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Growing up as an Army brat can be challenging due to frequent relocations, inconsistent education, and social isolation. However, it also offers unique opportunities for travel and exposure to different cultures, as well as the development of independence, discipline, and adaptability.
The demands of a military career often extend to a soldier’s family. It’s not unusual for an Army officer or career soldier to receive transfer orders multiple times during active duty, and this constant upheaval has created generations of children who have literally grown up all over the United States or even the world. A person who grew up in such an environment often calls himself an army brat. He or she has often experienced both the ups and downs of the on-the-go life of a military family.
One of the biggest problems faced by an Army brat is receiving consistent early education. A child may be enrolled in a local public daycare program near the military post, but suddenly be relocated whenever a parent’s relocation orders force them to relocate. Depending on the local school system, your child may have to re-enroll in a different program or wait for the next first grade classes to open. This process can continue throughout the child’s youth, creating the possibility of doubling grades or losing credits towards graduation.
Those raised in this way also face a number of social challenges during their formative years. He or she may become less motivated to make friends with peers, knowing that any relationship may be short-lived. An Army brat may also feel like the perennial “new kid in town,” going through the same cycle of curiosity, acceptance, and abandonment in each new school setting. This feeling of being a perpetual stranger can seriously affect a child’s view of the world as he becomes an adult. It’s not unusual for a former Army brat to appear standoffish or reserved as an adult, since these defensive skills may have been useful to him as a child.
There are some positive elements to being an Army brat as well. Few children have ever had such an opportunity to travel the United States or the world. Being an army brat is often the same as being the son of a religious missionary or political diplomat. They all have the opportunity to meet famous people or get involved in some aspect of their parents’ work. Soldiers’ children often mature much faster than their peers, as they had to learn to live independently at a young age. They may also have a highly developed sense of personal discipline and the ability to adapt quickly to change.
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