Educating the Military Child

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By Ruthie Longley

With so much discussion focusing on the active duty member and military spouse, the military child (affectionately and ubiquitously known as the military brat) is also affected by the moves and upheavals of a military lifestyle. Daily activities that most Americans take for granted can be difficult to arrange for a military brat -- a quality education being one of them.

With all the many benefits of growing up military, school continuity has always been an issue. Though there are different approaches to education in the primary grades, some students transfer frequently and scramble to make up the proper credits.

From Homeschool to College

Military parents homeschool at a higher rate than the general public, so what happens when their college-aged student is ready to take courses at the university level? For civilian families the answer is easy -- live at home while attending the local college or technical school. That may not be an option for military dependents. For instance, what if home is a base in Germany? What if a brat's parents get orders to PCS mid-semester?

Current regulations give military brats above the age of 18 a limited amount of time to be considered a dependent and continue receiving medical benefits and other privileges that come with a dependent ID card. There is one form of appeal - being registered in a full-time education program.

Starting College Online

The hallmark of the military lifestyle is flexibility -- everything must be flexible because no one knows what will happen next. Online colleges and universities benefit military families by offering an educational program that does not penalize the student if an unexpected move interrupts classes. With distance education, students can work around the schedule of deployments and TDYs.

The portability of an online degree program is even more vital if you consider the sheer number of places a military family can be stationed, such as: Germany, Italy, Guam, Japan, Belgium and Portugal. A student enrolled in a traditional university would have to make several allowances and stressful backup plans to continue higher education in the face of such situations.

Accredited online colleges and universities are significantly cheaper than traditional higher education, and for a family living on a military salary, that can make all the difference. It is possible for students to keep their military family schedule, work and still devote time toward earning that degree. Best of all, an accredited online degree program entitles children of military families to continue receiving their military dependant benefits and ID card.

The non-traditional lifestyle of the military brat prepares him or her for a great many career paths. Luckily, online colleges and universities are designed to help them move forward into the perfect career.

The Military Family Series:

• Active Duty Education (Part 1)
• Military Spouse Education and Career Advancement (Part 2)
• Educating the Military Child (Part 3)