- Gov. Spencer Cox declares April "Month of the Military Child."
- Approximately 15,000 military children call Utah home.
- During the current conflict, supporting Utah's military kids "is more important than ever."
Davis County resident Austin Cooper grew up in a military family. And now he and his wife, Valerie, are raising their four children in an active-duty Air Force household.
But don’t call Cooper — or his kids — “military brats.”
“Military brat,” of course, is familiar slang for kids who have a parent or two serving in the armed forces — particularly those kids living on military bases and moving frequently. And it’s a term typically used affectionately.
But the word “brat” might also suggest some sort of privileged or unruly behavior. “And it’s actually the opposite,” Cooper told the Deseret News.
“Military children are actually held to a higher standard and they’re expected to behave differently.”
Youth from military families also make sacrifices in ways typically not required of “civilian” kids. They frequently relocate to bases around the globe. And each new move means once again being the “new kid” at school and having to make new friends.
The average military child moves nine times before graduating from high school, according to Marcie Valdez, executive director of the Utah chapter of the military family support organization Blue Star Families.
And, of course, military children sometimes face long separations when Mom or Dad — or both — are deployed, sometimes in combat zones.
Saluting Utah’s military kids
To honor “the sacrifices and contributions” of military children, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is designating April as “Month of the Military Child.”
The Beehive State, according to the governor’s formal declaration, is home to approximately 15,000 military children whose parents are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and are stationed in Utah.
Military children, the declaration notes, “demonstrate exceptional resilience, adaptability and strength as they navigate the unique challenges of military life, including frequent relocations, school transitions and parental deployments, while continuing to contribute positively to their schools and communities.”
The Utah State Board of Education and its military and community partners, added Cox, are committed to supporting the academic success and well-being of Utah’s military children.
Meanwhile, the state’s Purple Star Schools program exists to ease transitions and foster learning environments “where military children can thrive.”
The governor also pledged state support for its military children by addressing key “well-being” areas such as child care, health care, hours and spouse employment.
Gov. Cox challenges Utahns to ‘Purple Up’
Cox is also asking Utahns to give a sartorial salute to the state’s military children on April 15 by donning purple.
Purple is a color often associated with military appreciation and support because it blends the associated colors of each branch of the military into one. The Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Space Force all use shades of blue. The Army uses green. And the Marine Corps uses red.
“April 15 is recognized as ‘Purple Up Day’ — a day for all citizens across Utah to wear purple in visible support of military children, symbolizing the unity and combined strength of all branches of our Armed Forces,” the declaration states.
Supporting military children ‘more important than ever’
Now stationed at Utah’s Hill Air Force Base, the Coopers are already preparing for their next fast-approaching military duty assignment in Washington, D.C.
Valerie Cooper is an active-duty airman — and she and Austin are the parents of four children, ages 2 to 8.
And even though the Cooper kids are fairly young, their parents prioritize keeping them informed and involved in the frequent family changes prompted by military life.
“We keep open communication with our kids,” said Austin Cooper. “We make sure they understand the things they need to know and we try to give them the support they need.
“And if they need to talk to somebody other than us, we get them with a counselor or a therapist or someone just to help.”
With the ongoing Iranian conflict, many military children are now dealing with the stress of deployed parents.
“Showing support,” said Valdez, “is now more important than ever.”
Besides wearing purple on April 15, Valdez encourages Utahns to reach out to the military families in their neighborhoods, schools and congregations. Share goodies and cards — and also include military kids in family activities.
“Other ways to support could include making a donation to Blue Star Families to support our family programming, or volunteering at our local events,” she added.
