"Military children are brave and resilient – but they are still children, and unfortunately often overlooked under the guise of resilience and bravery."
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Texas Insider Report) — “No SEAL should ever have to choose between the needs of their children and the needs of their country – and no matter where we are in the world, family is always at the forefront of our minds," said Master Chief Navy SEAL (Ret.) Jon Echols, marking April's "Month of the Military Child" designation while the SEALKIDS Organization joins communities across the nation to honor the most vulnerable of the Military Community – its children.
"During the Month of the Military Child, it's imperative that we not only honor their service – but also act to support their unique needs. These kids navigate constant change with courage, enduring the challenges of military life with their families by their side – yet despite their bravery, many face academic hurdles that threaten their success," Echols said.
"In the SEAL Teams, we rely on swim buddies, shooting partners, and our fire teams. At home, NSW families rely on SEALKIDS so their children can reach their full academic potential. This month is a rallying cry for support and recognition of the unsung heroes of our nation's defense—our war fighters’ children."Throughout my 20 years of active service in the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Community, I witnessed firsthand the incredible resilience and sacrifice demonstrated by military kids," said Nichols of honoring the service of the whole military family
SEALKIDS Executive Director Dr. Gretchen McIntosh added:
“During Month of the Military Child, it’s important to remember how these children serve. But it's more important to act on how we can appropriately support their individual needs – especially those with learning disabilities.
"Military children are brave and resilient – but they are still children. Unfortunately, they're part of a population that's underserved, and often overlooked under the guise of their resilience and bravery.
"That's our mission at SEALKIDS, to serve everyday kids living in extraordinary circumstances. We aim to ensure the highest need students from our country's warrior families can stay on a pathway to success, in spite of the hurdles they encounter from a high tempo military lifestyle.”
"That's our mission at SEALKIDS, to serve everyday kids living in extraordinary circumstances. We aim to ensure the highest need students from our country's warrior families can stay on a pathway to success, in spite of the hurdles they encounter from a high tempo military lifestyle.”
SEALKIDS encourages individuals and organizations to join in honoring military children during the month of April, and beyond.
- To learn more about SEALKIDS and its initiatives, visit sealkids.org.
SEALKIDS, through its programs, supports the children of Naval Special Warfare – everyday kids living in extraordinary circumstances. This encompassing approach of academic testing, tutoring, therapy, advocacy, and enrichment fosters the success and well-being of the child, critically reducing family stresses and ultimately keeping today’s Navy SEAL in the fight.
