1. Imagine it’s January of your Senior year of High School…your parents tell you that you have to move in 30 days to the other side of the country and you will not be able to graduate with your friends…HOW DO YOU FEEL?
Imagine being in 3rd grade, coming home from school and being told by your Dad that he will be leaving on Friday and he doesn’t know when he is coming home…HOW DO YOU FEEL?

2. This is the possible life of a military child
Imagine it’s January of your Senior year of High School…your parents tell you that you have to move in 30 days to the other side of the country and you will not be able to graduate with your friends…HOW DO YOU FEEL?
Imagine being in 3rd grade, coming home from school and being told by your Dad that he will be leaving on Friday and he doesn’t know when he is coming home…HOW DO YOU FEEL?
This is the possible life of a military child

3. Military Children in Your Classroom
What you need to know and how you can help

4. The Facts Military Children
There are currently 1.2 million military children of active duty members worldwide.1
Approximately two million military children have experienced a parental deployment since
120,000 military families have a member with special needs (either a chronic medical condition or a special education need).2
The Problem
One third of school-age military children show psychosocial behaviors such as being anxious, worrying often, crying more frequently.1
Military children are at a high risk for developing aggressive behavior. 83% of Vietnam combat veterans' children have higher aggression scores than children of non-veterans.
A study involving more than 642,000 children aged 3 to 8 showed:
mental and behavioral health visits increased by 11%
behavioral disorders increased by 19%
stress disorders increased 18% compared to children whose parents never deployed.3

5. Why It matters to you…
Approximately 5,500 military and civilian personnel make up the work force at Cannon Air Force Base.5
(In 2010) three of last year’s top 10, most deployed aircraft, were special operations: the AC-130U Spooky, the MC-130P Combat Shadow and the CV-22 Osprey.7
20th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, March 2011 was called to deploy to support Operation Enduring Freedom for six months with just 72-hours notice.4

6. How can you help? Keep routines as regular as possible
Stay in constant contact with the Parents, this may include a daily or weekly communication book that goes home
Look for changes in behavior and peer relationships
Allow an outlet for the child to express their feelings i.e.; drawings, writing activities, talk time with you, meeting with other peers in the same situation
Do class wide activities to show support for the military…you may not support the war but show support for the troops to your students

7. Thank you!