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They often refer to themselves, and are known as "military brats." The term refers to the children of military families, who grow up moving 9-12 times before completing High School, sometimes living in foreign countries, always surrounded by the military culture, frequently enduring the hardship of a deployed parent, and rarely having a place they consider as their "home town."
Recent studies describe this subculture as a modern nomadic tribe with 15 million members. Donna Musil, the founder of "Brats Without Borders" (www.bratswithoutborders.com) and a "military brat" herself, says that military kids "grow up in a paradox that can be idealistic and authoritarian, privileged and perilous, supportive and stifling all at the same time. Her award winning documentary, Brats: Our Journey Home, explores the unique legacy of this group, whose world is shaped by regional and cultural differences, the threat of having a parent in harm's way, and the constant stress of leaving old friends and making new ones.
These challenges can result in feelings of detachment from the real wo rld upon leaving the military environment. On the plus side, however, studies have identified high incidences of resiliency, exceptional social skills and multicultural awareness, and a strong inclination toward service to others among "military brats." One "brat" noted that she liked being military, because she had learned how to make friends and get involved quickly with each move. Another expressed his appreciation for living in a land of laws after spending time in countries where there was little regard for compliance.
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