Command leadership visited Robinson Barracks Middle School to recognize the accomplishments of students. ... »
Month of the Military Child
April has been designated by the Secretary of Defense as the Month of the Military Child for the past 22 years. It is a time to applaud military families, and especially their children, for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome. It is also a time to pause and recognize these children who assume special responsibilities, accompany active-duty Service-members to assignments around the globe, endure hardships of separation and deployment and reap the rewards of world-class citizenship and travel that make them and their role unique in American society. They deserve nothing less than our unconditional support and total understanding.
"We should all take notice of the unique role that military children, some of the most deserving youth in America, play in our society. They assume some special responsibilities that deserve our understanding and recognition. Growing up as a military child, I can appreciate what military children experience, the sacrifices they make, and the challenges they often face.
DoDEA teachers and staff members are uniquely positioned to understand, nurture, and educate military children. Our mission is to ensure highest student achievement for all of our students and to prepare them for success in life. Our schools are an important element of stability in welcoming students wherever their skills and talents are, advancing them to the next level, and preparing them for their future."
Dr. Shirley A. Miles, DoDEA Director
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) plays a special role in the overall care plan for military children. For more than 60 years, DoDEA schools have been educating children of military families around the world. DoDEA schools offer a complete and comprehensive education program for over 87,000 students enrolled throughout the United States, Europe, the Pacific, and Cuba. In military communities worldwide, our mission is to provide exemplary educational programs that inspire and prepare all students for success in a global environment. As a key quality of life component for military dependents, we partner with military communities to invest in success for all students.
We see the results of this preparation as students become world-class citizens in a global environment. Military children see the world from a much larger vantage point and have a deep appreciation for the richness and diversity of cultures. Many live in European and Asian cities, villages and towns. They eat local foods, shop in local stores, and interact with families of their host nation in ways that make us all very proud. Empowered by our school host nation program and foreign language instruction, school-aged children often become the real adventurers in the family, leading their families to local museums, tourist sites, shops and eateries. They become the family linguists. They build bridges between cultures with simple smiles and make lasting connections that are often more difficult for adults to realize.
Military children also fulfill a special diplomatic role while stationed overseas. Although they have no official diplomatic function, their daily interactions with our friends and allies have a profound impact on how people view Americans and our diverse culture. In their interactions with school bus drivers, local nationals employed in our schools, and neighborhood children, they project a personal view of America. They forge lasting friendships and relationships that make a significant contribution to our nation. Their efforts are not easily measured, but they are, nonetheless, very real.
Through it all, DoDEA schools remain the focus of stability for military families and students. DoDEA schools are there to ease transitions for military students, who move, on the average, of once every three years. We welcome them, foster the development of their skills and talents, further their education, and prepare them to advance to the next level or adapt to the next school, wherever that may be.
We are part of the support network available to military families. Each of our DoDEA schools has a role as an integral part of the total plan to care for families during times of crisis, conflict, deployments, and separations. Every effort is made by school principals and school staff to work closely with commanders to support our students in every way possible. Training is provided to our teaching staff on the impact of the various stages of deployment. Teachers, counselors, and psychologists guide honest and open discussions with students. Schools link deployed parents and students by email and other technologies. Our most important contribution is to remain focused on the educational mission and provide a stable environment for the children in our schools especially during times of stress.
Reach out to military students during this special month and keep a commitment to them throughout the year to show how much they are appreciated. These young Americans will become uniquely productive citizens in our country. As students provide a window into the American way of life for communities worldwide, they share a vision of a world that is global, diverse, and friendly. Their willingness to learn and adapt is something for us all to emulate.