This month we celebrate our military children.
There are 1.7 million American children and youth under 18 with a parent serving in the military and about 900,000 with one or both parents deployed multiple times.
April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, underscoring the important role military children play in the armed forces community. The Month of the Military Child is an opportunity to recognize military children and youth for their heroism, character, courage, sacrifices and continued resilience.
Defense.govwill highlight events throughout the month.
Tricare Dental Programis offering "Month of theMilitary Child" PrizeGiveaway Sponsored by United Concordia.
United Concordia is proud to once again recognize and support the "Month of the Military Child" in April by sponsoring a Web-based random drawing. Children of active duty and National Guard and Reserve sponsors who are enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) are eligible for this drawing. Entries must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian. Entries submitted by individuals other than the parent or legal guardian will not be accepted.
To enter, simply click hereand complete the contest entry form between 8 a.m. April 1, 2010, and midnight April 28, 2010, Eastern Time. Entries will be accepted via online submission only. Winners will be selected at random..
Prizes will be awarded to military children of varying ages. Within each age category, first, second and third place prizes will be awarded for:
First Place: $300 All Services Exchange gift certificate Second Place: $150 All Services Exchange gift certificate Third Place: $50 All Services Exchange gift certificate
Winners will be selected for children ages 0-4, ages 5-9, ages 10-14, and ages 15-17 in the following regions:
TRICARE North Region- TRICARE South Region
- TRICARE West Region
- TRICARE Eurasia-Africa
- TRICARE Latin America and Canada
Remember ...Only one entry per child is permitted. Mailed or faxed entries will not be considered. The entry deadline is midnight April 28, 2010, Eastern Time, and only parents or legal guardians may enter their children.
Winners will be announced on the TDP Web site on May 27, 2010.
You can find some ways to get involved this month here.
Parents and educators can find lesson plans and resources here.
Army (including National Guard and Reserve) resources and activitiesfor this special month can be found here. It also includes 'Everyday Hero' Certificates.
Other Resources:
Military Child Education Coalition
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) joins the Department of Defense and military communities around the world in honoring military children during April - The Month of the Military Child.
For nearly a quarter of a century, the Department of Defense has been designating April as the month to recognize the special qualities of our military children. The sacrifices they make to help keep our nation's defenses strong are sometimes overlooked or underestimated. But the parents of these children recognize the strength and courage their children display as they support their families. Frequent moves and deployments are two of the biggest challenges these children face.
"Our children make many sacrifices growing up in a military family. From frequent moves to knowing their parent is serving in a dangerous place, military children must develop resiliency at a young age. This strength is something they carry with them throughout life and I believe it is a testament to the strength and resolve of our nation's military members who serve as role models every day for their children," said Dr. Shirley Miles, Director of DoDEA.
Throughout the month, DoDEA will encourage schools to plan special events to honor military children and have administrators and principals incorporate the themes of this month into their every day duties and responsibilities. These efforts and special events will stress the importance of providing children with quality services and support to help them succeed in the mobile military lifestyle.
"As a military child myself, I know that there are many additional challenges for our children. But there are also many opportunities. As DoDEA educators, we constantly strive to ensure highest student achievement for all of our students," Miles said. "Our schools welcome students, teach them and work hard to prepare them for the future. The children of our service members have much to contribute to their schools, their communities and the nation."
DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages pre-kindergarten - 12th grade education programs for Department of Defense (DoD) dependents who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality public education. DoDEA schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, the United States, Cuba, Guam and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Education Activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.
First Lady and Dr. Biden's Message
Supporting military families is a top Obama Administration priority.April is Month of the Military Child and gives the nation the opportunity to recognize the character, strength and sacrifices of America's military children as well as the role they play in the armed forces community.Today, there are 1.7 million American children and youth under 18-years-old with a parent serving in the military and approximately 900,000 children and youth with one or both parents deployed multiple times. Learn more about the Month of the Military Child here.
Watch a video of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden talk about the important role military children play in the armed forces community:
