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March2013

LIKE US ON OURFFICIAL FACEBOOKAGE, SEARCH:PERATION:MILITARYIDS TEXAS

GET INVOLVED ANDEE SOME OF THE OMKVENTS SCHEDULEDOR MARCH

Operation: Military KidTexasSERVING MILITARY KIDS IN OUR BACKYARDS

Operation: Military Kids loves to help out their local and state wide partners at

any and all events. At the Austin Marathon, we got to do just that by supportingThe Comfort Crew for Military Kids at their water stop!

Austin Marathon

ByJolieDurand

On February 17th

at 5:30 am, Operation:

Military Kids, along with several other

school and military based organizations

drove to Austin to help support The

Comfort Crew at their water stop along

the marathon route.

The Comfort Crew is a military youth

organization that travels around the

world to help support and comfort all

military kids; they were one of 26

charities that the Austin Marathon chose

to sponsor and raise money for. OMK

has been lucky enough to partner with

them for many occasions with greatUpcoming Events: March 2013

March 5 SOMK/ Youth Board Meeting -

Georgetown, TX

March 9-10th: Army Reserve Yellow Ribbon -Grapevine, TX

March 10 15th

: Kids, Kows & More - El Paso

County Coliseum, El Paso, TX

March 13th

: State Team Conference Call State

Wide

March 13th

National Guard/OMK Fishing Camo

Camp Mabry, Austin, TX

March 18 -22nd

: Spring Break Camps Ft. Bliss

Teen Centers, El Paso, TX

March 19 : El Paso LRSN Meeting El Paso,

TX

March 23rd: National GuardYouth Symposium- Dallas, TX

-----------------------April----------------------------

April 6th

: Mad Science Camp, Grand Prairie,

TX

April 30th

: Chilis Support OMK Night

Killeen, Temple, Georgetown, Waco, TX

results and this time was no exception!

At water stop #5, which was at the 6.8 mile

marker, over 80 volunteers helped to set up

Gatorade and water for the passing runners.

The Speak Out for Military Kids group in

Georgetown, Texas had a presence at the water

stop in the form of banners they made during

Februarys meeting for their community

service project. The banners were a great way

to show the over 14,000 runners that passed by

that the SOMK group supported them! OMK

was proud to be a part of such a large event,

and will be looking forward to participating in

it again!

IND OUT WHATMK DID DURINGHE MONTH OFEBRUARY

Volunteers braved the cold morningpass out water and Gatorade to runn

Photo courtesy of The Comfort Crew

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MYAC Youth Excel

By Susan Goss

One of the many challenges

facing our young peopletoday is the opportunity to

step forward and lead. Theygreatly benefit from the

opportunity to try new thingsand succeed or fail on their

own and grow into betterpeople because of it. Milam

YAC on East Ft. Bliss hasfound a way to afford their

teens those opportunities andthe youth are soaring to new

heights.

Teens are seen here serving a

Thanksgiving meal to their community.

These youth serve on the 4-H

Teen Council and OMKYouth Board and several

other programs offered by thecenter. They are very busy

and very committed to givingtheir best.

Over the last year Milam

YAC youth have tried theirhand at a wide variety of

projects. The center staffhave definitely looked

outside the box to challengethese young people and help

them develop into

The teens honored Fort Bliss fallen by

lying wreathes on their graves.

ews o e onOperation: Military Kids holds various events all

month long; here are a few of our biggest events

from the past month.

exceptional young peoplethat have a far better

perception of the world

around them. Fromraising

chickens,gardeningandworkingwithtwotherapydogs,toafamilystyle

cookingclubandacommunityservicerecord

thatexceedsmost,they

reallyshine.

MYAC youth packing care packages!

TheseyouthhavesteppedupforFortBlissandtheir

communitieswiththeircommitmenttocompletea

minimumofone

communityserviceproject

everymonth!TheyhavehelpedTheMiracleLeagueofElPasoputonbaseball

gamesforthedisabled,

workedwiththeTexas

RampProjecttobuilda

rampforadisabled

communitymemberand

regularlypickuptrashand

worktoclean-upand

beautifytheirareaofthe

base,justtonameafew.

Every year the youth

conduct an activity they callGone But Not Forgotten.

The youth and staff makegifts to send in care packages

for the youth that havetransferred, graduated ormoved away.

Bringing friends and fam

together by making some ch

for dinner!

During The Month oMilitary Child, Milam

YAC youth host aCommunity Block Pa

where up to 70 youth

worked all day. Theyprovide the communmembers withinformation about

services availablenationally, in the

community and onMilitary Bases. The

youth operated manygames for their youn

visitors, performed fapainting, gave tours,

worked a smoothie bwell as prepared and

served food for over visitors last year.

Council meetings for MYA

always a great time for

members!

The young people anstaff at Milam YAC

showed exemplarycommunity service a

leadership qualitiesthroughout their man

commitments; anoutstanding group to

Teens caroled at a nursing home for

the holidays.

This is a great way for

current and past members ofMilam YAC to feel

connected and supportedregardless of their geographic

location which is always achallenge in the Military

Lifestyle.

MYAC cooking club preparing a

delicious dinner.

Milam YAC staff have

served as camp counselors atPurple Camp and worked

long hours to make sure theseyouth have all the tools they

need to succeed and representthe base in the best light.

Youth attending this camphave the opportunity to learn

many skills that help withdeployment issues and bond

with other Military Youthwho have experienced the

same situation. Thus givingthem an amazing support

group of peers as they workthrough the challenges of

military life, deployment,reintegration and sometimes

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Additional Information:

Reintegration Survey:

The Army Child, Youth & School Services Division is very interested to knowmore about the experiences of all military families, including DOD civilians,during the reintegration process. This survey is intended for spouses, partners,

service members, and DOD civilians, who have ever deployed and who havereturned home from their last deployment within the past 18 months. The benefit

from your participation will be that the data collected through this study will beused to improve programs and services for military families, children and youth

during reunion and reintegration.

This survey should take no more than 30 minutes. You are free to withdraw from

completing this survey at any time without penalty. You are free not to answer anyquestions you choose without penalty. There should be no or minimal risk to you

by completing this survey. Should you have any questions about this research or itsconduct, and research subjects' rights, you may contact:

Lydia I. Marek, 540-231-6306 orlmarek@vt.eduPleasegotothefollowinglinkstocompletesurveys

SPOUSE/PARTNER:http://svy.mk/reintsp

SERVICE MEMBER:http://svy.mk/reintsm