Eighteen years ago 134 young souls breathed life for the first time. We all have come from different places with no way of knowing that one day we would all end up being on the same stage together. Unlike most of the Class of 2012 in the States none of us here went to elementary school together, or middle school, or even all of high school. We come from a very different life experience than most. Most of us have never been the same place for more than a few years. That's only one of the many differences we have with our peers stateside. Another major one of course is the fact that we have spent most our high school lives in Europe. We live in a foreign country with different laws, a different language, and different customs. Many of us have also had the opportunity to travel to numerous countries around Europe and experience those societies as well. In an increasingly globalized world I believe because of our experiences with foreigners that my classmates and I are much better prepared to move out into the real world than any other graduating class anywhere in the States. Some of you may think that that is a bold statement and that's because it is, but it's the truth. My classmates and I have walked a path that has never been walked before. We have been forced to deal with a deployment from a deployment. We are all deployed to Europe and then we are forced to live our lives as normal as possible in this foreign land while we have parents deployed again to Iraq and Afghanistan for at least a year at a time. We have to mature faster and take on greater responsibilities than average teenagers. While a parent is deployed we go day to day trying to make it through school, extra-curricular activities, and community involvement, all while knowing that our parent-soldier could be getting shot at in a combat zone and that today—might be the day we find out we will never hear from them again. Tonight we are in the presence of true heroes, men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line; who are willing to suffer through year away from their family, all to help an oppressed society enjoy the very freedoms that we so often take for granted. These heroes also happen to be our parents, the people who have suffered through us the longest and somehow they still find it in their heart to stick around, I don't know how you do it.
It is gratifying to know that you are finally on an Honor Flight; a much deserved token of respect for your service! Hopefully, it proves to be a source of wonderful memories for years to come.
Deployment is a word that all military spouses and military families dread to hear. When my husband came home to our barely moved in house with news of his deployment to Afghanistan, I was devastated. Though we received terrible news, we also felt incredible joy that same week. I was pregnant with our first child. We were overjoyed by this news but it also meant that my husband would be away the first eight months of our son’s life.
While soldiers are away from home, many things might change that they aren’t there for, for example, family problems and disasters. In addition, veterans might come home to a whole different world than when they left, and this already makes their lives more challenging to go with these changes. In addition, soldiers might also come back with physical injuries, like a lost limb, or loss of hearing. As a result, this makes everyday tasks much harder than they actually are. Veterans also might be mentally scarred from war. For example, a mental disorder called post traumatic stress disorder, makes life for the veteran and family much
It seems that everyone’s father is going off to join the militia. Mine left to join just a few days ago. John and Timmy begged him to let them come, but Father refused, telling them, “You’re too young. Maybe in a few years, if we haven’t won yet.” It was awful, seeing him go and not knowing if he would return. I miss him already, but Mother says he’ll be all right. I’m not sure if I believe her or not. We have a lot more work to do at home now with Father gone. I don’t think the boys will be staying in school much longer. We need them more here. I personally dropped out of school several years ago.
Living in a time of war is not easy for anyone, and the expansive nature of the current war can make it even harder. Though many people in America may not feel as if they have been effected by the ongoing war, it is likely that everyone has in some way, shape or form. One group most effected are those who have loved ones serving in the military. People with family members that are serving have to face significant hardship and challenges as they cope with a person they care about being in danger. Being away means that family members often don’t have as deep of emotional relationships and while technology can sometimes make that easier, it can also be more frustrating. I don’t know where my uncle is now, and millions of others have the same issue. War truly is hell, for the people fighting and the families back at home. It effects everyone.
The air was warm, the beams of sunlight shined on my skin, and the sweet laughter of my daughter came as she ran about. I could hear the bark of the neighbor’s dog in the distance, the scraping sound of a jogger's sneakers on the gravel sidewalk and I could smell the sweet aroma of the ripening peaches coming from the tree in our backyard. It was a brilliant summer day just like any other. My husband, Matthew, pulled in. Our daughter ran to him as he walked up the drive, “Daddy, Daddy,” she shouted as she wrapped her arms around him, embracing him with love. My husband sat beside me and began to speak. My heart began to beat slowly and erratically at first, my eyes began to burn in their sockets and a lump rose in my throat. The hair on my arms stood on end as my eyes began to fill with tears. “I got orders babe, I’m going to be shipped out in eight days.” These words my husband spoke would be the begging of a whole new life, a whole new fear. This day my life changed forever. On this day I learned my husband was going to be deployed.
Every day of my life I have woken up to the sound of Reveille, and gone to bed listening to Taps. I have moved nine different times, know the feeling of having my dad deploy more than four times, and eating Thanksgiving dinner in a DEFAC is second-nature to me. Being an army child is a huge part of my life, however it does not define who I am; it has shaped how I view the world. Because of my life as a military child, I have determined that I am compelled to positively influence how others view life.
Throughout the years of U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, we have seen the media coverage of newly deployed soldiers and returning the faces of children and spouses left at home heartbreaking meeting and happy when returning soldiers. Many military parents have experienced multiple deployments and expanded over the last decade, but only recently has attention turned to the effects on children whose parents are deployed. Recent studies indicate that children of military families with a deployed parent is under stress, causing an increase in visits to pediatric care for anxiety, behavioral disorders and other mental health problems (Chandra, Lara-Cinisomo, Jaycox, et al, 2010;. Chandra, Martin Hawkins, and Richardson, 2010; Chartrand, Frank, white, and Shope, 2008, Flake, Davis, Johnson & Middleton, 2009; Gorman, Eide, and Hist-Gorman, 2010 ).
Research from Psychiatric Effects of Military Deployment on Children and Families indicates; “Deployments for military members in the United States have increased in both frequency and length over the past 10 years. As a result of these deployments, many children from military families have experienced absences of one or both parents. More than two million United States children have been affected directly by a parent’s deployment. The evidence is clear that deployments are stressful on families and that children can be affected by these
Military children are in a league of their own, and at very young ages are thrown into situations of great stress. Approximately 1.2 million children live in the U.S. Military families (Kelly. 2003) and at least 700,000 of them have had at least one parent deployed (Johnson et al. 2007). Every child handles a deployment differently, some may regress in potty training, and others may become extremely aggressive. Many different things can happen, in most cases when a parent deploys and the child becomes difficult to handle, it can cause a massive amount of stress on the parent that is not deployed as well as added stress on the parent who is deployed. There are three stages of a deployment, pre-deployment, deployment, and reintegration, being educated on these three things can make a deployment “run” smoothly for the entire family.
The very first hardship experienced is basic training, although basic training varies across all military branches they all serve the same purpose. Every year more than 180,000 people enlist in the armed (unknown 2014). That is about 180,000 people who had to leave loved ones behind and completely start a new life that may or may not include the ones that they love. Along with leaving loved ones behind there is also the challenge of completing basic training. Once the smoke has settled and all training is complete one can officially call themselves a solider, sailor, marine, or airmen which will officially make the member eligible for deployment operations. Some deployments may be easier than others but there is no doubt that deployments can definitely become a military hardship which can cause negative impact on a service members life. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most commonly reported psychological outcomes following deployment (Wright, Breanna K., et al. 2013). A military deployment can have a major negative impact on service member’s lives. Deployments can take a toll on a service members personal and professional life which could lead to issues such as depression. The military can have a major negative impact on service member’s lives, however if one remains resilient the fruits of their labor will become
In Joel L. Swerdlow’s 2001 essay, “Changing America,” he writes about the current cultural differences among kids in high school. He goes on to talk about how you can gather a large variety of kids, coming from all over the world, yet they still somehow manage to develop the same “American Teenager” attitude toward life. The essay talks about how people used to view America as a “melting pot” of nations, and how over time that view is starting to change.
Andy grew up as a military child and he assures, “Being in a military family I can appreciate the veterans and their families more.” (Moore) Military children recognize the importance of sacrificial service that their parent committed. This ensures parents that raising a child in the military can help develop an appreciative, respectful, and prideful child by experiencing and interacting within the military lifestyle. The military provides a strong structure or values and traits that promote a healthy development of characteristics for
For anyone, there are time when things are going to change whether the change is planned or not. For military families change and loss often are not planned, and they have no choice in the matter. For any one person or family to move through change or loss it is important to go through the steps of transition, also know by Hall (2008) as the transition journey. The three phases of the transition journey that have their own focus and tasks are endings, neutral zone, and new beginnings (Hall, 2008). Not everyone follows the transition journey exactly, but this is a good example and tool to help individuals and families through the process. The three phases of the transition journey are going to be explained in further detail in this paper.
At eight years old, I realized the danger my dad was facing shortly after he was first deployed. I was terrified for my father, crying myself to sleep for months and only slept on his side of the bed the entire deployment. Although, I’m older and have experienced three deployments with my family, the subject of deployment is still very sensitive. Deployment is a vulnerable period in the family and the soldier, there were times where I knew nothing of my father, and we’d constantly checked the lists of soldiers killed in