Rotating News Article

for: Week of September 6, 2004

by: Vickie B. Mullins

Extension 4-H Agent

Santa Rosa County

4-H Operation Military Kids Launched

Santa Rosa County 4-H has been selected to participate as a pilot county in a new program – Operation Military Kids or “OMK”. Along with Escambia County 4-H and a few other selected 4-H programs throughout Florida, the Santa Rosa County 4-H program will be working to serve military families in our own backyards.

Santa Rosa and Escambia residents are generally aware of some of the issues and concerns of our Navy residents and families; however, the deployment of National Guard and Army Reserve units in our areas is something new. Both Pensacola and Whiting Field Naval Air Stations have support systems in place to provide for the families of their military personnel. Also, active duty and career military families - spouses and children- have an idea of what to expect when a military parent is deployed.

When National Guard, Army Reserve and other military parents living in civilian communities are mobilized, their children suddenly become different. Now they are “military kids” but they still “look the same” to teachers, friends and the rest of the community. Their lives however are turned upside down. Many of the usual support systems may no longer be adequate for these new “military kids” who have grown up in a civilian world. Extensive media coverage of on-going military operations creates daily anxiety. These “new” military kids need to connect with other youth in similar situations. They seek friends and adults who can empathize and can help them cope with their new world.

Florida Cooperative Extension staff are planning to collaborate with community agencies, schools and 4-H Club youth to reach out to military youth…Before, During and After their parents are deployed. This outreach effort is called “Operation Military Kids.”

There are six goals of the OMK program: 1) to create community support networks for military youth “in our own backyard” when Soldier parents are deployed; 2) to deliver recreation, social and educational programming for military youth living in civilian communities; 3) to support military kids coping with the stress of knowing their deployed parents may be in harm’s way; 4) to collaborate with schools to ensure that staff are attuned to the unique needs of military students; 5) to educate the public on the impact of the deployment cycle for Soldiers, families, kids and the community as a whole; and, 6) to become a part of the ongoing 4-H Program in the locations where there are military families.

In July a statewide team of youth and adults met during Florida 4-H Congress as a planning committee to launch a statewide initiative to support National Guard and Reserve families throughout Florida. National Guard Family Readiness Programs, the Veterans Services Office along with Extension Faculty and youth representatives from across the state provided input and planning for the upcoming year. The pilot teams providing the state leadership for this program are: Northwest area: Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, Bay and Jackson Counties; Northeast area: Alachua and Duval Counties; and, South Central area: Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.

August 27-29, Vickie Mullins, Santa Rosa County 4-H Agent, and six Santa Rosa County 4-H Teen Leaders joined approximately 45 other youth and adults in a special OMK activity at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City. Santa Rosa County Teen Leader participants were Kristen Holt, Deanna Oakley, Jackson Mullins, Garrett Pace, Jeremy Raught, and Seth Raught. The event focused on Speak Out Military Kids Program (SOMK). The SOMK project which provides youth with opportunities to spread the word about the new OMK project will be launched statewide later this year.

Other upcoming events to support the program include a State Leadership Team Training to be held in Kansas City September 27-30. Seth Raught, a Santa Rosa County 4-H Teen Leader, has been selected along with Cecile Sackman, Escambia County 4-H Teen Leader, to attend this national level training program.

Escambia County and Santa Rosa County 4-H programs will be working together to promote and support the OMK program. If you are interested in assisting with the program or have questions about the OMK program, please contact Vickie B. Mullins, Santa Rosa County 4-H Coordinator, at 623-3868.

4-H programs and activities are open to boys and girls ages 5 to 18 regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex or handicap.