Operation: Military Kids

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Operation Military Kids
4-H Serving Military Families In Our Own Backyard
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Operation Military Kids
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One Familys Story

• Kim Towne
• MSU Extension Saginaw County

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• Id like you to meet Zack and Cassie. Zack is 5,
  Cassie is 3. They live like the other kids in
  their neighborhood. Their mom and dad go to
  work, play with them, cook them dinner, give them
  baths and read them bedtime stories.

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• But their dad, Mitch, has an another job thats
  extra special.
  
• He is an Army National Guardsman.

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• On January 21, 2003, Mitch told his family that
  his Guard unit had been activated. He would be
  leaving the following morning. He was heading
  for the Middle East, and his tour would last for
  one year.
• He and his family had 15 hours to prepare.

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• His children were devastated. Cassie was
  terrified that mommy was going to leave her, too.
  Zack began having nightmares that the bad men
  were killing his daddy.

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• Cassies mom, Kim, reassured her that she would
  come back for her. Zack began acting out at
  school, fighting his classmates, causing his
  teacher trouble. Kim began looking for help.

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• Because Mitch is in the Guard, the family doesnt
  live on or near a military installation. Kim had
  to search for resources in her community. She
  asked for Zack to be seen by a child psychologist
  from Community Mental Health to help him cope
  with his fathers absence.

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• Someone came to evaluate Zack. He hid under
  Kims chair and watched. He was angry but he
  reluctantly answered questions. But after a
  short time, Zack told her Stop asking so many
  questions about my daddy. I dont want to talk
  about him!

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• The evaluator left, saying, I have to do some
  research. Ill be right back. When she
  returned, the evaluator told Kim she wasnt
  equipped to handle Zacks unique situation The
  evaluator said she would get back with Kim with
  the name of someone who could help.
• The evaluator never called back.

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• Because Mitchs unit was one of the first
  deployed to Iraq, there were no communications
  to call home to talk with his children and
  reassure them he was okay.
• They waited for a call - for three months.

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• At home in Michigan, Kim had to create a new
  family for herself and her children. She
  joined the units Family Readiness Group.
  
• Kim began talking with other guard wives, trying
  to get information and find resources to help her
  children cope.

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• Finding those resources was difficult. There
  wasnt an infrastructure in place to help
  families that didnt live near an installation
  who became suddenly military.

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• When Mitchs truck was hit with an IED
  (Improvised Exploding Device), Kim had to use her
  limited network to get the word that Mitch was
  okay and to be able to talk about her experience.

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• Finally, January 2004 drew closer and the
  familys year was almost up.
  
• But in October, Mitchs unit was extended until
  April of 2004.

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• Because of the extended tour, Mitch was granted a
  leave over Christmas and New Year. Mitch and Kim
  decided that it would be too disruptive for their
  children if Mitch returned home for only two
  weeks. Mitch passed up his leave and stayed in
  Iraq.

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• Their extended family didnt agree with their
  decision, calling Kim selfish, making comments
  about the status of their marriage.
  
• Even the other military wives asked, Are you
  guys doing OK? Are you guys getting a
  divorce?
  
• Mitch and Kim felt this was the best decision for
  their family, even in the face of so little
  support from family and friends.

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• In March 2004, Kim began preparing her kids for
  Mitchs return home. They circled the week of
  his return in red.
  
• The day before Mitch came home, Kim told Cassie
  and Zack that daddy was coming home tomorrow.
  Zack asked, Really? and Cassie said, Is
  tomorrow the next day?

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• The day of the units return, Kim dressed Cassie
  and Zack in their DCUs (Desert Camouflage
  Uniforms), climbed in the car and headed off to
  the Armory and to Mitch.
• At the grounds, Zack yelled out, Daddy! and ran
  with Cassie to be scooped up in a hug.
  

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• After a few hours of having to share his daddy,
  Zack picked up Mitchs 30 lb. backpack and told
  his dad, Come on dad, its time to go home.

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• This story is similar for over 3000 of Michigans
  children who have one, sometimes both parents,
  deployed. Deployment cycles can last from 1 to
  18 months and will be, in the coming months and
  years, repeated. Many times, there is a lack of
  support and communication for these suddenly
  military families.

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One Teens Story

• Amanda Mueller
• Michigan National Guard Youth Program
• Hastings, MI

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• On October 1, 2005, Michigan was awarded the
  Operation Military Kids Grant.
  
• It is a two year grant, dedicated to helping the
  families of those who serve in the Army National
  Guard and Army Reserve forces.
  

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Operation Military Kids

• Creates community support network for military
  youth in our own backyard when Soldier parents
  are deployed.
  
• Delivers recreation, social and educational
  programs for military youth living in civilian
  communities.
  
• Supports military kids coping with the stress of
  knowing their deployed parents may be harms way.

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Operation Military Kids

• Collaborates with schools to ensure that staff
  are attuned to the unique needs of military
  students.
  
• Educates the public on the deployment cycle on
  Soldiers, families, kids and the community as a
  whole.
  
• Becomes a part of the on-going 4-H program in the
  locations where there are military families.

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Contact Information

• Tina Fleming
• flemin82_at_msu.edu
• Sheila Urban Smith
• smiths20_at_msu.edu
• Kimberly Towne
• townek_at_msu.edu
• Kristin Brennan
• kristin.brennan_at_mi.ngb.army.mil

• State 4-H Military Liaison
• Program Leader 4-H Youth Development
• MSU Extension Saginaw County
• State Youth Coordinator Michigan National
  Guard