April is a special time—it’s the Month of the Military Child! We get to shine a light on the incredible resilience and strength of kids in military families. To better understand the unique journey for military kids and their families, we chatted with Laura Stroh, one of U-Tech Prep Academy’s amazing teachers. Laura’s family has deep military connections, and she shared some heartfelt insights.
After high school, Laura’s husband, Justin, joined the Army Reserve twenty years ago. Soon after, he was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and again five years later. Justin’s older brother retired from the Air Force, and Laura’s brother served in the Marines. Military service is a proud tradition in their united families, and Laura mentioned, “Being a military family has shown us what truly matters. We try not to take things for granted and appreciate all the good in our lives.”
Military life brings challenges and rewards. Justin couldn’t always share details about his work with Laura, but they found ways to stay connected and positive. Laura shared, “My goal was to keep things upbeat and send him anything that could brighten his day.” Of course, deployments and moves can be tough on military kids. They might worry about their deployed parent, miss their old home, and have to adapt to new places. Laura pointed out, “Military kids are incredibly resilient because of their unique lifestyle.” They bring this worldly and resilient spirit with them wherever they go.
Changing schools frequently can be one of the most significant adjustments military kids face. That’s why choosing the proper education format is so essential. Teachers and school leadership can make a tremendous difference by reaching out to families and building strong connections so that military families and their children feel included.
We at U-Tech Prep want all military children to know how much we appreciate them! U-Tech Prep’s founder and Executive Director, Dr. Rebekah Redmer, grew up in a large military family and knows this experience first-hand. A community of loved ones, military friends, and mentors is always ready to support military children. As a special thank you, military families always save on tuition at U-Tech Prep Academy, and applications are free this April! Check out our website or social media to learn more about how to support military children.
