At the intersection of family service and national policy, military teens have a complex but often unrecognized magnitude of expertise and past experiences. However, our experiences and wealth of knowledge are often not fully utilized.
From a young age, I’ve understood that military-related decisions are made far away and by individuals who are far more important than myself. These policies drafted in distant conference rooms have rippled through our lives like silent waves, reshaping our sense of home, connection, and belonging. Each decision about deployment, military housing, or educational support isn't a distant initiative, but rather they’re a lived reality that has lasting impacts on our childhoods and memories. I’ve come to realize military teens’ narratives challenge the traditional understanding of institutional support and personal resilience.
Military families are frequently discussed—we’ve all seen politicians debate support programs, housing, mental health services, and education on television. Specialists craft resources, yet one critical perspective remains consistently missing: the voice of the young people directly impacted by these policies.
We're often labeled as resilient—and we are, but resilience isn't about being invincible. I think it's about transforming challenges into catalysts for good change. Growing up in a military family means navigating experiences most teens never encounter: adjusting to new schools every few years, coping with the anxiety of a parent in a combat zone, etc. These experiences don't just shape our lives; they create a different worldview in how we understand support, sacrifice, and community.
Take education, for example. Military teens struggle transferring credits between schools, catching up on new curricula, or adapting to different academic standards. Policies like the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children attempt to address these challenges, but how can it truly be effective if military teens aren't consulted? Many military-connected organizations aren't even aware the Interstate Compact exists, only further demonstrating the disconnect between policy creation and actual change from these policies.
I’m not saying every military teen needs to sit in on congressional hearings or policy decisions, but there are meaningful ways to include our voices. Youth advisory boards could provide direct insights, sharing feedback on programs, and proposing new solutions. Hearing from a professional about deployment stress is one thing; hearing from a military teen in high school about their parents missing their graduation is another. I think we understand that true support transcends transactional services or the website full of resources tucked away on a hidden corner of the Internet. We’ve learned that true resilience is an active process, a re-imagining of possibility as a catalyst for constant change.
As military teens, we offer a unique perspective by living through these experiences shaped by distant policies. Through the obvious effort for inclusion, I guess this question of whether we deserve a seat at the table has changed. It’s no longer whether we deserve a seat at the table, but how can our presence reshape the table itself to better serve those it affects?
Each of our stories, familiar to many of us but still unique, help reveal dimensions of military life invisible to those looking in from the outside. If we don’t stand up for our voices and experiences to be heard, who will? I’m very fortunate to have had such a unique upbringing, one that has been filled with more happy moments than sad ones, but there are always improvements to be made. As we continue to grow and develop, as individuals and a military community, I think it’s evident that the best people to shape these policies are those who have lived through them. I’m urging you to advocate, for yourself and military teens to come, for a seat at the same.
The question is no longer whether our voices matter, but how can they transform our and others’ experiences of growing up as military brats?
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