How Deployments affect Military Children

How Deployments affect Military Children

How Deployments affect Military Children

Introduction Given the growing number of military service members with families and the multiple combat deployments characterizing current war time duties, the impact of deployments on military children requires clarification. Behavioral and emotional adjustment problems were examined in children (aged 6 through 12) of an active duty Army or Marine Corps parent currently deployed (CD) or recently returned (RR) from Afghanistan or Iraq. Body: Discussion and Analysis Literature regarding military deployment, the deployment cycle, its effect on military families and children, and implication and strategies for teachers are examined. Deployment is defined as any assignment away from one, Äôs home, whether it is overseas or in the states, or during peacetime or wartime. Military families must deal with specific stressors throughout the both time at home and deployment. Children face strong emotional, behavioral, and academic effects during a parent, Äôs deployment. Teachers are a valuable resource in the students, Äô coping and should be educated on the effects of deployment, as well as be prepared to implement strategies for success. Military deployment is an issue that our country faces, but it is one that can be handled appropriately. Before World War II, our country, Äôs military service constituted of primarily single men. However, since WWII, there has been a demographic shift from the, Äúsingle man, Äôs army, Äù to the, Äúmarried man, Äôs Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines (Hunter, 1977)., Äù At any given time, one could estimate that roughly one-third of the United States population is a veteran, a current service member, or a spouse or dependent of a veteran or service member (Black, Jr., 1993). In 1990, roughly 4 million people were in the active armed services, National Guard, or reserves. These roughly 4 million ...