Military Brats Registry Blog

Impacts of military family life on adult relationships (survey)

2011-10-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

The current military engagements bring a focus on military families to the forefront of public and governmental attention. The military family is immersed in the values and traditions of the military. A sense of pride and uniqueness emerges from this culture, but it may also create challenges and stressful experiences. Thousands of families live within these unique communities, and little is known about the role of such family experiences upon the development of children and their transitions into adulthood. Given the ongoing political and military obligations in the Middle East, further study of military family experiences is warranted.

In an effort to both expand and improve supportive services for military families, I am conducting a study that will explore the impacts of military family life on adult relationships. As such, I am looking for participants who are 25 years or older, with parents who have served in the following branches of the military: United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Navy, or United States Marines Corps. Your participation would be invaluable to my work. Your willingness to share your experiences of growing up in a military family will provide a much-needed perspective for policy and procedure administrators, mental health professionals, support service coordinators and more!

In addition, by agreeing to take part in the study, you will have the opportunity to be entered into a drawing for one of four $25 VISA gift cards.

If you are interested in participating please follow the link below. It will take you directly to the survey website, where more information is provided.

Survey Link

With sincere thanks,

Karena H.
Ph.D. Candidate, Counselor Education
College of William & Mary
EDIRC-2011-09-20-7472-kjheyward

Introducing The Military Brats Registry Visa Platinum Card

2011-06-04T03:54:00.000-07:00

Introducing The Military Brats Registry Visa Platinum Card

Military BRAT origins revealed!

2011-04-14T19:31:00.000-07:00

During the Month of the Military Child in April, the following was posted at the Williamsburg Military Insider.

April is the month of the military child. So many of our children are referred to as a Military BRAT, I actually never knew what the acronym stood for until this morning.

But to honor the month, I want to share a story … one that very few people know. This story is from Michael M. Dunn

When I was President of the National Defense University (NDU), I frequently bragged about the NDU library, calling it the “best library in the world.” I had reason to … as, before I took over, it had won an award as the best library in government. One night, at a social event at my home, I asserted the above praise, and my dear wife responded: “If your library is so great, ask them to find the origin of the term ‘Military Brat.’ I think the term is an acronym.”

[Many of you may know that the term Brat is a common reference to children of military members. It is a term of endearment - referring to a group who endure hardships, frequently move, change schools, leave behind friends, put up with frequent deployments, long absences of their parent(s), and (sometimes) inadequate government housing.]

The NDU library came through. A researcher there found a book written in 1921 which described the origins of the term. It came, like many of our military traditions, from the British Army. It seems that when a member of the British Army was assigned abroad and could take his family (mostly in India), the family went with the member in an Admin status entitled: BRAT status. It stands for: British Regiment Attached Traveler. Over the years, it was altered to refer only to the children of the military member (the wives of the British Army [who were all males] objected to the term referring to them). And the term not only stuck, but in many cases was adopted world-wide.

I can’t emphasize too much the support role of families to our military. They move all over the world. Continuity of education, friendships … and even living conditions are often lacking. The success of the military is dependent upon the safety and support of their family members.

Military Brats: After Burn

2011-01-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

Ten questions with Sherry D. Ficklin, author of Military Brats: After Burn

1. What made you decide to write this particular book?

Growing up a military brat myself I was constantly surrounded by people and situations that I thought were ‘normal’. When I married and had a family of my own I realized that military brats are a completely different and unique subculture of people. They think differently, react differently, and on a whole have a vastly different childhood experience than civilian kids do. Being a young adult writer, I wanted to explore that culture, to kind of put a spotlight on how difficult it can be. The book reflects pretty honestly on the day to day life of a military brat, with all its challenges, but it also gives a good look at the kind of bonds that people form with both family and friends when they grow up in that lifestyle.

2. What is After Burn about?

After Burn is a throwback to the classic Nancy Drew type of teen mystery novels, but from a very modern point of view. It’s about a young girl who struggles with being uprooted by her Marine father, deals with the loss of her mother, explores new relationships with boys, and all while ‘investigating’ some threats being made to her father’s squadron from somewhere inside her high school.

3. Are there any more in this series?

Yes. Military Brats is a four part series, each focused on one branch of the Armed Forces. After Burn is the Marine Corps book, Book 2, Dangerous Tides, is the Navy book and is due out this April.

4. What was it like being a Military Brat for real?

It was hard sometimes, but it was an adventure sometimes too. My dad was a Marine, so we moved a lot, which at sixteen is pretty much the end of the world, but as an adult that bug hits me sometimes and I want nothing more than to pick up and go somewhere new. My dad developed MS during his time in service and was medically retired. He passed away a few years ago. These books, all of them, are in his memory.
Then of course, I married a Marine also. We have four beautiful, brat children of our own now.

5. What do you hope readers take away from your book?

I think with any fiction book it’s really all about the escape. I hope readers have a fun adventure while at the same time connecting with the characters and with their struggles. And maybe they walk away with a new respect for what these kids go through.

6. Why is there a Blue Angel on the cover of After Burn if it’s a USMC book?

Oh, I get this a lot. First, I remind people that the Marine Corps is a department of the Navy, (to which my husband snorts and replies, “Yeah, the men’s department.”) and second, because the airport here has two military planes on static display, an A-6 and a Blue Angel. While the A-6 would have been more accurate, and this is where my girlieness comes through, the blue one was just ‘prettier’. We did, however, hoist a 14 year old girl onto the wing of that plane in a prom dress and combat boots to get that shot. You can see more of the photos from that shoot in the book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU7yQG-kVHs

7. What was the best/worst part of writing this series?

The best thing has been seeing people’s reaction to it. When I first decided to publish it, people sort of looked at me like, what? A teen book with no vampires in it? It was really hard to find someone who got me and got the work. As it turns out, my publisher is a military wife and it really struck a chord with her when she first saw it. Now when people read it, they’re like, Yeah. That’s what’s been missing in teen literature.

The worst part was some of the parts of the story that were ripped from my own experiences. Some of them were really hard to put on paper, but when it was finished, it was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

8. What is your favorite quote from the book?

Actually, the first chapter heading is my favorite. It says, “Patience is a virtue, forgiveness is divine. Neither is Marine Corps policy.”

9. What are three things people may not know about you?

Well, I collect rubber ducks. It’s true. The weirder the better. My current favorite is my Zombie duck. I still have a major crush on David Bowie that I’ve had since the first time I saw ‘Labyrinth’. And every year my family and I trek from Colorado to DC to visit The Wall. (I keep a rubbing with my grandfather’s name on the board beside my desk.)

10. Anything else you’d like to add?

Yes, a big thank you to all the wonderful, hardworking people at MCAS Cherry Point and NAS Whidbey Island for tolerating me and my ‘research’, and thanks to the people down here at West Star Aviation for letting me borrow your jet. And thanks Marc, for having me here today!
And remember, whatever your political beliefs always support the men and women of our Armed Forces and the families who make their sacrifices possible.
*Thank You!*

And now, for your prize! Answer these three questions correctly and e-mail your answers to sdficklin@bresnan.net . The FIRST TWO entries received will win a Military Brats prize pack loaded with goodies from the Brats Registry and Sherry herself.

1. What shirt does Reece wear on her first day of school?
2. What is the name of the restaurant where Paul took Reece before their first date?
3. What is a TFOA report?

Good luck everyone!!

TRICARE to Extend Dependent Coverage to Age 26

2011-01-17T08:41:00.000-08:00

TRICARE to Extend Dependent Coverage to Age 26

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2011 – To ensure military families don’t get left out as the new national health care reform law extends parent’s health insurance to their children up to age 26, TRICARE plans to roll out its new Young Adult Program by spring and to provide an option to make coverage retroactive to Jan. 1.

The new program will allow qualified, unmarried military children up to age 26 to buy health care coverage under their parents’ TRICARE plans through age 26, defense officials announced yesterday. That’s up from the current maximum age of 21, or 23 for full-time college students whose parents provide more than half their financial support.

The fiscal 2011 National Defense Authorization Act President Barack Obama signed Jan. 7 gave the Defense Department the authority it needed to extend TRICARE coverage to young adults, TRICARE spokesman Austin Camacho explained. This ensures benefits extended under TRICARE are in line with those all American families receive under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that took effect in March.

“We’ve been working hard to make sure we could put TRICARE Young Adult on a fast track,” said Navy Rear Adm. (Dr.) Christine Hunter, who heads the TRICARE Management Activity. “Fortunately for our beneficiaries concerned about health care coverage for their adult children, the law signed by the president includes opportunities for military families to elect this new premium-based plan retroactive to Jan. 1.”

Qualified young adults who don’t have access to employer-sponsored health care coverage will be eligible to purchase it through TRICARE on a month-to-month basis, Camacho said.

Details about how much those premiums will cost under the new program still are being finalized. But because the 2011 defense authorization specifies that the rates must cover all program costs, Camacho said, premiums will be based on commercial insurance data about the costs of providing care.

Once the new program is in place, Hunter estimated that it could extend TRICARE coverage to several hundred thousand additional beneficiaries.

“The premium allows us to provide the excellent benefit to our military families while responsibly addressing the impact of health care costs on the DOD budget,” she said.

Meanwhile, the TRICARE staff has moved into overdrive to iron out the program details: determining eligibility and coverage criteria and costs; designing, testing and implementing the required software and systems changes; updating eligibility databases; and crafting education efforts, Camacho said.

Officials plan to roll out the new program in two phases, first offering a premium-based TRICARE Standard/Extra benefit, Camacho said. Then, later this year, they plan to introduce the TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Prime Remote plan, including overseas options, and the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan.

Once the program is in place, eligible young adults may submit an application and premium payment to the appropriate regional or overseas contractor for processing, Camacho said. Cost shares, deductibles and catastrophic caps will vary, based on the plan selected and the sponsor’s status.

Young adult beneficiaries will receive an enrollment card after they buy coverage, and their payment is reflected in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System, Camacho said.

The new beneficiaries may choose to pay premiums back to Jan. 1, which will entitle them to file claims for any health care costs they have accrued since that date. To do so, officials advise that they save all receipts to ease claims processing.

For adults who need health insurance coverage but no longer qualify for TRICARE coverage, officials advise exploring the Continued Heath Care Benefit Program. This premium-based program offers temporary, transitional health coverage for 18 to 36 months. Coverage must be purchased within 60 days of losing TRICARE eligibility. Information about the program is posted on the TRICARE website.

Biographies:
Navy Rear Adm. (Dr.) Christine S. Hunter

Related Sites:
TRICARE

My Last Christmas in Germany

2010-12-24T08:27:00.000-08:00

by Maryellen Fuller Kitchen
Scottsdale, Arizona

Whenever Christmas carols fill the air I always think of the last Christmas our family spent in Germany based with the U.S. Army at Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany.

I was 13 years old and had spent more than half of my life in a foreign country. We felt deprived as military children of some things my cousins back in the U.S. took for granted such as real hamburger rolls and ice cream. They were sometimes flown in as a treat for the servicemen and their families, especially around the holidays.

We attended Sunday school every week and Christmas was always a special time. The junior department presented a nativity scene as a dramatic ending to the adult choir’s concert. I had been an angel hidden in the background the year before but this time my secret desire was to be Mary. After all, my long brown hair seemed more appropriate than my blond competitor’s. I also had a crush on Robert who was a shoo-in to portray Joseph.

As fate would have it, the night arrived and I’ll never forget how much more angelic I felt as the choir sang “O Holy Night”; I was Mary and Robert (sigh) was Joseph.

I never saw pictures taken of our Christmas scene for we soon departed Germany and they never caught up with us in the mail. However, the memory of that beautiful nativity scene has endured for years! My favorite Christmas carol has always been “O Holy Night”, too.

###

If you have a favorite "Growing Up Military" Christmas story, please email it from the Military Brats Registry contact page.

“BRATS: Our Journey Home” — TV Premiere

2010-12-09T08:43:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--One of the toughest jobs in the armed forces is to grow up military or a “Brat.” The award-winning festival favorite, “BRATS: Our Journey Home,” is a documentary that explores the social and psychological impacts of growing up in a military family. There are over 1.5 million “Brats” in the U.S., whose parent(s) currently serve in the military. An estimated 15 million Americans are adult “Brats.”

“I want this documentary to give families the opportunity to talk about their feelings and share their experiences, and help their children grow positively in a military family environment, even if part of that family experience is traumatic”

The trauma these children experience has become a growing concern for many U.S. families and healthcare workers as the current war turns almost a decade old. Filmmaker and fellow Brat, Donna Musil wants to bring this problem to the forefront. As a child who lost her own father to the Vietnam War, Musil knows too well the pain and conflict that come from constant moving, no family roots, losing a parent and finally, leaving the military life with no closure. “I want this documentary to give families the opportunity to talk about their feelings and share their experiences, and help their children grow positively in a military family environment, even if part of that family experience is traumatic,” stated Musil.

Musil started a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit group, Brats Without Borders, in 1999 to help create a sounding board and to educate the public about the sacrifices military children make. “B.R.A.T.” is a time-honored, historical reference to military children based on the acronym “British Regimental Attached Traveler.” This select group of Americans makes up over five percent of the population in the U.S. Many of these adult Brats have experienced high numbers of divorce, drug and alcohol abuse. Almost all have felt alone with their issues, never knowing that others have had similar experiences.

“BRATS: Our Journey Home” is a two-hour documentary narrated by Kris Kristofferson, and featuring General Norman Schwarzkopf, both military Brats. Discovery’s Military Channel will be airing this informative documentary during the month of December, with the North American television premiere on Friday, December 10, 2010, at 9 p.m. EST. For more details about the film go to www.bratsfilm.com.

Starting Over - Military Brat Life

2010-11-15T09:04:00.000-08:00

I am writing an article for JAYE magazine, a fashion and lifestyle magazine for college women, where we believe that college is more than the classroom. For our next issue, I am writing an article about starting over, basically through the constant uprooting of "military brats."

I'm exploring the subculture of kids who didn't have the luxury of living in the same house their whole life, and I want to talk about the challenges and rewards that came along with that. I am looking for some girls (preferably college age, but anyone is appreciated) who wouldn't mind telling their story and answering a few of my questions. I would love to have their views and voice heard!

Thank you,

Chloe Metzger
Senior Editor-- JAYE Magazine

Once A Brat, Always A Brat

2010-11-02T11:06:00.000-07:00

New Book by Marilyn Celeste Morris

It was a real Treat last night to see an email from my publisher that Once a Brat, Always a Brat, is now "live" on Amazon.com.

Brat: Def: (1) An unruly child Def: (2) A child of the military. We wear the Brat name with pride. Those who argue that the term is demeaning simply don t understand. Once a Brat, Always a Brat is not intended to be a serious study of children of the military. It is neither an apology nor a rallying cry for our unique experiences. While some of my fellow Military Brats, missionary kids, children of the diplomatic corps, oil company employees offspring and others raised outside their home country may find similarities in my narrative, I must emphasize that the first part of this book is based solely on events transpiring between 1938 and 1958, with comments on how the Military Brat experience affected my life. Other Military Brats have contributed to this book, writing about their experiences in their own words. A Resources section is included for those who are seeking information about the various organizations who can offer advice and counsel to our current Military Brats and their families.

About the Author
As one of the first dependents to be sent overseas at the end of WWII, eight-year old Marilyn Celeste Morris received her very own orders from The War Department. From Seoul, Korea to Linz, Austria, she traversed the globe from 1938 to 1958 with her Army Officer father, mother and younger brothers. Between assignments in the primitive world of the Far East, to the sublime luxury of exploring castles in Bavaria, the family shuttled between the various Stateside Forts: Bragg, Bliss, Hood and Sill. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes gut-wrenchingly sad, her narrative is part travelogue, part therapy session. She still cries at Taps and stands tall when the colors pass; yet she realizes she carries an odd mixture of pride and resentment over her nomadic way of life. Her conclusion, however, is that she wouldn't have had it any other way. Once a Brat, Always a Brat.

"Home Keeps Moving"

2010-10-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

My name is Heidi Sand-Hart, first-time published author who currently lives in London.

My parents are from Norway and Finland but I grew up in India, England and Norway because I'm a missionary kid. I have recently completed a book about being a Third Culture Kid*. My book, Home Keeps Moving, was published in America this summer, by McDougal Publishing.

Home Keeps Moving tackles the struggles and challenges faced by cross-cultural individuals trying to grasp an understanding of who they are and how they fit into their current society. The book offers insight into growing up in multiple worlds. With books such as "Jungle Child" (Kuegler) breaking into the mainstream, this topic is receiving far more exposure and media attention around the world these days so the timing is right. It is a rare personal approach on a subject that has, up until now, been mostly theoretical.

*“A third culture kid is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside their parents’ culture. The third culture kid builds relationships to all the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture are assimilated into the third culture kid’s life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of the same background, other TCKs.”. - Ruth E. Van Reken.

90 year old veteran tells his story

2010-09-15T16:34:00.000-07:00

90 year old WWII veteran tells a great story!

This is a very unique way to tell an extremely interesting story. Only 2.25 minutes long...watch it!

PUERTO RICO CANCELS PREVIOUS BIRTH CERTIFICATES

2010-06-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

If you were born in Puerto Rico you will need to apply for a new birth certificate beginning in July, 2010.

Event: Birth, Death, Marriage

Cost of copy: $5.00

Address:
Department of Health
Demographic Registry
P.O. Box 11854
Fernandez Juncos Station
San Juan, PR 00910

Remarks: Central office has had records since July 21, 1931. Copies of earlier records may be obtained by writing to Local Registrar (Registrador Demografico) in municipality where event occurred Additional copies ordered at the same time by the same person are $4.00 each.

Money order should be made payable to Secretary of the Treasury. Personal checks are not accepted. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (787) 767-9120 .

All applications must be accompanied by a photocopy of a recent, valid IDENTIFICATION OF APPLICANT.

More Information... (Adobe PDF Document)

Mail-in application

Latta Introduces Bill to Honor Military Children

2010-05-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON- Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) has introduced H.R. 5333, a bill to honor the children of active duty soldiers and veterans of the United States armed forces. H.R. 5333, if passed, will create a program to make available a lapel pin to the children of active duty and veterans of active military duty for them to display and honor their parents’ service to our nation. These pins will be purchased by the recipients.

"I feel it is important to honor these children whose parent(s) currently serve or have served on active duty while these children were growing up. It is important we recognize these military children for their contribution to the military through their parent(s), whether it is the children of military service members from WWI or Afghanistan and Iraq. These children and families tend to be shaped by frequent moves, long and short-term absence of a parent, strong patriarchal or matriarchal authority, threats of parental loss in war, and a military family unit."
H.R. 5333 has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

New Oprah Network looking for people who are "Searching"

2010-04-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

SEARCHING" - new TV show that re-unites people

Is there anybody out there searching for a birth parent, long lost LOVE or childhood/college/military buddy??? If so, the new show "SEARCHING" (which will air on the Oprah Winfrey Network January 2011) could possibly help you find the person that you are looking for! We are now accepting applications with videos up until the morning of April 16, 2010 so please send us your story ASAP for possible consideration!!!

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE SHOW:

1. Simply submit an application online at: www.pamslaton.com
2. Send us a 3-5 minute video telling us:
a. who you are
b. who you are looking for
c. why it's so important for you to find the person
d. what you would say to the person if you had the opportunity to speak with them again.
**E-mail me to get instructions on how to upload your video onto our YouTube channel. Applications will NOT be considered without a video. If you do NOT have access to a video camera or web cam then please contact me directly and we will work with you!!! **

Please contact me with any questions or concerns that you may have.
Thank you and good luck with your search!!!

Tina Vaughan
"SEARCHING"
OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network
www.pamslaton.com
searchingtv@gmail.com
Office: 323-512-0001 ext. 218

American Military Families in the Occupation of Japan

2010-04-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

After many years trying, I’ve finally succeeded in securing a publisher (a regular, nationally-respected one, not a vanity house or strictly e-book type) for my book on the role of American military families in the occupation of Japan. Our family was one of them; we lived in Yokohama in 1949-‘50, when I was 10 and 11 years old. I use my memories to flesh out and provide examples supporting the books’ thesis, which is that the families provided the model the Japanese observed and emulated in rebuilding their society, and also the paradigm upon which they fashioned their postwar industrial colossus. I am seeking the experiences of my contemporaries to flesh out my story by providing more and more varied examples. If you would like to participate in this project, kindly write me at: jimlam1@comcast.net. Please have your email include a brief sketch of your time in Japan: when/where you lived, highlights, lowlights, notable routines, how the experience affected your life, etc. What you tell me in your email(s) likely will trigger back-and-forth dialogue in which I might elicit more (and possibly more revealing) data. I once was a working journalist, so know how the process works. I hope to get many contributions, all of which will be cited and, in part at least, quoted. Thank you. James Lamont, Deerfield, Illinois.

YouTube - Military Brat: Travis

2010-03-04T09:16:00.000-08:00

This video was posted a year ago on YouTube.

What is a military brat? A series in which different Military Brats answer that question.

Military Brat: Travis

The Mad Redhead Blog

2010-01-24T09:19:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you stumble across interesting people online. Check out "About Me" on Alice's blog, "Assume Nothing" and her most recent post: Fresh Eggs.

Here's a little from the post...
"I was born in California, but was only there for about four years before my family moved overseas. Therefore, all of my formidable years were spent in the Far East, South Pacific, and Europe. We came back to the mainland or the states when I was a teenager. I was not a happy camper to say the least and try my best to get out of the country whenever the opportunity presents itself.

My upbringing was different then most kids of my generation. My mother always worked and we were never allowed to talk about what my father really did. Actually, I didn’t find out the truth until a few years ago, yes I was duly impressed. I was basically raised by my sister and a string of live in housekeepers. This helped in my language acquisition… I had four different languages under my belt by the time I reached eleven."

Military Brats, Inc. receives IRS approval

2010-01-19T05:25:00.000-08:00

It's official! Military Brats, Inc. is now recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The purpose is to preserve and promote the culture and history of Military Brats. Check out www.MilitaryBratsInc.org
.
We need a volunteer to help design our website!

The day Pearl Harbor was attacked..I was there

2009-12-07T07:39:00.000-08:00

Trubee Wetterau Jones talks about living in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was attacked. December 7, 1941 is a day that will be remembered forever. On that day, 14 year old Trubee Wetterau lived at Schofield Barracks near Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In this podcast, Trubee shares her experience as a Military Brat when America was attacked.

A Pittance of Time

2009-11-12T09:27:00.001-08:00

Veteran's Day video from Terry Kelly.

The Price of Peace

2009-07-03T16:03:00.000-07:00

Deployment Ceremonies are never easy. Emotions can be overwhelming as families and friends gather together for their good-byes.

Twelve-year-old Alyssa Gaddis and her sixteen-year-old sister Cassy, of Springfield, IL, know this firsthand. They've been to so many such events because their father, CW5 Jim Gaddis, is the command chief warrant officer of the Illinois Army National Guard. They've felt the power of families being torn apart.

These experience insipired Alyssa to write a song -- a song to lift the spirits of those enduring deployment, a song to inspire courage and hope. Alyssa titled her song "The Price of Peace."

Watch the video here. (tissues recommended)

New law makes changing schools easier for children of military parents

2009-05-19T19:08:00.001-07:00

Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:14 a.m.

MONTGOMERY - Military brats understand the hassles associated with transferring to a new school especially in the middle of a school year.

A law signed today by Gov. Bob Riley is designed to ease the transition.

Alabama becomes the 19th state to join the Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunities for Military Children.

The legislation sponsored by Democratic Rep. Craig Ford of Gadsden and Democratic Sen. Ted Little of Auburn would allow Alabama to work with other states to reconcile variations in graduation requirements and other school issues.

Air Force Lt. General Al Peck, commander of Air University, said the new law would assist school-age children transition into and out of Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base every year.

Death By Innocence

2009-04-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

New fiction novel by Military Brat author, Thomas Slagle

In 1969, at the height of the Viet Nam War, four American military and State Department brats spend their last year of high school on an American military base in Ankara, Turkey. Rampant drug use and innocent lapses of judgment combine to produce emotional scars that will last their lifetimes.

Available now in the Brat Store !

The Wanderer: Life as Military Child

2009-04-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

By Debra Lu Kaiser

I was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. My father was an Army man of just a year at that time. The next few years of my life we lived in Prum, Germany. Then it was back to the U.S. My mother was pregnant with my brother at the time we flew back. It was illegal for a pregnant military wife to fly, so my brother flew home illegally before he was even born!

My father then enlisted in the Air Force when his Army duty ended. As we visited my grandmother in Nebraska, she was charmed with the way I said “Auf Wiedersehen.” That simple German word for goodbye defined much of my life from then on. We went to California to get settled, then to Wichita Falls, Texas for my dad’s training; then back to California for his assignment.

The very first clear memory I have is wandering lost among the Texas weeds that were taller than my three year old body. My next memory was getting lost trying to find my way home from school the first day of Kindergarten. Interestingly, these earliest memories formed a metaphor for my childhood.

The full story is available at Nancy Gonzalez's Blog

I'm a Military Brat

2009-03-17T15:50:00.000-07:00

For many years the "I am a Military Brat" poem has been floating around the internet with an "Anonymous" signature. The original was published in 1975 in a military magazine with the title "Brat is Beautiful." Obviously, someone wrote it!

After a recent newsletter, one member of the Military Brats Registry sent me an email and said "Hey, that's not anonymous! I have a framed version of the original article that was given to me in 1977." He gave me the name of the author and within an hour I had tracked her down and called her. She was amazed that the very first article she ever had published in 1975 had touched the lives of so many Military Brats.

We talked for about 30 minutes..it would have been much longer but she was on a deadline for her latest book! Soon we will do a podcast so she can tell her story of growing up military, and being a military wife. We have also created a beautiful 11x17 parchment (and a framed version) that is available in the Brat Store. For the first time in over 40 years, Debby will receive royalties for this inspiration to us all.

Here is a portion of the original...

I am a Military Brat

I am an Army Brat. My hometown is nowhere, my friends are everywhere, and if I haven't been someplace yesterday, I am sure to go there tomorrow. I grew up with bugle calls and artillery salutes and the knowledge that home is where the heart is and the family--with no dependence on the dwelling.

Mobility is my way of life. I have found security and happiness in motels and guest houses, in duplexes and apartments around the world. Some would wonder about my roots, yet they are as deep and strong as the mighty oak's. I sink them quickly, absorbing all an area offers and hopefully giving enrichment in return.

Like all Army dependents, I can say "Hello," "Good-bye," and count to 20 in five languages. I can tell of the shores of Maine, the marketplaces of Mexico, the Buddhas of Japan; and my knickknack shelves look like those of an import shop, for my memories span the globe.

The full copyrighted article continues exclusively by permission at http://www.MilitaryBrat.com/bratpoem.cfm

--
Marc Curtis
Military Brats Registry

The Brat Store

Remember...Every Brat Has a Story...what's yours?

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Interview with Michael Ritter

2009-02-25T13:26:00.000-08:00

Michael Ritter chronicles his life as a military brat in his new book, The Brat Chronicles. Ritter shares his inspiration for the book as well as advice, and his favorite novels, with Book Addict contributor Krysten Lindsay Hager.

Tell us about your new book, The Brat Chronicles.

The title refers to my growing up as a military brat, and it’s a coming of age story that takes place from the mid-1950’s through 1974. It’s not unlike many stories from that era – a time of change that had long-term effects on our nation, and me personally. It’s a funny book – not a “tell-all-poor-pitiful-me” saga. It has an episodic format with each chapter being a story unto itself, so it’s an easy read. In a nutshell, it’s the story about people who spent their childhoods in a world that stopped promptly at 5:00 to pay homage to the flag; where everything was painted in shades of green, and hometowns were places that only existed on television. It mirrors the experiences of thousands of Americans who fought the good fight – not on the field of battle – but in living rooms of military housing around the world. Anyone who experienced that life has stories to tell … The Brat Chronicles reflect some of mine.

More...

TCK Research Study

2009-02-22T12:06:00.000-08:00

I am conducting my thesis work in Psychology. This is the second part of a two phase study that I welcome you to take part in. You do not have to complete the first part to participate.

http://silicon.network.ncf.edu/ingmar.gorman/tck_test/

A research team from the New College of Florida is looking to examine the effects of a multicultural environment on human psychology. We are particularly interested in individuals who have experienced high mobility, although this is not a requirement for participation. We hope this research will further the understanding of human development and support positive outcomes of a multicultural upbringing.

After completion of the survey you will be given instructions on how to receive the results of the study once it is finished. This study is anonymous and has been approved by an Institutional Review Board. If you have any questions about this research study, please contact Ingmar Gorman at ingmar.gorman (at) ncf.edu

Your participation will be most appreciated!"
Thank you! Ingmar Gorman

Entertainers join Elmo to help military families find 'new normal'

2009-02-02T12:42:00.000-08:00

by Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

1/30/2009 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Sesame Workshop will air a PBS special Apr. 1 aimed at helping military families cope with changes.

Actor/singer Queen Latifah and singer John Mayer will join Elmo to present, "Coming Home: Military Families Cope with Change." The special carries a message for children whose parents suffered a physical or psychological wound in combat.

"Rosita's father is in a wheelchair and (she) talks to Elmo about her feelings," Barbara Thompson, director of the Defense Department's Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth, said. "Elmo very graciously says, 'You need to talk to your dad about that.'"

Rosita does talk with her dad and learns that even though they can't do all the things they used to, they can do other things.

"It gives this sense of relief that I can talk about the change. That my dad is still my dad (and) my parent is still my parent," Ms. Thompson said. "It's very powerful for ... parents to see ... what it's like from a child's perspective, what they're feeling and experiencing."

Having celebrities participate also adds value, beyond the "cool" factor, Ms. Thompson said.

"I think it ... draws a larger (portion) of the population to the issues that military families (face)," she said. "It shows, I think, people's interest."

The half-hour special, which will air at the beginning of the "Month of the Military Child," is a part of Sesame Workshop's "Talk, Listen, Connect" initiative, which began two years ago.

The first phase of the TLC program addressed the issues of multiple deployments and their impact on young children. It included the half-hour TV special, "When Parents Are Deployed," hosted by Cuba Gooding Jr.

The second phase, which includes the upcoming TV special, addresses the issues of changes, both physical and psychological, and the impact those changes can have on a family. It does this, in part, by telling the stories of servicemembers with challenges like post-traumatic stress disorder, and the struggles these families face in finding the "new normal," Ms. Thompson said.

To help parents communicate better with their children on these topics, the Sesame Workshop has created an informative kit in both English and Spanish. Defense Department employees served as subject matter experts for the Sesame Workshop kit, which contains two DVDs and printed materials.

"Of course (the Sesame Workshop is) the creative force behind it," Ms. Thompson said. "They know how to craft those messages so that children really benefit from the comfort of the Sesame characters."

More than 1.3 million kits are being distributed through Military OneSource, an online resource available to families 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The materials also are available through various military organizations. The Sesame Workshop Web site also offers a variety of resources, including printed material, and videos and music to help military families communicate about issues affecting them.

"The range of media tools available through 'Talk, Listen, Connect' truly provides fundamental ways for each family member to support each other through all stages," Gary E. Knell, president and chief executive officer of Sesame Workshop, said. "The deep impact of this project continues to inspire us, which is why we are excited to create (this) new special that will further champion the needs of the military community and will help these families ... find ways to be there for each other."

Sesame Workshop produced the special in association with Lookalike Productions and David Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated.

"The men and women of our military have made indescribable sacrifices," Mr. Letterman said. "The very least we can do is tell their stories, and to honor the bravery and strength of both the soldiers and their families."

The special is scheduled to air Apr.1 at 8 p.m. EST.

StartupNation Honors Nation’s Top Home-Based businesses

2008-11-22T18:34:00.000-08:00

Military Brats Registry Wins Top Honors in Business Competition under “Boomers Back in Business” category

Redlands, CA – November 22, 2008– Military Brats Registry has been recognized by StartupNation (http://www.startupnation.com) as one of the top businesses in its annual Home Based 100 competition under the category of “Boomers Back in Business”.
Many of the StartupNation Home-Based 100 submissions revealed that business owners are bucking the current economic downturn and finding business success in these tight times. Historically some of today’s most well known businesses started in a downturn, including Microsoft and General Electric.

“The 2008 ranking shows that the home-based business is more relevant than ever. The current recession has spurred a new wave of home based businesses as a response to loss of jobs, the need for supplemental income and the sheer passion for blazing your own trail and running your own show,” said Rich Sloan, co-founder of StartupNation.com, one of the leading small business networking and advice websites. “Home based businesses are the biggest block of all businesses in existence and we expect numbers to grow ever greater as extra bedrooms, kitchen tables, basements and garages become host to the innovative thinking and pursuit of success by millions of Americans.”

“We are excited to be recognized by StartupNation.com in the top 10 home-based businesses of 2008. Since 1997 The Military Brats Registry has been helping people who grew up in the military find their long lost friends. Over 85,000 have joined our site which began from my own desire to find my lost friends from Fort Bliss Texas in 1960-61.”

The StartupNation Home-Based 100 highlights 10 top-ten lists making it not just your ordinary business ranking. From the wackiest, to the most innovative, to the best financial performers – this unique and diverse list highlights the home-based businesses that usually go unrecognized, but still play a vital role in the economy today. The ten categories for 2008 include:
• Best Financial Performers
• Most Innovative
• Boomers Back in Business
• Greenest
• Yummiest
• Wackiest
• Grungiest
• Recession Busters
• Most Slacker-Friendly
• Most Glamorous

In addition to StartupNation staff, judges for this year’s Home Based 100 ranking included Adam Lowry, co-founder of Method Products, Howard Behar, former President of Starbucks North America, John Jantsch, founder of Duct Tape Marketing, Mel Robbins, host of Make It Happen radio show.
The full results of the Home-Based 100 ranking are available on StartupNation’s website at http://www.startupnation.com/hb100.

###

About StartupNation
StartupNation (www.startupnation.com) provides over 175,000 pages of business advice and networking for entrepreneurs and serves millions of entrepreneurs annually.. . StartupNation is a free service founded by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs with the intention of providing a one-stop shop for entrepreneurial success, including blogs from a host of experts, podcasts, webcasts, eBooks, award-winning step-by-step advice, and more. .

About the Startupnation’s Founders – The Sloan Brothers
StartupNation co-founders and “chief startupologists,” Rich and Jeff Sloan, are two of the country’s leading small business experts and ran their business from home for eight years. The Sloan brothers speak frequently at entrepreneurial forums and act as sources for top media venues nationwide. They are authors of StartupNation: Open for Business, published by Doubleday, and provide their insight online at www.startupnation.com. The Sloan brothers are regularly quoted and featured in media such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fortune Small Business, Entrepreneur Magazine, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, FOX News and many others.

Armed Services YMCA

2008-11-12T19:03:00.000-08:00

To deliver a bit of joy to our military families, the Armed Services YMCA is currently selling Christmas ornaments for $10.00 each.

To proudly show your support, printed on these white ornaments with an American flag is:

"God Bless America and Our Military Families."

Made from unbreakable acrylic, each ornament is packaged in a lovely box, making this a perfect stocking stuffer or gift for the office holiday exchange.

Please call (910) 436-0500 if you are in the Fort Bragg/Fayetteville area or mail $10 plus $3 S&H to:
Armed Services YMCA
208 Thorncliff Drive
Fayetteville, NC 28303

Proceeds from this sale provide support for military service members and their families experiencing hardship during the holidays.

Research Study for Military Brats

2008-11-04T08:56:00.000-08:00

You are being invited to participate in a research study for adults who grew up in the U.S. Military (i.e., military "brats"). This survey will investigate childhood experiences, adulthood relationships, and cultural identity amongst adult military brats.

You are eligible to participate if you 18 years or older and grew up as a dependent in the U.S. military. The survey will take approximately 15-30 minutes. Your participation is greatly appreciated, and it will contribute to our understanding of growing up in the military.

Interested individuals should click the following link to be taken to the anonymous and confidential survey webpage:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=gKUyYXpREKnyHSvQt1zyPA_3d_3d

This survey is a dissertation study by Codi Schale, M.A. from the UMKC Department of Counseling Psychology and is not affiliated with Military Brats Registry. For more information, please contact Codi by email: clwmq7@umkc.edu.

Please feel free to forward this survey to anyone you feel may be interested. Permission is granted to post this message on listservs, webpages, emails, or announcements, and such advertisement is encouraged.

Vote for the Military Brats Registry!

2008-09-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

StartupNation is holding a contest for best startup businesses. Please vote for the Military Brats Registry by clicking this link:

Vote now!

And, you can vote once every day!! I don't really care if we don't win, but the exposure we will get is worthwhile and will bring in more of our friends!

Thanks for your support :)

Marc Curtis
webmaster
Military Brats Registry

Educational Research Study

2008-07-21T08:36:00.000-07:00

This summer I am conducting a survey researching third culture kids (TCKs) . Your participation and input as a military brat is needed! As a thank you, three Amazon gift cards will be given away in a drawing: two for the amount of $100 and one for $50.

Below is the survey link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=So_2f_2bbgA4ywiHkFA7bcFicw_3d_3d

The purpose of the survey is to collect information on the TCK experience regarding identity and belonging to produce a comprehensive, sociological study on the identity formation of TCKs.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me (the principal investigator) at Joy.Souligny@pepperdine.edu.

Thank you for your participation and helping out a fellow TCK! Feel free to pass on the link to other TCKs!

Joy Souligny

(approved by the Military Brats Registry)

A couple of Lifetimes ago

2008-07-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

Another song about growing up military!

"Just thought I would share a song I wrote about my experience as a military brat while living in Japan in the early to mid sixties. It's called "A couple of Lifetimes ago" If you have time you can take a listen to it on my soundclick page. By the way the picture on the page is of me and a friend circa 1964 at Grant Heights Military Housing"
Rob Young

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6496530

The Women of Camp Sobingo

2008-06-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

Seattle, WA, May 9, 2008—Vanilla Heart Publishing is pleased to announce the
Public Release of Marilyn Celeste Morris’ The Women of Camp Sobingo in honor of military wives and mothers around the world, from far-flung outposts to big city complexes filled with children and military families on the move.

The Women of Camp Sobingo shares the story of four women; friends who share the life of army wives in a strange land, with husbands who serve. Raising children, making do, enduring hardships, these women survive - all but one...

There really was a Camp Sobingo, located outside the capitol city of Seoul, South Korea at the end of WWII. This military compound’s cookie-cutter “quarters” was home to the women and children who joined their Army officer husbands during the US Occupation.

The camp had a school, a post exchange, a dispensary, a commissary, and even a movie theatre (think “MASH”). Ever-present, however, was the military presence, both Korean and our own US forces and the tyranny of the Russians located across the 38th parallel, who merely annoyed the dependents with their random denial of electricity to the American contingent.

Most of the Americans had deployed to other assignments before June 25, 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea. Those remaining escaped safely, but “The Land of the Morning Calm” would never be the same.

Vanilla Heart Publishing, of Seattle, Washington, will be hosting the online book release launch party for author Marilyn Celeste Morris and her novel, The Women of Camp Sobingo, on Flag Day, June 14th, 2008 from 5 pm (Central time) until 9 pm. That’s four great hours and four great drawings, plus giveaways, coupons and free shipping for autographed copies of The Women of Camp Sobingo. with a double discount in the bookstore during the launch party. The Online Book Release Launch Party is open to the public.

Vanilla Heart Publishing is donating $1 per copy sold between Mother’s Day, 2008 and Flag Day Launch Party to the Overseas Schools Historical Society, www.AOSHS.com to further their efforts in the preservation of this important part of our history.
A professionally produced book trailer for The Women of Camp Sobingo is available on Vanilla Heart Publishing's website. Visit the secure shopping bookstore at http://www.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com.

Cross-cultural Childhood Study

2008-05-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

Have you lived part of your childhood or adolescence in a foreign country?

If you have lived over 2 years before the age of 18 in a country outside the culture of your parents, we invite you to participate in our study about the consequences of living a cross-cultural childhood. You will have the opportunity to enter a one of eight $50 dollar gift certificate raffles from Amazon.com.

Visit:

https://web2survey.unt.edu/users/rch0067/ACCE/

User name: user1
Password: user1

Please feel free to forward this post on to others who have the cross-cultural experience mentioned above and may be interested in participating.

You may also email on write either one of us to obtain a copy of the results of the study.

Thank you,

Jennifer Wilson, M.S.
Researcher
jlw0042@unt.edu
(940) 565-2671

Raquel C. Hoersting
Researcher
rch0067@unt.edu
(940) 565-2671

Sharon Rae Jenkins, Ph.D.
Faculty Advisor
University of North Texas Psychology Department
jenkinss@unt.edu
(940) 565-2671

This research project has been reviewed and approved by the UNT Institutional Review Board (940) 565-3940. Contact the UNT IRB with any questions regarding your rights as a research subject.

Kilroy Was Here

2008-05-11T17:24:00.000-07:00

During WWII, it is believed that James Kilroy - a shipyard inspector in Quincy Massachusetts - began scrawling this phrase on ships to prove that he had been there and inspected the rivets. The ships were being built so fast that there was no time to paint them which would have covered the markings.

The phrase "Kilroy Was Here" soon traveled the globe, becoming a rallying cry and morale booster around the world. So popular did "Kilroy Was Here" became that it has been reported that the phrase and accompanying cartoon have been found on the Great Wall of China, on the Arc De Triomphe, and even scrawled in the dust on the moon!

Now, as America marks the 63rd anniversary of the end of WWII, would be an appropriate time for the U.S. Postal Service to recognize the tremendous contribution the phrase "Kilroy Was Here" made to the Allied war effort.

Visit Kilroy Was Here for more information.

Missing WWII Airmen are Identified

2008-04-26T15:52:00.000-07:00

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of 11 U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

They are Capt. Robert L. Coleman, of Wilmington, Del.; 1st Lt. George E. Wallinder, of San Antonio, Texas; 2nd Lt. Kenneth L. Cassidy, of Worcester, Mass.; 2nd Lt. Irving Schechner, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; 2nd Lt. Ronald F. Ward, of Cambridge, Mass.; Tech. Sgt. William L. Fraser, of Maplewood, Mo.; Tech. Sgt. Paul Miecias, of Piscataway, N.J.; Tech. Sgt. Robert C. Morgan, of Flint, Mich.; Staff Sgt. Albert J. Caruso, of Kearny, N.J.; Staff Sgt. Robert E. Frank, of Plainfield, N.J.; and Pvt. Joseph Thompson, of Compton, Calif; all U.S. Army Air Forces. The dates and locations of the funerals are being set by their families.

Representatives from the Army met with the next-of-kin of these men in their hometowns to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the secretary of the Army.

On Dec. 3, 1943, these men crewed a B-24D Liberator that departed Dobodura, New Guinea, on an armed-reconnaissance mission over New Hanover Island in the Bismarck Sea. The crew reported dropping their bombs on target, but in spite of several radio contacts with their base, they never returned to Dobodura. Subsequent searches failed to locate the aircraft.

In 2000, three Papua New Guineans were hunting in the forest when they came across aircraft wreckage near Iwaia village. The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) was notified and began planning an investigation. In 2002, a JPAC team traveled to Deboin Village to interview two individuals who said they knew where the crash site was. However, the witnesses could not relocate the site.

In 2004, the site was found about four miles from Iwaia village in Papua New Guinea where a JPAC team found an aircraft data plate that correlated to the 1943 crash.

Between 2004 and 2007, JPAC teams conducted two excavations of the site and recovered human remains and non-biological material including some crew-related artifacts such as identification tags.

Among dental records, other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.

Vietnam era Vets honored as Grand Marshals

2008-04-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

4th Annual Iredell County Independence
Celebration Parade

WANT TO BE AN ENTRY IN THE PARADE? LOOKING FOR YOUTH GROUPS, CHURCHES, SCHOOL BANDS, SCOUTS, and CIVIC GROUPS ETC!
CALL
704 528 7600
Date: June 28th, 2008
Time: 11:00 AM
Where: Troutman, NC

Enjoy a quaint, old fashioned, small town parade and get your free American flag! Help celebrate our independence with over 150 units in the parade including floats, marching units, church groups, civic organizations, scout troops, Rolling Thunder, military units, reenactment groups, and many more surprises. We are proud this year to honor Viet Nam era Veterans as our Grand Marshals. As the evening ends witness a breathtaking spectacular fireworks display!

For more information call Town of Troutman at 704-528-7600.
Sponsored by Marine Corps League Detachment #1097
Hosted by the Town of Troutman

New Song Each Week

2008-02-28T16:03:00.000-08:00

A few years ago the Military Brats Registry began featuring the Military Brat Coin and the Military Wives’ Crest among products for sale in our on-line store. They have become popular favorites. Well, one of the daughters of the creator of those products, an Army Brat, has begun making a little noise of her own. The following is a recent press release describing what she is up to. We at the Military Brats Registry encourage you to visit her website and enjoy her wonderful music. Let her know that we Brats support what she is doing!

PRESS RELEASE:

Singer/Songwriter Heather Renee, posts a NEW song every week for 1 year!!!

As an independent musician based out of Washington, DC; Heather Renee believes in giving back to her fans. When she released her first CD entitled “Pretty Prison” last year, she personally mailed hundreds of free copies to all who requested one. This year she wanted to do something even bigger. She will be posting her music, free of charge, for fans to download from her website at:

http://www.heather-renee.com

She anticipates releasing over 50 original songs by the end of 2008 for listeners around the world to enjoy and collect at no cost.

Already in her 8th week, fans can now download the latest track entitled “PRESSURE.”

Heather Renee encourages her fans to share their personal experiences and voice their opinions about her lyrics in a weekly blog that she posts to accompany every song.

Love is her message and she uses her music to spread it to the world. It is no wonder that hundreds of fans have begun checking in every Monday to hear her latest tracks and share the love.

One fan commented:

“Mondays are my new Fridays thanks to Heather Renee. I look forward to hearing her new music as much as I do the weekend.”
Visit her site today to hear her new song!!!

Golden Corral® Military Appreciation Essay Contest

2007-11-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

Persons 13 years of age and older, who have served or whose parents have served in the US Armed Forces, are invited to submit an essay conveying the pride they have in their parent's or their own Military service as well as share their educational aspirations.

Six winners will be awarded cash prizes to further their education. There are two age brackets: 1) ages 13-17 and 2) ages 18 and older. The two Grand Prize winners (one in each bracket) will receive $5,000 cash, first place winners (one in each bracket) will receive a $2,500 cash prize, and the third place winners will receive a cash prize of $1,000. Cash prizes will be awarded after January 31, 2008.

http://www.goldencorral.com/military/essay.asp

Operaton Kid Comfort Update

2007-10-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

Fabled Fibers: Art Quilt Enchantments, the Quiltart.com challenge exhibit that illustrates fifty favorite children's stories, is now viewing online at www.fabledfibers.com. Visit our exhibit schedule regularly to learn of new venues in your area.

Fabled Fibers products directly benefit Operation Kid Comfort, the Armed Services YMCA program that provides photo-transfer comfort quilts and pillows to America's littlest heroes, the children of our deployed service men and women.

www.operationkidcomfort.blogspot.com
Armed Services YMCA
208 Thorncliff Drive
Fayetteville, NC 28303
Phone: (910) 436-0500
Fax: (910) 436-0018

The Marines Have Landed!

2007-10-25T15:51:00.000-07:00

...or actually, evacuated. Last night my son came home along with 3 of his Marine buddies. They had to leave Camp Pendleton because of the fires, after moving all the vehicles out of harms way.

It was funny yesterday to hear some callers on talk shows ask "Where is the National Guard? Where are the Marines?" My guests chuckled and said, "It's kind of hard to fight a wall of fire with an M-16."

It's strange that some people don't understand that the firefighters are trained to fight fires...while the miitary is trained to keep us safe from our enemies. Everyone has their role!

Soldier in Iraq asks for support

2007-09-09T11:48:00.000-07:00

To whom this may concern,

This is SGT Nightingale, a member of 3rd Infantry Division 1st Brigade that is currently deployed in Iraq. I'm writing you to ask for assistance in trying to find organizations that will be kind enough to donate movies, games, play station 3, Xbox 360, sporting equipment for a gym, and bath and body products for 35 females in our company. I'm trying to build a movie gallery in the Soldiers MWR area for their morale and I cant do it alone. I'm sure that there are plenty of organizations and personnel that would love to donate to the soldiers. I'm just asking for some assistance if you can really help out. Please remember we are on a 15-month tour and we have completed 8 months, so we only have 7 more months to go.

SGT Nightingale. Mychosia
FOXTROT WARRIORS
F Co HQ PLT 2-7 Infantry BN
Camp Korean Village
Unit # 73431
APO AE 09371

Every Brat Has a Story

2007-08-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

Over the last 3 years since I began focusing the theme of the Military Brats Registry newsletter on "Every Brat Has a Story" I've received too many great stories and no room to print them. So, I'm currently adding an RSS feed for all of them. It will take some time to get them all online, but I'm working on it as fast as time allows.

You can subscribe (for free) by going to http://www.militarybrat.com/ebhas-feed.xml. Most up-to-date web browsers such as Internet Explorer 7, Firefox, and Safari will show the feeds right in the browser. Microsoft Outlook will even download each story right to your mailbox.

So keep those stories coming in! Remember...every brat has a story...what's yours?

webmaster

Military Brat from Narimasu Appears on TV

2007-07-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

Tim Stinson, Narimasu 1960 graduate and writer of the Japan Military Brat Site, The Dragon's Roar, will be seen on a TV show several times in the coming weeks.

First, on a Biography Channel special about The Two Coreys - Corey Feldman and Corey Haim - on Wed. July 25 @ 9PM and Thurs. July 26 @ 1AM. This is an interview about these two actors who were once on the cover of every teen magazine on the planet!

He will then be acting on a series called "The Two Coreys" on the A&E Network, an unscripted improv series (it's not really a reality show, but a hybrid and really funny!) about these two actors - one who has grown up and gone on to develop a stable family environment, and the other ... well, he may never grow up. Tim is on the 6th or 7th episode, playing the band manager. The show premieres on Sunday, July 29th at 10:00pm.

Find Your Military Brat "Home" on Google Earth

2007-07-18T17:47:00.000-07:00

I so luv this site and i especially luv the sharing of the stories. i plan to submit my story but in the mean time i thought i would share this....

http://maps.google.com is a wonderful site to look up satellite photos of former and present military bases.

I "grew up"/have my fondest memories of Erding, Germany back in the mid '60's where my dad was stationed. It is rumoured that Elvis spent the night there. That base was closed to American military in the later '60's.

Viewing the satellite photos of what was once the base--now the center for monitoring the autobahn--and the surrounding area....was so wonderful.

Thank you for reading,
Michelle Patterson

Operaton Kid Comfort

2007-07-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

Comfort! Create! Unite!

Operation Kid Comfort, the Armed Services YMCA program that creates photo-transfer comfort quilts and pillows to America's littlest heroes, the children of our deployed service men and women, and provides an opportunity for America to unite in support of our military.

Each Operation Kid Comfort quilt includes nine images of the deployed parent, child and family printed on fabric and is offered to children five years and younger. Operation Kid Comfort pillows are made for children six years and older, and include one large image of the deployed parent and child. We encourage families to provide images that keep special memories in tact, such as a birthday, holiday, family outing or a favorite shared activity between parent and child.

As a free program, launched on Make-A-Difference-Day, October 25, 2003, Operation Kid Comfort is proud to have served more than 2,000 children of the Fort Bragg/Pope AFB community, and more than 5,000 children of America's military nationwide and in Germany. Operation Kid Comfort has been highlighted throughout the media, including Army Times and CNN Extra Effort Series. Additionally, Operation Kid Comfort was honored to receive Raytheon's Best New Program of the Year Award at a Congressional luncheon on Capital Hill in May of 2004. To listen to an interview that relays the beginnings of Operation Kid Comfort between the program founder, Ann Flaherty, and Dick Gordon of NPR's The Story with Dick Gordon, please visit: http://thestory.org/archive/Operation_Kid_Comfort.mp3/mediafile_view

We rely on our many volunteers, grants and contributions to keep our program strong. With ever-increasing deployments, demand for OpKid quilts and pillows have increased dramatically. Your support of $25 will purchase the necessary materials for making one quilt, plus assist with childcare for our volunteers.

Please visit www.operationkidcomfort.blogspot.com for more information about Operation Kid Comfort. If you have any questions or know a family that can utilize the services of Operation Kid Comfort, please email operationkidcomfort@gmail.com or call 910-436-0500. And please leave comments on the OperationKidComfort blog so the young brats know that you care!

The Armed Services YMCA of Fort Bragg/Pope AFB is a non-profit 501 (C) (3) organization. Contributions to the Armed Services YMCA are tax-deductible.

Armed Services YMCA
Physical Address: Bldg. 2-2411 Jackson Street, Fort Bragg
Mailing Address: 208 Thorncliff Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28303
Phone: (910) 436-0500
Fax: (910) 436-0018

Military Brat Dissertation

2007-05-21T11:48:00.000-07:00

My name is Leslie Hinkson and I am a graduate student at Princeton University. I am currently finishing my dissertation which looks at students who attend DoD schools and asks the questions -
1) Why do they do so well on standardized tests compared to their public school counterparts in the States; and
2) Why are racial gaps in test score performance smaller (particularly in the schools overseas).

At the end of July I will be leaving Princeton for the U. of Michigan where I will be working to finish this project and hopefully turn it into a book. I have conducted interviews (but through a snowball sample that primarily includes my family, some of their friends, and students here at Princeton) and would like to conduct more interviews, this time with people who aren't so closely connected to me (which should increase the number of diverse experiences and voices). I am looking for individuals who have attended domestic and/or DoD schools, parents of these individuals, and teachers from the DoDEA system to develop a better understanding of how military culture and structure affects families and schools in ways that seem to produce extraordinary results in the students that go through the DoDEA system.

If you are interested in taking part in an interview, either over the telephone, via e-mail, or face-to-face, please contact me at lhinkson@princeton.edu. I believe this project has the potential to help inform educators on how to reduce racial gaps in academic performance and would help bring to light the extreme importance of maintaining and expanding access to base schools for the countless dependents Stateside who deserve this service.

VFW Memorial Wall

2007-05-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

In honor of Memorial Day, VFW is launching The VFW Veterans Memorial Wall Campaign.

As a tribute to all of the proud men and women who have served our country and live on in our memories, we are building a virtual memorial on our website- The VFW Veterans Memorial Wall.

The goal of the campaign is to collect the names of 10,000 veterans - spanning every generation - and memorialize them in the inaugural launch.
The VFW Veterans Memorial Wall will be viewed by the thousands of people who visit our site each year and serve as a reminder of the courage and sacrifice of those who fought for our freedom.

We want to ensure that not one single veteran is ever forgotten.
They helped make this the greatest country in the world. And we have a duty to make sure that their dedication to this country is remembered long after they are gone.

Add your loved one’s name to The VFW Veterans Memorial Wall today.

But hurry! You must send your submission by Memorial Day May 30th in order for your loved one to be a part of the inaugural launch of The VFW Veterans Memorial Wall.

Once The VFW Veterans Memorial Wall is launched, we will email you the link so that you can view your loved one’s name and share it with others.
Thank you for remembering our veterans!

Military Brats Create "Soldiers Are" Video

2007-05-11T11:13:00.000-07:00

Hello Mr. Curtis, I, too, am a military brat. But I am able to keep in contact with the brat life by teaching on a military base: Ft. Benning, Georgia. A group of our children (grades 2-5) created a tribute to their fathers and all Soldiers. If you are interested, you can find the project here: "Soldiers Are" Movie

Thanks, Mary Barnette

Military Brats Store Affiliate Program

2007-04-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

Do you have a Military Brat related website or alumni organization and want to earn commissions for sales in the Brat Store? Well, the Military Brats Registry Brat Store now has an affiliate program to help you earn money for sales in the Store (https://www.shop.militarybrat.com)!

You can choose to promote one particular product such as the "Proud to be a Military Brat" Lapel Pin or Bumper Stickers, or you can earn a commission on all items in the store.

We will provide you with a link and banner to add to your site and send you a check (or you can use paypal for faster payments) each month. There is no minimum sales amount to begin earning commissions. We want to help your site stay online in return for helping the Military Brats Registry!

If you're interested in participating, please contact us and we'll let you know what to do to get started.

Thanks for your support!

"Once a Brat, Always a Brat" by Marilyn Morris

2007-04-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy the following interview with Brat author Marilyn Morris about her book "Once a Brat, Always a Brat"

Q: Why the title, "Once a Brat, Always a Brat?"
A: When I was in Linz, Austria, from 1948-1952 as a middle-schooler, we were told over and over "never cross the Danube River" which lay right outside our back yard. The Russian Zone of Occupation was across the bridge. This admonition was ingrained in my memory banks. In 1995, when my daughter and I took a trip to Europe and most importantly, to Linz, we ended up taking a wrong turn and much to my horror, we were on the bridge, crossing the Danube River.
"Stop," I yelled in knee-jerk reaction. "We can't cross the river! It's the Russian Zone."
My companions looked at me like I was crazy.
I managed to mumble something like, "Well, sorry. When we lived here, we were never supposed to cross the Danube. It was the Russian Zone, then."
We proceeded into the Forbidden Zone (in my mind) until we found a spot to turn around, much to my relief.
"So, Mom, do you feel better now?" my daughter teased.
"Sorry I scared you," I apologized. "But Once a Brat, Always a Brat…."

Q: What is your favorite memory of growing up military?
A: My parents told me at an early age that I was very fortunate to travel all over the world. Some kids never had the opportunity, as I discovered when I was in the 5th grade in Junction City, KS (Ft. Riley). I had been to the Far East and some kids hadn't been out of the county.

Q. How did growing up military affect your life long-term?
A. I found after two failed marriages that I was unable to sustain a long-term relationship. The constant meeting and leaving friends left me with a feeling of "This, too, will end, so don't get too close to anybody." It was easier to keep relationships on a superficial level.

Q: Would you want to change anything about your childhood – such as having one place to call home?
A: I was very fortunate in that I was able to spend all three high school years in one place, Lawton OK, a place that I still call "home." I was accepted by the civilian kids as well as those from nearby Fort Sill OK. I will always be very grateful to my parents for buying the house we were renting when my Dad was ordered back to Korea so we would be assured of staying in one place while I was in high school.

Q: Have you returned to places you lived around the world? Did they feel the same?
A: I went to Germany, Austria and France while my dad was stationed in Europe, and when my daughter and I went overseas, I returned to those places. At the first house we occupied, #10 Donatusgasse, everything looked as I remembered; other housing areas had long been torn down in a modernization of the city; a trip up to Eagle's Nest, or Hitler's Tea House, was a jolt, in that it is now called Kehlstein Haus and all references to Adolph Hitler have been erased.
The most surprising thing I noticed, though, was when we boarded a train for Paris and a German woman seated in our compartment struck up a conversation with us. In German. And amazingly, I understood her questions and I believe she understood my answers in my middle school, long-unused German.

Q. Is there another book to follow?
A. I've been thinking of a follow-up book to Once a Brat, titled Always a Brat, which focuses more in depth on how my military upbringing has affected my adult life, and have been making notes to follow up at some later time. Right now, I'm following up on several novels in various stages of progress.
My next book, loosely based on my mother's experiences as a young army wife in the military compound of Camp Sobingo, Seoul Korea, is due out soon as an ebook at Mardi Gras Publications.

Thanks, Marc for this opportunity to share my experiences here on your blog. Military Brats share such a unique heritage; it's fun to compare notes with a fellow Brat!

Marilyn

Never Give Up!

2007-03-08T16:37:00.001-08:00

Never give up looking for your long lost friends on the Military Brats Registry! Today, another of my 30 classmates from Bliss Elementary School at Ft Bliss, Texas in 1960-61 found the Military Brats Registry. That makes a total of 17 found. It has taken 10 years since the Registry began, and sometimes I think my friends will never show up. Then, all of a sudden one of them happens to search for Military Brats and ends up at the www.militarybrat.com!

Keep checking...your friends will probably show up too!
Marc

Military Brats Invited to Send Videos

2007-02-08T18:29:00.000-08:00

The Military Channel is seeking personal videos from members of the U.S. Military to let soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines tell their story directly to viewers.
Real-life moments captured on film by service members will be broadcast on the Military Channel as part of a new on-air programming initiative. Servicemen and women anywhere in the world who brought a camcorder with them on a recent deployment, or those who currently have a camera with them on the frontlines, can submit their videos directly to the Military Channel.

Additional information is available from a recent DOD release: http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2762

As well as a recent piece that aired on the Pentagon Channel: http://www.media-file.net/discovery/militarychannel/

Personal videos can be submitted online at www.mywardiary.com, or mailed to the address below. Or email mywardiary@discovery.com for more information.
Mailing Address
MILITARY VIDEOS
Discovery Productions
8045 Kennett Street
Silver Spring, MD 20910

The Military Channel is owned and operated by Discovery Communications, Inc. More information about Discovery and its businesses can be found at www.discovery.com.

U.S. Coast Guard Online History Roster

2006-11-07T11:37:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Association is trying to gather information about former and current Coast Guard Aviators to create an on-line history repository. What is needed is some basic information and then some special information about awards that aviators received.

Aviator information can be added on-line or can be submitted using the form that can be printed from that page.

The History website also features a "Roll of Valor" where each aviator who has received a medal for valor has his citation available for viewing and printing. Unfortunately, a copy of the citations for all the medals that were awarded have not been located or sent in to the website. We ask that if your parent received a medal ranking from the Coast Guard Silver Life Saving Medal and higher, please have them send a copy of the citation to us or do it for them. A xerox copy of the write up is all that is needed; as we do the rest. Please send the citation to:

Captain Charles Hahn
616 Sea Castle Ct.
Wilmington, NC 28412

Any contributions of a historical interest can be sent to us to place in the repository. If you make a copy that is fine or if you want the original back, we will care for it and return it. In the event that the original is not wanted back, then it will be copied into the digital repository and then the fabric (paper, document, publication, photo, etc.) will be saved for inclusion in the Coast Guard Historical Archives in Washington DC.

What is "Home"?

2006-11-07T10:55:00.000-08:00

You are invited to participate in a study designed to examine how the socialization of military brats shapes their understanding of "home."
Click Here.

The Dandelion

2006-10-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

Have you read about the "Official Military Brat Flower"? Go to any page of the Military Brats Registry and click the menu item on the right of the page.