To the Military Child,

"Don't worry - I promise this is going to be the last one for a long time," became an empty promise. One that was repeated time and time again every time you moved.

You had more first-days-of-school than anyone else you knew. Every time you moved, it was a first day of school. Meeting the new teachers and students, wishing that you could just go back to your last school.

You were introduced as "the new kid" more times than you care to admit, and no matter how many times it happened, you still blushed and hoped that you could sit back down and not be the center of attention.

Maneuvering your way through a new school became second nature to you. And you knew not to get too close to your friends, because in a few months or maybe years, that "promise" would come back to haunt you and you would have to pack up your life once again.

Your non-military-family friends didn't really understand why you always had to move, and it was always difficult to explain, but you still tried anyways.

You knew you had no choice in where you got to move, but you always hoped the day wouldn't come. One day, your house was empty, and it was time to say goodbye, and to find a new house, new friends, new school, new...everything.

When your parents weren't looking, you cried - wanting to go back to your "old life." The school wasn't the same as your old one, your friends weren't like your old friends, and your house wasn't the same.

After some time, it became home. Different from your old one, but it was still home. And that "promise" came back. It was only temporary.

As a military child, you sacrificed more than anyone can understand. You gave up your home, your friends, your school, and everything you knew for your country.

As much as that "promise" was broken, you kept a promise to your nation. To stand tall, be brave, and to stand alongside your loved ones as they fought for our country.

You are a military BRAT.

You are

Brave
Resilient
Adaptive
Tolerant

And you wear it with pride every day.