Families and Children with Military Members - Essay
Families and Children with Military Members
10/8/2021
Do you know a member of the military who has been deployed and returned home in the last decade? What are some of the challenges he or she and his or her family has faced? What types of services have they used to help them solve problems that arise? (If you do not imagine what such a family might encounter).
A variety of issues face families and children with military members. Relocation is the norm and families learn that there is predictability in the fact that their lives will change, some children adjust well to these moves, while others especially adolescents find it more difficult. There will be different challenges depending on weather the service member is preparing for deployment, is deployed, or has returned for deployment. Some military children adjust, and some develop anxiety, issues around development and problems in school. The violent nature of combat sometimes leads to service members return home and have problems with domestic violence and child abuse. Military families also have many good strengths and research has found that using a strengthen based approach in serving them is most effective. To successfully service military families, a counselor must become familiar with he military culture. (Crosson-Tower, Exploring Child Welfare: A Practice Perspective)
What are some of the specific issues faced by military children? How does moving and/or having a deployed parent affect them emotionally, educationally, and socially? What is the role of the social worker in supporting these kids? What services and resources exist for them?
Military children are faced with a variety of stressors. The most obvious is frequent moving, this can be difficult for the child and family to adjust to. Making friends, changing schools, an average military child moves six to nine times between kindergarten and high school. Healthy communication and interpersonal skills are highly needed within a military family to help children cope. On another hand there is also a great number of children who become more tolerant, adaptable, responsible, and resilient because of their military family background. In deployment, families face many challenges, including extended separation, disruption in family routine.
Thousands of soldiers are deployed overseas each year in the United States. Multiple deployments for extended periods of time can cause many challenges for military personnel and their children. Deployments are an emotional experience creating feelings of fear, anxiety, happiness, loneliness, and stress. This can have a tremendous impact on the whole family system. As the service members endure the battlefield, their children and family members struggle with at home. Deployment can cause a breakdown in the family unit and due to a lack of natural support and mental health issues may arise for children.
Deployments in some instances may place significant strain on a marriage. Spouses might have feelings of loneliness, anger, or distrust. Having limited communication with their partner can make the separation even more pulling. You have to consider that each spouse might have different ways of dealing with the separation. After a deployment, spouses might distance themselves due to having to do everything themselves, and the member coming home might feel the need to be close trying to make up for the time they were gone. While parents are dealing with their relationship, the distress placed on the children is may go overlooked. Therefore, family members don’t feel socially connected or have a lack of support.
No matter the case a social worker should be prepared in the following ways to support the family. Become familiar the military culture and jargon, assess, and understand the origin of your own attitudes and prejudices about the military and those who serve, consider how you feel about such issues such as honor and mission, consider the concept of death and what it means to you, become aware with some of the issues that affect military families, and actively develop and practice sensitive strategies designed to address the population. (Crosson-Tower, Exploring Child Welfare : A Practice Perspective)
Predict how the rigid authoritarian structure of the military might influence home life.
Rigid authoritarian structure of the military might influence home life in more ways than one. Bringing up issues of authority, violence, financial concerns. It is estimated that over 320, 000 service members have been diagnosed with TBI and over 300,00 with PTSD. This affects the home life for the military family. The military represents a culture that is unique and essential that it is a culture that needs to be understood and is essential. The ‘warrior society” is characterized by its authoritarian structure, the isolation felt on its members, a distinct class system, a sense of mission. (Crosson-Tower, Exploring Child Welfare : A Practice Perspective)