Blue Star Stories
Military Moves Prove Stressful for Families with Children on IEPs
Did you know that 600,000 military and veteran families move with the military annually? While experiencing new locations is often cited as a highlight of military service, moving so often also presents real challenges, especially when you consider the family members who move with them. The reality is that today’s modern military is a…
Read moreBlue Star Museums Open Up Opportunities for Military Families
The approaching summer season looks a little different for many military families, compared to their civilian counterparts. While civilian families might be planning their family vacation or what summer camp to attend, military families are often anticipating orders that will tell them where they are moving next and how quickly. Oftentimes, families are given…
Read moreArmy Veteran Focuses Retirement on Building a Brighter Military Future for her Children
Meet CT. She’s a mom of two and recently retired from the Army after serving 24 years. What’s next on her journey? She’s taking on the important role of Racial Equity and Inclusion Director for Blue Star Families, managing the DEPLOY Fellow Program under Blue Star Families’ Racial Equity and Inclusion Initiative. Why step into…
Read moreAs PCS Season Continues, Many Military Families Are Given Mere Months to Prepare
Military life is unpredictable. Between frequent moves, long-term separation due to deployments and training, and work schedules that aren’t family-friendly; many military families struggle to find stability, which compromises their mental well-being. In fact, according to the 2019 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, lack of control over military career and the uncertainty that accompanies military life…
Read moreCreating a Safe Space for LGBTQ+ Families to Serve
Did you know that military families move 3x as often as their civilian counterparts, most moving every 2-3 years on average? Starting over every few years leaves many military families struggling to create connections. In fact, according to the 2020 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, only a quarter (27%) of active-duty family respondents feel a sense…
Read moreBlue Star Families Aims to be a Home Away From Home as Military Families Prepare to Move
Moving frequently is an inevitable, but difficult, part of life as a military family. In fact, 600,000 service members and their families, 400,000 active-duty and 200,000 veterans, relocate with the military every year. While moving is an exciting adventure, it also means leaving support systems, friends, jobs, and the overall comfort of truly belonging to…
Read moreA Focus on Military Children’s Mental Health: August’s Story
In the last few years, mental health within the military community has importantly been at the forefront of our conversations. The challenges of military life—the deployments, frequent moves, and overall unpredictability—don’t only create stress for service members and spouses. Military kids feel the impacts as well. While we often recognize military children for their resilience…
Read moreFather’s Day: An Invitation to Connect
It’s that time of year again where we take time to honor Fathers and all they do. But what is the perfect gift for Dad? The question has plagued Mom’s and kids for decades. As a fellow Dad, I can admit, we can be pretty complicated to buy gifts for. We often don’t know…
Read moreMore Progress Needed to Create and Inclusive Community for those who Serve
It wasn’t that long ago that LGBTQ+ military families were explicitly banned from serving in the military, and eventually only allowed to serve while closeted. In the 1940s, your sexual orientation and/or gender identity were seen as a mental illness, disqualifying you from service. As recently as 1982, military policy banned gay and lesbian individuals…
Read moreBalancing Act: Military Families Struggle to Juggle it All
Modern family structure commonly includes two working parents. Financial stability often requires both parents to work, but beyond that, employment outside of the home can bring mental fulfillment as well. Military families today are no different. However, they face unique challenges based on their lifestyle that make accomplishing a dual income household especially challenging. So…
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