Do you know a military kid who is just rocking that military lifestyle? One who thrives in the face of the ups and downs that come with being part of a military family. Many children in military families like to participate in their communities through school, sports, volunteering, and other activities. This sense of community is so important not only for their well-being but also for their sense of purpose.
Operation Homefront wants to know about these amazing kids and recognize them as a Military Child of the Year.
Adults in their lives, military or civilian, are able to nominate outstanding military children ages 13-18 through December 5, 2018. All nominations must be completed through Operation Homefront’s online system.
The child must be able to show proof of military dependent status, such as a military ID card or enrollment form. Any child classified as a military dependent is able to be nominated. This includes children of those on active duty, Reserve service members, National Guard, retirees, and deceased service members.
What Makes a Child the Military Child of the Year?
Operation Homefront knows that so many military children work hard and are excellent representatives of military values in the community. They want to recognize those who go above and beyond. The award recognizes exceptional “scholarship, volunteerism, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and other criteria while facing the challenges of military life.”
Nominators are asked to detail the organizations joined and volunteer hours that the child has invested over the past year.
Resiliency and leadership are two attributes highly valued in the military community and essential for being your best self as a military kid. Nominators are asked to describe how the child exhibits these two values in their community.
Operation Homefront also wants to know about notable personal achievements of the nominee.
If selected as a finalist, nominees will be required to submit letters of recommendation, go through a background check, and submit a photo.
Military Child of the Year https://t.co/iONmlZjuFh #SALiving pic.twitter.com/srZoODMHDi
— News 4 San Antonio (@News4SA) September 24, 2018
Way To Go, Military Kids!
Operation Homefront will select seven winners, one each from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and National Guard and one for the Military Child of the Year Innovation award, presented by Booz Allen Hamilton.
The Military Child of the Year Award for Innovation specifically recognizes a “military child who has designed a bold and creative solution to address a local, regional, or global challenge.”
The award will be presented to the winner, accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, at a gala in Washington, DC in April 2019. Each will receive $10,000 cash prize, a laptop computer, and various other donated gifts. The winner of the Military Child of the Year Award for Innovation will also work with Booz Allen Hamilton to “develop a plan to scale the project, drawing on technology and strategic thinking.”
Operation Homefront, the award facilitator, has been serving military families since 2002. Their mission is to “build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive—not simply struggle to get by—in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.”
