Military Families: The Strength Behind Our Service Members
Written by erin coffman
There is much to be celebrated in November, especially Military Family Month. It was established in 1993 by the Armed Services YMCA and the US Government has recognized the occasion every year since then. Its goal is a month-long celebration to acknowledge the military family for all their sacrifice and commitment to our nation’s service members. The success of our armed forces would not be what it is without the military family. They take on demands that many American families will never know, from managing the Homefront to providing encouragement and stability to our service members year-round. In this article, you will learn about the tenacity of military families and discover beneficial resources.
Why We Appreciate Military Families:
Military.com came up with the top 10 things they appreciate about military families. Below we have picked a couple that stood out the most.
Their sense of humor. In a military family, laughter is what gets them through! Nothing is more accurate than the statement, “If you don’t laugh, you may cry.”
Military families are passionate. Military spouses often struggle for employment, but that has never stopped them from getting out there. Some of the most passionate volunteers are military spouses and family members, whether at their child’s school, community, or neighborhood.
Military children are unique. They face a lot of uncertainty and anxiety compared to others. Not only are their parents gone for an extended time, but they also relocate to combat zones. Military children will change schools 6-8 times during their parents’ service. They must create new friendships and face the challenges of getting involved in a new place. For example, military children often get turned away from sports tryouts because they won’t be in a city/state long enough. Nevertheless, these children are adaptable and make it work for their families. If you live in a town with many military families, we encourage you to include them - allow them a chance to make the team. A lot of military children have friends all over the world and remain in touch with them long after they have moved.
They believe in what they do. Military families are proud - they believe in their spouse’s career and service. The United States Military is a family business - many families will have their children in service.
There are many things to be thankful for during this time of year, including the sacrifices of military families. One way that is guaranteed to brighten the day of a spouse whose significant other is deployed is a simple “Thank you for all you do.” Being a military spouse, parent, child, or significant other is a service they all take on with grace, sweat, tears, and an excellent shoulder to cry and laugh on.
If you are a military spouse or know of one, please check out the links below for spouse employment. There is also a great link that includes discounts for military members and families during November, graciously provided by several companies throughout the US.
Resources
About the Author
Erin Coffman, Marketing & Communications Assistant
Erin joined the Tribal Tech team in March of 2017. She is a 14-year military spouse.