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Busting the Stereotype of a Military Brat

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Busting the Stereotype of a Military Brat
Busting the Stereotype of a Military Brat
Liza Finke
Professor Alicia Cathell
Axia College
COM 125 Utilizing Information in College Writing
September 17, 2006

Busting the Stereotype of a Military Brat People all across the country have different stereotypes of military brats. It is dependent on whether the area has a military presence and if it does, it depends on the attitude towards the military. Obviously, in areas that have an unwanted military presence, local citizens will think of military brats as presumptuous and disobedient. In areas with a positive military presence, a more positive image of brats is portrayed. The life of a military child (brat) is a wonderful, enriched, hard, and learning experience. Brats also have a great deal in common with other children. They make friends, play sports, go to school, live, laugh, love, and have hardships and stress. However, what separates brats from other children is the lifestyle the military brings: travel, living in other states, countries, and experiences of life that most dream about. Brat's hardships and stresses are the constant change and the friendships they leave behind. A brat's life is an adventure and full of learning experiences that they use for the rest of their lives.
Adventure
Growing up as a military child, you never know when your parents will tell you that it is time to move and make new friends, but most military brats will say it is the best life out their. Greenley (2001) talks to a few children about their lives being a military child and how they learn to cope with so many changes in their life. Eleven-year-old Jamie LaRivee experienced such a life. She has seen more places than most children would see in their lifetime. She knows what her father is doing for our country and it makes her proud to be apart of something so amazing. Like Jamie, Jenna Decker, 14, has faced the exciting life of being a military brat. She feels that you have to combat many



References: Conference looks at education for ‘military brats '. (2005, June 30). CNN. Retrieved September 15, 2006, from http://www.militarychild.org/pdfs/press/ConferenceLooksMilitaryBratsJuly05.pdf#search=%22military%20brats%20have%20problems%22. Desjarlais Jr., O. (2004, February). Coping with military life. Airman Consumer. Retrieved July 30, 2006, from the EBSCOhost database. Finkel, L. (2001). The effects of frequent geographic mobility on the social and emotional adjustments of military children and adolescents (Doctoral dissertation Consortium Program, 2001). Retrieved July 30, 2006, from ProQuest database. Greeley, J. (2001, April). The family business . Airman. Retrieved August 11, 2006, from http://www.af.mil/news/airman/0401/child.html Green, L Henry, T. (2001, September 10). Military kids look sharper. USA Today. Retrieved July, 27, 2006, from http://www.usatoday.com/life/2001-10-09-military-kids.htm. Retrieved September 16, 2006, from http://www.cfay.navy.mil/mwr/outdoorrec.html. Lockhart, P. (2005, August 29). Growing up in the military. Lifelines. Retrieved August 12, 2006, from http://lifelines.navy.mil/portal/page/itc/LSN5DETAILFT?current_id=25.60.50.html. Quigley, S. (2006, January 24). Married to the military: spouse sees life as an adventure. US Federal News Service. Retrieved August 26, 2006, from ProQuest database. Reese, J. (2004, February 21). Writer describes what it takes to love a soldier. The Kwalalein Hourglass. Retrieved August 27, 2006, from http://www.smdc.army.mil/KWAJ/Hourglass/issues/04Issues/hourglass02_21_04.pdf Rope, J in reading. Department of Defense Education Activity. Retrieved September 1, 2006 from, http://www.dodea.edu/communications/news/releases/102805_reading.htm Rutz, P. (2006, April 28). Kids of deployed military parents need consistency. US Fed News Service. Retrieved July 30, 2006, from the ProQuest database. United States Naval Academy. (No date). AllExperts. Retrieved September 16, 2006 from http://experts.about.com/e/u/un/United_States_Naval_Academy.htm. Williams, R. (2001, November 16). Military brats are a special breed. Stripe. Retrieved July 27, 2006, from http://www.dcmilitary.com/army/stripe/6_46/national_ne

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