This post is brought to you by Class 2A & 2B teacher Regina. After you read, take the quiz to test your comprehension:

Life as a Military Brat

When people ask me, “Where are you from?” I don’t know how to answer the question. This is because I come from a military family. My father worked for the US military. People who work for the military have to move often. As a result, their families also move with them. I was a military brat. A military brat is a phrase used in the US to describe children of parents who are in the military.

I have lived in many different places around the US and the world with my family. Many people ask me if I liked moving around so much. I always say, “yes!” It is fun to travel, to meet new people, and to try new things.

Here’s a map of the states I lived in:

Regions of the USA:

Here’s a map of the countries I lived in.

Continents of the world:

In addition to moving a lot as a child, I was also raised by parents from two different backgrounds. My mother was born and raised in a big city in South Korea, and my father was born and raised on a farm in South Dakota. They met in South Korea when my father was working there. Here’s a picture from their wedding day in traditional Korean clothes. (They look so young!)

Overall, I think it was fun to be a military brat. When I was young, I did not understand why we had to move. It was difficult to say goodbye to people I grew to love. However, there were always new people and places to learn about. It was also fun growing up in a multi-cultural home. My brother and I grew up with two very different cultures that were mixed together. Our family made our own culture as a military family and as Korean-Americans.

I think it would be difficult to be a military brat now since the US is involved in war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many military members are gone for 6-12 months at a time, and must return to war many times after. I know it must be very difficult for them and their families. I was lucky that my father did not go to war while we were growing up.