Celebrating The Strength and Resilience of Military Children
April marks the Month of the Military Child, a time to recognise and celebrate the incredible resilience, strength, and sacrifices of children growing up in Armed Forces families. Military life comes with unique challenges – frequent moves, new schools, parental deployments, and the emotional toll of service life. Yet, Forces children show remarkable adaptability and courage, navigating a world of change with strength and determination.
Why Military Children Deserve Recognition
Military children grow up in a world of constant change. They face:
- Frequent relocations - often moving schools and leaving friends behind and needing to make new ones..
- Long periods of separation from one or both parents during deployments.
- Emotional and mental health challenges, including anxiety and uncertainty.
- Unique educational hurdles due to curriculum differences between schools.
Despite these challenges, military children develop resilience, independence, and an incredible ability to adapt. They grow up with a deep sense of community and an understanding of sacrifice beyond their years. Poppy (13) and Alfie (11) say:
“Being a military child is both fun and challenging at the same time. We love the fact that we get to explore new places when we move house, but we find it really difficult to leave friends behind and have to start again. We hate it when Daddy goes away, especially for a long time, the house always feels so empty and sad.”
The Strength of the Military Child
Behind every military child is a story of perseverance. They learn to build friendships quickly, adapt to new environments, and support their families through tough times. Many develop strong leadership skills, empathy, and a global perspective from their diverse experiences.
But they also need understanding and support to thrive. Whether it’s through schools providing tailored resources, communities embracing them, or families finding ways to stay connected despite the distance, small actions can make a big difference in their lives.
Troopr Partnerships Manager, Aaron Clark, shares his experience of being a military child.
"Having spent 18 years immersed in military life while my father, both grandfathers, and great uncles served across all three services, I know firsthand what it means to be a military child. I’m grateful for the experiences, adventures, and independence it gave me – seeing the world, adapting to change, and learning to thrive in any environment. But it wasn’t always easy. The uncertainty of when, or if, I’d see my dad again, and the unspoken responsibility of looking after my mum and brother, shaped my journey. It was a unique childhood – challenging yet rewarding – and one I’m proud to have lived.
Where Can You Find Help and Support for Military Children?
Organisations like our partners Forces Children Scotland and Scotty’s Little Soldiers, and friends in the network like Little Troopers; are all dedicated to ensuring military children receive the support, stability, and opportunities they deserve.
Forces Children Scotland: Championing the Future of Young People
Forces Children Scotland has been dedicated to supporting children and young people from serving and veteran families for over 200 years. Their mission is to provide tailored assistance to help each child thrive and reach their full potential. Some of their key initiatives include:
- Mental Health & Well-being: The Your Mind Matters Programme provides counseling and peer support along with a digital well-being hub to help children cope with anxiety, stress, and the emotional impact of military life.
- Deployment Rollercoaster: Provides support whilst a parent or loved one is away on deployment by helping you navigate the different feelings associated with the journey.
- Education Support: Guidance and financial assistance to help military children access education without barriers caused by mobility or family circumstances.
- Participation Programmes: Empowering young people to share their voices and influence decisions that affect them, helping them build confidence, skills and leadership qualities.
Through these initiatives, Forces Children Scotland ensures that military children receive the support they need to navigate the complexities of military life with confidence.
Scotty’s Little Soldiers: Supporting Bereaved Military Children
For children who have lost a parent who served, Scotty’s Little Soldiers provides a vital support network. Inspired by the experience of its founder, Nikki Scott, after losing her husband in combat, the charity offers practical and emotional support to bereaved military children. Their mission is to ensure that bereaved military children never feel alone. They offer:
- Smiles Programme: Providing fun activities, holiday breaks, and special gifts to brighten a child's day and remind them they aren’t alone and are part of a supportive community.
- Support Programme: Looks after the emotional health and wellbeing of the bereaved military children and young people we support. It includes information and guidance on childhood bereavement for parents and carers, and 1:1 professional bereavement support for children and young people
- Strides Programme: Focuses on the education and development needs of bereaved Forces children and young people. This includes promoting a positive attitude to learning and providing opportunities to develop life skills. It also includes a range of small educational grants.
- Springboard Membership: Supporting older children as they transition into adulthood with mentoring, career guidance, and financial assistance.
Through these initiatives, Scotty’s Little Soldiers ensures that every bereaved British Forces child has access to the very best emotional support, outstanding development opportunities, and the chance to smile again.
Little Troopers: Keeping Families Connected
Little Troopers is a charity that focuses on helping military children stay connected with their deployed parents and navigate military life. Their programs are designed to offer emotional and practical support to military children, ensuring they feel connected and understood. Key projects include:
- Separation Pack: A toolkit to help children cope with a parent’s deployment, featuring activity sheets, countdown charts, and a special journal.
- All Together Online Workshops: Virtual sessions that bring military children together to share experiences and build friendships.
- Therapy Programme: Supports the mental health and well-being of children whose parents serve in the British Armed Forces
- Fun and engaging events ensure that military children have special moments of joy and community.
- Little Troopers at School: Resources for teachers to help them understand and support military children in the classroom.
With these tailored programs, Little Troopers ensures that children feel seen, valued, and connected, no matter where they are.
How Can You Get Involved?
There are many ways you can help to recognise and support military children:
- Raise awareness about the challenges they face and celebrate their resilience.
- Encourage schools and communities to offer tailored support for military kids.
- Help children stay connected with their deployed parents through communication and activities.
- Create a welcoming environment for military families in local communities.
- Acknowledge their experiences and the strength it takes to grow up in a military family.
A Time to Celebrate
The Month of the Military Child is not just about recognising challenges, it’s about celebrating the bravery, adaptability, and incredible spirit of military children. These young individuals play an essential role in the Armed Forces community, showing strength beyond their years.
This April, let’s take a moment to appreciate their journey, share their stories, and ensure they feel valued. Whether through a simple message of encouragement, community events, or supporting initiatives that uplift them, every effort counts.
Military children may not wear a uniform, but they serve in their own way, through strength, sacrifice, and unwavering resilience.