Military youth are often characterized as resilient, independent, adaptable, and perhaps natural leaders. Their perspectives on military culture and life reflect the complexities that go deeper than the “military brat” persona, which is often perceived as more of an endearing term.
When military youth have the opportunity to share their experiences through artistic expression, they build connections within military communities, while non-military communities gain an authentic understanding of what the military lifestyle is all about.
Many organizations provide programs geared toward military children and youth. These are some representative organizations below that foster artistic outlets.
Military Youth Art Programs
- MCEC – The Military Child Education Coalition gives all military-connected youth the opportunity to share their interpretation through the Call for the Arts program.
- ASYMCA – Be sure to check out the Art and Essay Contest submissions gallery and stay tuned for the next entry dates this year from the Armed Services YMCA.
- USO – The USO Military Kids Creative Showcase is one of many youth programs that present military life through their eyes. Their artistic outlet includes both visual arts and literature.
- VFW – The VFW Auxiliary honors high schoolers in grades 9-12 with their Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest, which also includes scholarship opportunities for winners.
- DeCA – The Defense Commissary Agency celebrates military children and hosts annual art drawing and writing contests. Visit their website for updates.
- Boys and Girls Clubs of America – They provide Boys & Girls Clubs of America-affiliated Youth Centers on bases and in local communities as well as programs like Mission: Youth Outreach. Youth can join with a free or reduced membership and engage in various arts programs.
- National Military Family Association – Their Bloom Military Teen Program brings teenagers to share their experiences through events, storytelling, podcasts, blogs, and art.
The Psychology of It All
Military-connected children and teenagers experience both adventures and challenges in diverse environments. They exist in a paradox where they are celebrated for having courage, resilience, and adaptability while also facing unique and constant factors that legitimately can impact their well-being.
As Operation Red Wings Foundation puts it, military children are known as “resilient dandelions” who face adversity but learn to bloom where they are planted. They have psychological stressors that affect them and increase the probability of mental health issues more than their civilian peers.
There’s more research available to help parents be equipped with the tools and information to provide support, such as the Journal of Military Social Work and Behavioral Health Services, which also asserts that risks of psychosocial effects increase for service member’s children as they serve.
According to the National Library of Medicine’s Global Perspectives on the Mental Health of Children of Military Service Members article, War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s renewed focus on lethality correlates with the quality of life for America’s warfighters and their families.
“Because service member readiness is predicated on familial well-being, there is value in exploring the specifics of mental health outcomes, which characteristics of military life confer risk versus which may be protective, and whether preventative and intervention programs are effective in meeting the needs of military families and their children.”
Resources and community support are available to military-connected families to help them. Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s New Study Identifies Critical Need for Mental Health Support for Kids from Military Families outlines recent research and provides contact information for Military OneSource and The Kids Mental Health Foundation for those wanting to learn more and access information.
The Therapeutic Effects of Artist Outlets
As more research continues to point to elevated risks of mental health issues for military-connected children and teenagers, having artistic and creative outlets supports them similarly as it would for the service members, which is also backed by research.
The programs provide stability and help build community among their peers. They also enable military youth to emotionally process feelings of disruption, isolation, and other stressors unique to military life, including trauma.
Encouraging military youth to get involved in the art-related programs sends a message that there are resources “made for me” and strengthens their resilience along the way.
