Community support vital for military families, especially children Published March 25, 2011 By Tremetra Robinson Airman and Family Services Flight TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Military families make many sacrifices for the country. They move three times more frequently than their civilian counterparts and deal with the possibility of an extended separation from family on a regular basis. All military family members, especially the youngest, require support and attention from those both within and beyond their own military communities. Military families have many unique variables that most often impact the youngest family member. Many of these young children require special services that address their distinct needs. Limited cognitive capacity, reliance on magical thinking, greater dependence upon parental support and involvement, as well as emotional immaturity requires young children to receive unique assistance in accommodating this lifestyle. Military children need strong social, academic, and emotional skills in addition to effective, accessible support systems. For children, the stress of relocation and readjusting can be quite difficult. Preschool children may experience behavior such as increased demands for attention, positive and negative attention-getting behavior, trouble separating from the absent parent, irritability, aggression and angry outbursts. Preschool children may also regress to younger behaviors such as thumb sucking and bedwetting. They may experience sleep disturbances, become easily frustrated and harder to comfort, and may act out scary events. Elementary school age children may experience the same feelings as younger children but with feelings of sadness, anger or worry about the deployed parent's return. they may also have fear that the remaining parent may leave too. Behavior changes may include regression, rapid mood swings, changes in eating and sleeping habits, and anger toward both parents. Children often struggle to cope with all phases of the military lifestyle. Depending on their age, developmental levels, connectedness to a military community, and family communication style, the effects of a parent's military duty can impact the family in various ways. Children often struggle to cope with all phases of the deployment cycle: pre-deployment, deployment, and reunion. Strong emotional foundations are more critical during times of war, when the military children are faced with parental deployment and separation. Children often struggle to cope with all phases of the military lifestyle. Military children also are more likely to face additional stressors, such as the death or injury of a parent. Every deployment experience is unique to the family who manages it. To ensure maximum success in school and life, young military children need access to a continuum of academic benefits that will support the social and emotional aspects from birth through their entry into kindergarten. There is a moral obligation to focus on the unique needs of the youngest military family members by providing community partnerships and resources dedicated to their cause which should reflect the national obligation that these young children deserve.