Month of the Military Child

Children eat lunch at the Ramstein Child Development Center Sept. 18, 2012, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The CDC staff ensures military youth are provided a safe, healthy and nurturing environment while learning early childhood skills such as reading. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Holly Cook)

Gaining confidence, tranquility through Aikido

Members of the Youth Aikido class practice different defensive techniques at the Youth Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 11, 2012. The children participate in the Aikido class to learn self-defense techniques Tuesdays from 5:45 to 6:30p.m. and 6:30 to 7:15p.m. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Holly Cook)

Honoring military children around the world

Published April 16, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Holly Cook
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Starting in 1986, by former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, Month of the Military Child is held to honor the children of U.S. military members.

According to the 786th Force Support Squadron personnel systems manager, there are 8,978 military children here in the KMC. Month of the Military Child emphasizes the important role children play in the armed forces community.

"It's important to remind everyone that it's not just the military member who serves, the children are serving also," said Shaquita Ponder, 86th Force Support Squadron family child care program manager.

Supporting the children through moves from different duty stations and deployments is important, said Josie Cordova, 86th FSS chief of airman and family services.

"Being home while my mom was deployed was rough but it made me stronger," said Alyssa Mason, daughter of Chief Master Sgt. Jessica Mason, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa A1 chief enlisted manager. "Her being gone made me a lot closer with my sisters."

Whether it's adjusting to a new base or coping with a family member's deployment, the KMC has multiple facilities for children to go to.

"I like coming to the Ramstein Youth Center after school," said Mason. "I get to hang out with my friends, help younger children and the staff is always really nice and helpful."

Though moving might be tough, some military children can find the bright side to all the life changes.

"I enjoy moving to different places because I get to see different places that I might not get to see again," said Mason. "I get to see things that most American kids my age never see."

The KMC CDCs and youth centers are holding different events throughout the month of April to celebrate the Month of the Military Child and to raise awareness to different childhood issues.

The 86th FSS will be holding a Solidarity Sleep Out in front of the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center Friday, April 19th, said Cordova. The sleep out is being held to raise money and awareness of homeless teens.

Teens from around the KMC our coming out to sleep in front of the KMC from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next morning with only card board boxes, said Ponder. They aren't allowed to bring any electronic devices so they can experience what it is like to be homeless.

For more information about different events being held in the KMC for children check out the calendar of events on www.86fss.com or contact KMC child care facilities at:

-Ramstein CDC: 480-9276 or commercial 06371-47-9276
-Vogelweh CDC: 489-7419 or commercial 0631-536-7419
-Ramstein Youth Center: 480-6444 or commercial 06371-47-6444
-Vogelweh Youth Center: 489-6504 or commercial 0631-5536-5080