Was anybody a military brat? I used to be....?

Question

I have lived in five different states and 3 countries? It was truley a experience for me looking back. I want to know if you are a military brat and traveled a lot, how did it affect your life? honest answers, do you feel connected with extented relatives. Would you want that lifestyle for your kids??

Air force brat

Answer 1

Yes, my father was in the army, retired at 20 years. he was a brat as well. my grandfather served over 30 years. i love everything about the army. i was in for 5 1/2 years and now i am married to a soldier as well. my children love the lifestyle and are appreciative of the many benefits they receive. we have never lived close to other relatives, so no we do not have a close bond like other families. that is probably one thing i missed out on. however, we've lived in places most people never get to see. most of my relatives have never been on a plane.

Answer 2

I wasn't the child of a soldier, however, I married one!

My husband was a Military Brat! As a child he lived all over the country and in Germany for 3 years. He loved his childhood (tells me about it a lot), and has a very good relationship with his entire family - including extended relatives.

When he turned 18, he joined the Army (14.5 years ago), and now we are looking to having some "brats" of our own!

Answer 3

I was four four years, it was good in that you were surrounded by many friends who were your age, and they all lived practically next door. But I hated the deployments, my parents joined up before sept. 11 and even before then my father did a deployment to Bosnia. During the Iraq war my parents deployed at the same time, kind of rough for me and my grades went to hell, but I got through it and live pretty happy now that my parents took civilian jobs that pay better, and we live in better conditions then the military has to offer. As for my extended relatives, they can kiss my *** because of the crap they were saying to my parents when they were overseas. I did not travel while my parents were in. I wish the military lifestyle on nobody.

Answer 4

I grew up a military brat, so did my kids and now my grand kids. It was hard making friends, but the ones I did make, I still have. And with emails we keep in touch better than ever. I wouldn't change that for the world. Plus, the travel was good. I hate driving now, but when I was younger....................I'd look forward to a new duty station.

Answer 5

there is peace in Germany we in basic terms have a joint interest stress with Germany the position we even prepare troops there. an same with Japan. South Korea is major because of ways risky North Korea is, and how they have already tried to takeover South Korea.

Answer 6

It was fantastic to be a "Navy Brat" in the 40's, 50's and early 60's:

Panama Canal Zone both in the rural area Gamboa (Naval radio Station for commo), and Farfan near balboa. "Cool" as how many kids get to see classmates bitten by deadly snakes (they survived) and get jungle fevers!

Sasebo, Japan early 50's to mid 50's: no naval housing at first we lived in a Japanese community: had maids, houseboys,
bathed in one huge "hot tub" heated by some coal burning system, went to Japanese schools! Catholic so most was in English. Japanese were "poor" after WWII still could see bomb damage, visited Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Made many friends.
Dad hated Japanese at first (He lost his ship and most crew in WWII) but grew to love them eventually.

Key West, florida: say 59-63: hasd naval housing, no bs, right on a beach! Learned to skin dive, best friend's father was "Chief navy Diver" at UDT school, survived Cuban Missle Crisis, had the newspaper route for all US Submarines and tenders! Also sold donuts and such on Sundays, the me and my friend went to the Marine Barracks and polished shoes, boots and cleaned M-1 rifles, made more$. Also learned the "Marine" way to shoot a rifle: payed off as i was career Army Infantry.

Newport Rhode Island for High school: saw snow! Actually
met a Black student for the first time then: sory but the Navy was a bit slow to allow African-Americans any options. Had another great job at the Naval station "gas station" again my Dad was well
truthfully a feared bastard but I was lucky.

Had to join the army after school as my life in the Navy was doomed due to my dad being well one who was not popular with many. I did do ROTC. Again twas a breeze as I already learned the important stuff from the Marines.

Well, it made me a better NCO, then officer: I knew that the role of a good commander was to "take care of his people". I was already aware of what we now refer to as "Army family" that the serviceman's family is very, very important. "They Also Serve".

As to our current war: well me and my "Sgt-Major" my wife try and extend all efforts and $ to the familes of those deployed or
such. We get veterans to assist with $ for unit banquets, BBQ's,

But as to my "kids" and such: very troubled by the war, as I was when i was in each of my Vietnam tours. I "counsel" but do not play a game as to asking them to join or more often in my situation; marry such as a young Marine officer: But they know the risks, I do get a few high school kids asking me for advise not because I was a "brat' but that experience helps me explain "what it is like" once you have a family.

Bottom line: today's military does most things better; widows do not always go off alone and wither.

Like you every TV news report of a soldier who has died, well it is personal, they are also mine and your family.

Oh, I did spend a few months with relatives between my Dad's sea commands: rather than live in some "Navy town".

Funny I have had an "ID" card since well Harry Truman was president.