Takeaway
April is the Month of the Military Child. Clinicians caring for military family members should understand their history and stressors specific to the armed service to give the best possible care.
Lifelong learning in clinical excellence | April 3, 2024 | 2 min read
By Richard Schaefer, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine
The sudden silence was palpable. An Army orthopedic surgeon, I’d just informed our three young children that I’d soon be deployed to Afghanistan. I wanted to casually mention it like it was “no big deal,” but their silence said they received it otherwise. This wasn’t going as planned.
I tried to think of something reassuring to say. “The sun that rises here to start the day will be the same sun that rises in Afghanistan,” I said. “A different part of the world, but still the same sun.” I wasn’t sure that it was helpful, but it was the best I had at the time.
Missing a parent
Overseas deployments are difficult for military families. While away, service members aren’t there to help their kids with homework, to cheer for them on the athletic field, to celebrate with them on birthdays and holidays, or to tuck them in at night. And the time difference makes it hard to converse by phone or video platform.
Frequent moves
In addition to the challenges of parental separation, military children may move multiple times while growing up. They have the added stress of leaving their homes, friends, and schools and starting in a new location, and sometimes a new country.
Recognizing military children’s needs
April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to recognize the sacrifice of the more than 1.6 million military children and to understand the issues that may affect their health. While much of their care may be by active-duty clinicians, many military children are seen in civilian healthcare facilities by providers who may be less familiar with military life. To educate clinicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics has published a clinical report which provides guidance and references regarding cultural competency, impact of deployment, emotional-behavioral needs, and other aspects involved in the care of military children.
A lasting message
And that spur of the moment statement that my kids and I would share the same sun while I was away? I was touched when I found out later that my daughter used that quotation in a school essay she wrote about the experience. Perhaps the message was received after all.
Author’s note: The Month of the Military Child’s color purple; a combination of the colors of each military branch—Army green, Marine Corps red, and Navy blue. Wearing purple, often called “Purple Up!,” is a visible, joint-service show of support for military children’s resilience.
This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.