The year was 1991, and my father was deployed to the Gulf War with the 1st Cavalry Division. I missed him dearly, and his absence affected my academic performance.

Military children learn many skills because of the military family life, but there are also many unique challenges that can be impediments to learning.

Military children experience many hardships that their civilian counterparts don’t have, and those burdens can become challenges in the classroom. Many teachers are not trained to engage military-connected students, so there is the possibility that military children can suffer in school because of their circumstances.

Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, announced on Oct. 3 the milestone achievement for Joining Forces that will train teachers how to adapt the education environment for military children. The program is called “Operation: Educate the Educators.”

Forces Combine to Support the Military Child

The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the Military Child Education Coalition have teamed up with Joining Forces to implement the program. Over 100 colleges and universities have signed on to the Joining Forces commitment that will train educators to create classroom environments that are supportive of the social, emotional and academic needs of military children. Each institution that signs on to the program must commit to its guiding principles.

There are currently 2 million students whose parents are active-duty members of the National Guard or Reserves, or are military veterans. Every school district in the country has military-connected students.

Military children attend six to nine different schools during their academic career. They constantly have to make new friends and adapt to new school rules and cultures. Military children also can suffer from anxiety and depression because of their parent being deployed or frequent moves. Military children can learn wonderful skills because of the military family life. Any aid they can receive from educators will help them to overcome the challenges of military family life and enhance their academic experiences.

Second Lady Supports the Military Child

Dr. Jill Biden announced Operation: Educate the Educators on Oct. 3 at George Mason University.

“As a military mom and as second lady, I have heard over and over from military families just how important it is that school be a supportive environment for children. Military children on average attend six to nine different school systems. Through each transition, they are faced with leaving their friends, and adjusting to new schools and new surroundings, all of which can affect a student’s opportunity to achieve academic success,” said Dr. Jill Biden at George Mason University.

“Through Operation Educate the Educators, I know future educators across the country will be better prepared to make a difference in the life of a military child.” Dr. Biden cited several examples of teachers who have made a difference in the lives of military-connected children. “Earlier this year I met a principal from San Diego who has worked with her staff to try and create transition rooms to offer military families kind of a one-stop shop at resources,” said Biden.

“I’ve also met teachers in Illinois who use writing and art therapy to help National Guard kids with their deployed parents when they felt fear and anxiety. And, I met a teacher in Georgia who arranges parent-teacher conferences by Skype, which I thought was such a great idea. So that, a parent deployed in Afghanistan can participate in his or her child’s education.”

“Operation: Educate the Educators” will ensure that military children will get the support they need from well trained, creative teachers, so that even in the midst of a stressful military life they can still receive a quality education.

Photo courtesy White House

If you will be faced with a decision between moving home or staying put in the near future, check out this pro’s and con’s list.

Home Sweet Home, it is all about figuring out what is best for you.

Pro

Saving money: The most common pro of moving home during a deployment is saving money. Especially if you are raising a family, moving home can take away expenses like rent and utilities that would normally consume a large chunk of your budget. If you are struggling to make ends meet, moving home can give you a break while you form a more solid financial plan.

Con

You might not actually save money: Before you decide to move home to save money, make sure you won’t be wasting a lot in the process. Between contracted utilities, breaking leases and the general costs of moving itself, you don’t want to be spending more money moving home than you will save. Another place people get stuck when moving home is storage. Chances are you have furniture that you can’t or won’t want to sell before moving and you’ll have to pay to store those items while you’re away.

Pro

Support system: If you moved away due to a PCS or for the military in general, an emotional benefit of moving home may be spending time with your friends and family. The military lifestyle comes with a lot of moves and it can serve as a great mental break to spend 9 months in your hometown. It can be very nice to have the support of family and friends, many spouses especially like to live at home if they have children or during the first deployment.

Con

Missing the military community: On the opposite side of getting to spend time with your family, a con will be missing out on the true military experience. If you decide to move home to the familiar during a deployment you may miss out meeting some great people who have a lot in common with you as well as really getting to integrate yourself into the great and supportive military community.

Pro

Save for something specific: More specifically than just saving money on rent and utilities is being able to save your BAH in the hopes of making a large purchase in the future. Whether you’re looking to buy a car or use your VA benefits and purchase a home, you’ll be able to save up money and make more financially responsible decisions.

Con

School transitions for children: A military family considering moving back home should consider the task of taking your kids out of school. Although some may have children who aren’t old enough to be in school yet, transferring schools in the middle of the year or even during the summer knowing that you’ll return to base after deployment can make for a hard transition.

Pro

Help with children and childcare: Young military families especially may choose to move home in hopes that their family can help them raise children. New parents may feel overwhelmed taking care of a child alone, and parents and other family members can help guide you through the waters of new parenthood. Pregnancy is another main reason military spouses decide to move home during deployment.

Con

Losing your independence: Depending on how long it has been since you lived at home, you may want to consider the difficulties associated with feeling like you’ve lost your independence. If you’ve been living on your own, with a significant other or a spouse for a number of years it may come as a culture shock to experience life with your parents again.

Pro

Opportunity to pursue your education: If you’re hoping to earn a college degree over the next few years, moving home may present a perfect opportunity. The money saved from not paying for rent combined with the free time you may gain from having family help you raise children or help you out combine in a good environment to study.

Unfortunately there will be certain difficulties associated with deployment no matter where you decide to live. Create a pro’s and con’s list for your personal situation and create a practical plan of action that works best for you emotionally and financially.

Have you moved home during deployment in the past? Have you chosen to stay on base? Why?

Let us know in the comments!

 Photo thanks to jcbonbon via Flicker Creative Commons

While spouses may not easily develop a career-based resume, they can create a skill set for future career endeavors. Here are ways to develop and apply employer-desired skills:

Skills Acquired from Military Lifestyle

Adapting to the military lifestyle helps you create a unique skill set.

New environments, changing circumstances, enduring hardships, taking on multiple roles—they are all opportunities for growth. Here are some skills to consider for you resume:

• Flexibility/Adaptability

When a service member is called away for duty, military spouses might have to learn new tasks to manage the home, kids, pets and other responsibilities. They must be able to respond to plans that get extended or changed at the last minute. Employers appreciate an employee that is able to adapt quickly and be willing to take on new challenges.

• Diversity

With the potential of living in multiple locations, spouses may encounter multiple cultures, climates, high and low populated areas, fast and slow paced environments and more. Employees can benefit from the various perspectives spouses can offer to generate ideas, strategies and new practices.

• Stress Management

The military offers quite a few opportunities for stressful situations. If a service member is away, spouses may have to parent children alone, manage the finances, prepare for relocation, maintain the home and car and other duties. Spouses may develop skills as they endure emotional stressors in which they must learn to cope with anxiety and uncertainty.

Ways to Expand

Rather than look for a new job in new locations or give up jobs when circumstances involving children or other responsibilities change, military spouses can look for programs or work that is flexible and can travel.

• Volunteer

There are volunteer opportunities wherever you go. If you have the time to spare, you can volunteer and simultaneously develop resume material. You can apply leadership by coaching a team, guiding a scout troop or tutoring children. Other volunteer opportunities can expand more skills such as organization, time management and communication and written skills.

• Home-Based Business

If you’ve got the entrepreneurial spirit, you can develop managerial skills by starting your own business. Military spouses can turn their favorite hobby into a profitable business or utilize another virtual work-from-home job. Skills developed may include self-management, task management, networking, communication and more.

• Utilize Military Resources

The military offers opportunities for spouses to participate in educational courses that include computer technology, foreign languages, leadership, health and wellness, finances, relationships and more.

Photo thanks to The U. S. Army via Flickr Creative Commons

But some degrees and career paths are a bit more travel-friendly than others. If a military lifestyle is likely part of your future, consider five degrees and professions that travel well.

Nursing

The obvious route for nursing would be any hospital or medical facility, but nursing degrees may go places you never thought. A My Online Nursing Degree article mentions job opportunities ranging from pediatric home health care to elder care facilities. Blood donor centers seek nursing degrees as well as critical care transportation jobs.

What’s even more expansive is the field of on-site nursing. You may just find yourself working next to Mickey at an amusement park or a lion at the local zoo.

Teaching

Chances are, wherever you move, there are going to be schools to teach in. Even international stationing can offer English teaching jobs. The Fan Groups site has a great explanation of what you may experience with a teaching degree ranging from early childhood education to corporate training careers.

Accounting

With an accounting degree, you’re looking at career opportunities in auditing, budgeting, inventory, payroll and more. The doors of accounting jobs will continue to open as you expand your degree. From associate degrees to a master’s, World Wide Learn explains multiple accounting career options.

Dental Hygiene

People require dental care, no matter where they’re located. Career Overview mentions how dental hygienists have unique flexibility in part-time and full-time schedules as well the ability to work in multiple office locations.

A bonus fact: The dental hygiene field is projected to be one of the fastest growing industries in 2012.

Information Technology

Technology usage is rapidly expanding, as is the Internet, which means IT degrees will be in high demand. According to Street Directory, an IT degree offers jobs far beyond computer programming and network security. You may find yourself as a Webmaster building, fixing and expanding company websites, or generating computer graphics for sites or video games.

Higher education is a respectable decision so be sure yours works in your best interest. (And use your military benefits to pay for it!)

Photo thanks to siladsen via Flickr Creative Commons