By Amanda Huffman

Veteran & Military Spouse

For many, life in the military means constant change: changing homes, routines, and more. For kids, the impact of these disruptions can be even more challenging. But being a military child can also be a positive experience. Every April, the Month of the Military Child, we highlight and focus on this special group of kids. I recently asked a group of military spouses what good things their children have gained from being a military child. Initially, it was a quiet group. I know from experience that asking which aspects of military life are difficult for children would have quickly erupted in many stories about what their kids have faced. While it can be easier to point out the challenges military life brings for children, military life can also provide good things, including many experiences that will help them in the future. Here are a few things our small group of military families discussed.

The Opportunity to Experience New Places and Different Cultures

Because of the transient nature of life in the service, military kids often live in a variety of places, both domestically and around the world. Moving can be hard on military families, especially kids, but it also offers the opportunity to experience life from one side of the country to the other. This can be extremely valuable, especially as kids grow and begin to think about where they’d like to create their own life.

A Strong Financial Footing

The military can give parents a strong foundation when it comes to building their financial health, including VA Loans that make home ownership more accessible and financial programs that can help make life easier for military families. AAFMAA also offers Generations Plus Life Insurance for military kids. It gives them a life insurance policy with coverage that automatically doubles at age 18, without increasing the price. Growing up in a home with this kind of financial stability provides military kids with a strong foundation for a secure and healthy future.

The military also offers service members and Veterans the opportunity to buy a home through programs like the VA Home Loan.The VA Home Loan can give parents an opportunity to buy a home that they may not be able to afford without these benefits. There is also a federal home loan guarantee, Chapter 6 Home Loan Guarantee. This benefit does not extend to military children, but can build a strong financial foundation by having parents who own a home.

Greater Education Opportunities

The Post-9/11 GI Bill allows parents to choose to transfer their GI Bill benefits on to their children, which can help them pay for college or cover expenses for those learning a trade or skill. In addition, many colleges have programs specifically designed to meet the unique needs of the military community, including military children. Taking advantage of education savings plans can also help cover the costs that the Post-9/11 GI Bill may not.

Besides the Post 9/11 GI Bill each state has their own Veterans program office and many states offer military children education aid. There are also Chapter 35 education benefits for military children who meet certain requirements provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs. There are also a number of benefits for military children including health care and survivor benefits.

Health Care Coverage

The military offers health care for military families through TriCare. TriCare is covered through two options. One is where family members get seen on the military installation, and the other gives the option to see doctors within the community for a fee. Both options give military families great medical coverage that can allow children to have access to the health benefits they need.

There also have been VA Health Care benefits and some financial benefits for now adult children who were affected by their parents' service. A few examples are children who have had mothers who served in Vietnam or during the Gulf War. Those conflicts led to higher rates of birth defects in children. Coverage has also been extended to families who served at Camp Lejeune and were affected by the infected water, causing diseases later in life. With the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan also having negative physical effects as well, there may be future legislation for children whose parents served in those conflicts.

Enhanced Social Skills and Adaptability

The ability for kids to expand their social network and quickly create rapport with others, as well as learning how to make friends, are skills many families only get a chance to focus on in kindergarten when they’re new to the school system. Otherwise, they may have limited opportunities for meeting new people until after they graduate high school. Military kids, however, typically move frequently throughout their school years and must make friends in new places. This can be incredibly challenging as they get older and more attached to the things around them. But it is a skill they can use for the rest of their lives.

Increased Emotional Resiliency

Whether they have to say goodbye to friends during a military move or miss a parent during a deployment, military kids experience challenging emotions often and at an early age. While this could be viewed as a negative, it also can open the door to important and fundamental conversations with trusted adults. Post-traumatic stress, saying goodbye to friends, and living with one parent while the other is deployed are just a few of the challenging situations and emotions military kids can experience at a young age. Learning how to talk about them and handle them productively can build resiliency and also foster deeper relationships between military parents and their children.

Military life can be difficult, especially for children, but it can also lead to opportunities to experience new cultures and access unique benefits and support systems. There can also be unique benefits created to support military families, leading to a positive impact on their future. It may not be a traditional childhood, but growing up in the military can help create a strong foundation for lifelong happiness, adaptability, and success.

Armed Forces Mutual is focused on assisting military families throughout their life in the military and beyond. If you’re not yet a Member, become one today to discover the benefits available to you and your family.