THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 28, 1996 TAG: 9601250035
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: By KARI SCHAEFFLER, MARY LOU THOMPSON, SUE BUSHEY, PATRICIA CAVERO
BAKER, MICHAEL LEACH
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
In ``Military life can wage war on a child's psyche'' (Commentary, Dec. 10, 1995), Christopher O'Kennon shares his observations on the effect a military lifestyle often has on children of service members. As a mental-health worker at a psychiatric hospital in Chester, he claims the military is a ``bogyman,'' paving the road to ``perpetual dysfunction'' in a ``significant'' number of the adolescents he sees. He acknowledges the existence of Family Services Centers at area bases but claims he can't count the number of teens using these centers as ``weapons'' against their parents by filing false charges of child abuse.
Mr. O'Kennon alleges that an even worse problem occurs with the frequent moves military families often make, creating kids with ``dysfunctional social systems.'' He states that ``most military brats'' can only establish ``superficial'' relationships with others, manifested either as ``character flaws'' or ``barriers to happiness.'' This, he claims, is because ``the human psyche does not take it well when you intentionally isolate it from others.''
Finally, Mr. O'Kennon addresses impulse control, oppositional defiant disorder and depression as being ``common colds'' of military brats in psychiatric institutions.
As a mental-health worker, Mr. O'Kennon should be fully aware of the ramifications of such unsubstantiated statements. How many adolescents has he tracked on this road to ``perpetual dysfunction?'' What is the exact number of teens ``strolling'' into Family Services Centers filing false child-abuse claims?
How can anyone possibly identify frequent relocation as being an ``even worse'' situation than falsely accusing a parent of abuse? Where is research verifying that moving inevitably creates dysfunctional social systems in children and that the military ``intentionally isolates'' the human psyche?
Flip references to impulse control, oppositional defiant disorder and depression as ``common colds'' among military brats in psychiatric institutions gives us cause to wonder how anxious Mr. O'Kennon might be to slap a label on every teen - military or not - who walks through his door. As we read his commentary, our initial reaction was one of disappointment and disbelief. Where were the facts to back up these strongly worded conclusions? Our observations, based on our work experiences at Navy Family Services Center Little Creek, do not at all support the picture painted by Mr. O'Kennon.
We do not deny that the military lifestyle brings with it certain challenges. Separation from a parent for an extended period can be stressful, as can frequent moves. However, we do have facts, based on documented research, that suggest redeeming qualities do exist for children of military-service members.
In on-site interviews with guidance counselors and other personnel at schools serving more than 30,000 children of military personnel living in the Hampton Roads area, researchers from the Virginia Joint Military Family Services Board were consistently told the following: ``Military students are culturally and politically aware, good team players, independent, self-reliant, reach out to newcomers easily and make good citizens'' (VJMFSB 1991). Likewise, Mary Edwards Wertsch, in her book, Military Brats, which incorporates more than five years of in-depth interviews with scores of military children, teachers, social workers and others, acknowledges strengths common to military children, including ``responsibleness, excellent social skills, resilience, loyalty, willingness to take risks, tolerance and ability to handle crisis well.''
These are just two examples of a number of similar assessments supporting the belief that a military upbringing can, in fact, have a positive impact on the overall development of a child.
Unfortunately, Mr. O'Kennon's article is based upon a very narrow view of a very large population. He may in all honesty see a disproportionate number of military teens at his hospital, having a great deal to do with its locale (it is close to a number of military bases and one of a handful of hospitals within the area serving as a CHAMPUS provider).
As he noted, it would be nice if we didn't need soldiers anymore. The reality is, however, that we do need them. Ours is not a peaceful world, and what assures us as U.S. citizens the unparalleled freedoms we enjoy and often take for granted is the commitment and sacrifices made by members of our armed forces and their families.
The commitment at Family Services Centers throughout the world is to assist families in dealing with the added stressors and challenges of military life. The centers strive to provide them with educational programs and services, with a place they can turn to for help and information. The focus is on strengthening the family and, as research has shown, if the parents are able to cope with these stressors, the children are more likely to as well (Hunter, 1982; Jensen, 1986; Lewis, 1984).
We encourage Mr. O'Kennon to look beyond his own treatment facility, to visit area schools and bases. We can assure that there are adolescents functioning as happy, well-adjusted achievers, proud of their status as military children. Not ``brats,'' but good, law-abiding ``normal'' kids. MEMO: The above authors stress that it consists solely of their personal
opinions and should in no way be construed as presenting official
opinions of the U.S. Navy, Navy Family Services Center Little Creek or
any other government entity. by CNB