Community members seek ways to support military children

Sally Patterson, director of professional development for the Military Child Education Coalition, spent two days in Blue Springs training community members how to reach out to children of National Guardsmen and Reservists. Patterson shared how many of these kids that have parents deployed struggle with fitting in and feeling isolated. (Photo by Jennifer Archdekin/Missouri National Guard)

By Jennifer Archdekin
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

BLUE SPRINGS - Just as the Month of the Military Child winds down, a Supporting Children of the National Guard and Reserve Institute was held in Blue Springs April 26-27 to offer participants ways to learn about and support children of deployed parents.

Sally Patterson, director of professional development for the Military Child Education Coalition, led the two-day training which worked with community members who may cross paths with military children in some fashion. Patterson stressed to the group how important it is to reach out to young lives.

To set the stage, Patterson presented a statistical snapshot taken on April 19 from the Department of Defense. On that day, it was reported that 90,454 National Guardsmen and Reservists were currently deployed. Over 1,000 of them came from Missouri. Patterson's research showed on average there are 891 children in each state that have a parent currently deployed from a reserve military component.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said Patterson.

Patterson pointed out that these numbers only reflect children with deployed parents. However, many more children are directly affected when extended Family members are taken into consideration, such as siblings or even grandparents.

Identifying who these children are within communities is one of the first obstacles said Patterson. She explained that the traditional Guardsman serves one weekend a month and two weeks a year -- 39 service days. Over 75 percent of Guardsmen serve in this manner, with the remaining 25 percent serving full-time. That being said, Patterson added many of these kids don't identify their parents as being in the military.

"If you asked them what their father did for a living they would not say National Guardsman," said Patterson. "That's not the first thing that comes to mind. Now if you say is your father in the National Guard they'd say sure. It's not that it's a secret, but it's not their identity."

Most of the Guardsmen and Reservists don't live the military life day-to-day, such as their active-duty counterparts. Active-duty troops are more likely to be encircled in a military atmosphere, such as living on an installation for instance.

The group looked at ways to identify these children and reach out to them in their time of need. It is their intent to create an environment where these Families feel safe and welcomed.

"Think about the kid that all of a sudden goes from being civilian to being military when a parent is deployed," said Patterson.

Brittany LaChance, one of the institute's participants, understands the emotional need of a military child intimately. As a military child herself, she knows first-hand what children are faced with. Her father served as active-duty all of her childhood. Now as an adult, she is married to a Guardsman and is the mother of three, with one child on the way. That gives her four more reasons to learn about Guard and Reserve children.

What's more, LaChance also works as the Family Assistance Center Specialist for the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade and the 35th Infantry Division at the Sedalia National Guard Armory. She is as a referral and resource for Soldiers with issues concerning their finances, legal matters, child care issues or insurance concerns.

LaChance, of Warrensburg, set out to gain more tools from the conference to better equip her professionally and personally.

"Hopefully from this, I can work with the Families a little bit better," said LaChance. "Also, if and when my husband deploys, it will be easier hopefully after this training. I'll be able to help my kids a little bit, so they can go through it and be ready emotionally."

Though growing up in a military Family, LaChance admits she still has a lot to learn. While working with other military Families she is starting to understand what other people, especially children, struggle with when a parent is deployed.

"I understood it a little bit because of my military background, but once I started working with them I understand it a lot more," said LaChance. "I understand how kids can be affected by it and spouses, too. Being Guard and Reserve, it's not a daily lifestyle until they are activated."

LaChance knows her husband can be deployed at anytime, upsetting her Family's structure and routine. Living with that reality, she is laying groundwork in her own Family to be prepared for that day. In turn she wants to share that knowledge with others who may struggle with a deployment situation.

Another key point Patterson brought to light was the feeling of isolation children of Guardsmen and Reservists face. She pointed out that in World War II, 12 percent of the population was serving in the military, but today it's a different story.

"We now have .07 percent of our population serving in uniform -- active duty, Guard and Reserve -- any uniform," said Patterson. "What does that tell you after a decade of war? We are putting a tremendous strain on our military. What is that doing to the children?"

It is Patterson's intent, as well as the Military Child Education Coalition, to reach out to these children who may be scared, feel isolated or simply unsure of their circumstances when a parent is deployed. They want others to reach out in a support network to the children of these Families.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please visit www.moguard.com and our social media sites: www.facebook.com/Missouri.National.Guard; www.twitter.com/Missouri_NG; www.youtube.com/MoNationalGuard; www.myspace.com/missouri_ng; www.flickr.com/photos/missouriguard; www.blog.moguard.com

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For more information about this release, please contact Jennifer Archdekin at 816-262-2893 or e-mail at jarchdekin@gmail.com.

As a wife of a Missouri Army National Guardsmen, and mother of three small children with one more on the way, Brittany LaChance was eager to gain the tools she needs to acclimate her Family should her husband be activated. LaChance also attended the two-day seminar to better prepare her for her position as Family Assistance Center Specialist with the Missouri National Guard in Sedalia. (Photo by Jennifer Archdekin/Missouri National Guard)