Forgotten Conscripts

Book excerpt: Teenage years can be difficult, but military-connected adolescents have added obstacles growing up within the military culture. They are essentially conscripted into serving their county – whether they want to or not – from the moment they are born. For the youth of this generation, who have known nothing but a world consistently engaged in global conflict capable of ripping their loved ones away from them, the path they travel can be arduous, lonely, and hidden from the world. Schools are one of the few places that adolescents could receive support, nurturing, and acceptance outside of the home. Yet military students and their needs remain unacknowledged, making them an invisible minority in education. With more than four million military-connected children in the nation, over 80% enrolled in public schools, these students deserve to have a light shined on their lives. Forgotten Conscripts: Understanding the Needs of Military-Connected Adolescents looks deeper into the perceptions, beliefs, and experiences of military-connected adolescents to better inform teaching and learning among members of this culture so they might no longer be forgotten.