in preference to 'military brat' – with 'pad' referring specifically to the quarters or accommodation provided by the army for use by the families of military personnel.”

Why do military families move so much?

The military moves its troops on a regular basis because they need a certain number of people at different bases for operations, missions, and specialized training. For the military member, relocation is also an opportunity for career advancement and broadening of experiences.

Can military kids have PTSD?

It's not just deployment-related and it doesn't just affect soldiers. You don't have to be physically hurt to get PTSD, either. Military children and spouses can develop PTSD just from living with a traumatized service member (then carry it with them into adulthood).

How does the military affect child development?

More recent findings with deployed service members with children have shown problems with sleeping, higher stress levels and anxiety, declining grades, an increase in maladaptive child behaviors, and increased rates of child maltreatment.

What is an Air Force brat?

In the United States, a military brat (also known by various "brat" derivatives) is the child of a parent(s), adopted parent(s)or legal guardian(s) serving full-time in the United States Armed Forces, whether current or former.

What do veterans suffer from the most?

War veterans and those still in the service often suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, depression, and thoughts of suicide. Statistics for these problems have worsened in recent years, and there are those who are pushing for solutions to these problems.

What benefits do military families get?

Benefits for spouses, dependents, and survivors

• Health care. ...
• Education and training. ...
• Employment. ...
• Home loan programs or financial counseling. ...
• Life insurance options, claims, and beneficiary assistance. ...
• Pre-need eligibility determination for burial in a VA national cemetery. ...
• Burial benefits and memorial items. ...
• Survivors Pension.

How did World war 2 affect families?

The war brought vast changes: While there was an increase in marriages, job opportunities, and patriotism there was also a definite decline in morale among some Americans. Despite the increase in rising wages, poverty increased and some families were forced to move in search of work.

Why is Month of the military child purple?

Purple references the joint environment of the military, encompassing all service branches, Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, and Veterans. Purple combines each branch's colors into one: the Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard all use shades of blue, the Army uses green, and the Marines use red.

What challenges do military kids face?

Four Common Challenges That Military Kids Face … And What Parents Can Do To Help

• Family Separations. For most families in the United States, long separations between children and their parents are rare – unless you are a military family. ...
• More Responsibilities. ...
• Frequent Moves. ...
• Grief and Loss.

What's it like being a military child?

Some spectacular things about being a military child are meeting new people, traveling to different places in the world, starting a new life and journey, getting the ability to go help your parents and go to their promotions. These things are the crowning glory of my life as a military child.

Can people in the military have kids?

Having children while in the military is covered under Tricare and the vast majority will identify the benefits to having a child while still serving. Besides pre and post-natal health care, the child will have a safe environment to grow up in. A base is basically a gated, patrolled community.

How many times on average will a military child move?

As military families transition from one duty station to another, children often attend many different schools. In fact, the average child in a military family will move six to nine times during a school career.

Where do military families live?

Military housing varies by rank, location and family situation, but almost all new recruits typically start their military careers living on base. During Basic Training, men and women live in separate quarters known as barracks, which consist of shared bunks and bathroom facilities.