Educators Supporting Families in Times of Crisis: Military Reserve Deployments

Abstract

With the large number of National Guard members and reservists being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, public educators find themselves endeavoring to support the emotional and academic needs of military children and their families. Military children may exhibit behavioral and emotional difficulties during these deployments. Educator awareness of the factors impacting the adjustment and resiliency of deployed reservists' children, their unique needs, and academic, emotional, and behavioral supports can ensure these children's educational success. In this article, the authors discuss issues of needs, recommend supports, and provide resources for educators. They also present examples of schoolwide, teacher-focused, student-focused, and family-focused supports and describe activities that educators can incorporate into specific instructional areas.

Psychological Traumas of War: Training School Counselors as Home‐Front Responders

“…The DOD identified the need to partner with public schools and professional organizations to assist military children and families experiencing deployment, and several published manuscripts indicate the importance of public schools in providing supportive environments for children 17,39,40 . However, school employees have never been systematically trained to respond to children experiencing parental deployment 39 .…”

“…Spouses of deployed troops experience fatigue, low self‐esteem, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, headaches, weight change, menstrual irregularity (for female spouses), depression, and adjustment disorders 14‐16 . Without family and community support, National Guard and Reserve spouses may emotionally withdraw from their children 17 …”

“…Deployment of a parent can negatively impact children emotionally, academically, and behaviorally 17 . Children may actout in reaction to feelings of loss, anxiety, and anger 17 .…”

“…Deployment of a parent can negatively impact children emotionally, academically, and behaviorally 17 . Children may actout in reaction to feelings of loss, anxiety, and anger 17 . A recent study 18 found that military children experience emotional and behavioral difficulties at rates above the national average.…”

“…Families of National Guard members and reservists are particularly vulnerable because they are scattered in communities across the United States and do not have as many military support services 17,29,30 as active duty service families have. Enlisted military personnel are disproportionately from rural areas 31 .…”