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Military brat

March 21, 2024

This article is about the international use of the term in several English speaking countries. For the American subculture, see Military brat (U.S. subculture).
Not to be confused with Children in the military.

A military brat (colloquial or military slang) is a child of serving or retired military personnel. Military brats are associated with a unique subculture[1] and cultural identity.[2][3][4][5] A military brat's childhood or adolescent life may be immersed in military culture to the point where the mainstream culture of their home country may seem foreign or peripheral.[2][3][4][5] In many countries where there are military brat subcultures, the child's family moves great distances from one non-combat assignment to another for much of their youth.[2][3][4][5]

For highly mobile military brats, a mixed cultural identity often results, due to exposure to numerous national or regional cultures.[2][3][4][5] Within military culture, the term military brat is not considered to be a pejorative (as in describing a spoiled child), but rather connotes affection and respect.[2][3][4][6] War-related family stresses, including long-term war-related absence of a parent, as well as war aftermath issues, are common features of military brat life in some countries, although the degree of war-involvement of individual countries with military brat subcultures may vary.[2][3][4][5]

Life and culture edit

 
A military family reunion in Ukraine

A common pattern in these subcultures is a heavy childhood and adolescent immersion in military culture to the point of marginalizing (or having significant feelings of difference in relation to) one's national civilian culture.[2][4][5][7] This is characterized by a strong identification with military culture rather than civilian culture.[2][4][5][7] Another term for this is the "militarization of childhood".[2][4][5][7]

In some countries where military brat subcultures occur, there may also be an itinerant or modern nomadic lifestyle involved as the child follows their military parent(s) from base to base, in many cases never having a hometown (or at least going through very long periods of being away from one's home town).[2][3][6][8] It also can involve living outside of one's home country at or near overseas military bases in foreign cultures, or in regions within one's home country far from one's home region, along with experiences of significant cultural difference in either case.[2][6][9] Highly mobile military brat subcultures have also been described as modern nomadic or peripatetic subcultures.[4][6]

Use of term edit

The term "military brat" occurs within military cultures in Australia,[2][4] India (also called "Cantonment Kids"),[3] Canada (also called "Base Brats"),[2][4] Pakistan, New Zealand,[4] the United Kingdom,[6] and the United States.[2] Military-dependent subcultures, also known as camp followers,[citation needed] have existed (under various other names) in many parts of the world for thousands of years.[10]

Feelings of difference, military brat identity versus civilian identity edit

Many military brats report difficulty in identifying where they belong[1][8][11] (due to a lifestyle of constantly moving, and also immersion in military culture, and in many cases, also foreign cultures, as opposed to the civilian culture of their native countries, while growing up)[11] and frequently feel like outsiders in relation to the civilian culture of their native countries.[2][6][10][12] The home countries of a number of Military Brat subcultures have highly mobile (modern Nomadic) lifestyles, or at least significant overseas (or distant-internal) assignments for career military families and their children and adolescents while growing up, including Canada,[2] Britain,[6][13] France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines,[5] Australia,[4] New Zealand[4] and the United States.[2][8][14] These military-dependent subcultures are generations old.[10]

Some ex-military dependents have found that their mobile upbringing has been massively influential in determining their eventual career in adulthood. One example of this is British actress/comedian Dawn French who discussed her childhood as an RAF dependent in an interview with Radio 4. She stated that she felt that the need to make new friends every few years was one of the reasons she discovered her talent for comedy. She also discusses this aspect of her life in her autobiography.[15]

American military brats have also been identified as a distinct American subculture.[14][16][17]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b David C. Pollock, Ruth E. van Reken. Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, Revised Edition. Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2009. ISBN 978-1-85788-525-5
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Wertsch, Mary E. (January 2006). Military Brats: Legacies of Childhood Inside the Fortress. ISBN 0-9776033-0-X.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Chatterjee, Smita. "Defense Kids In India: Growing Up Differently", Loving Your Child online magazine, December 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Ender, Morton. Military Brats and Other Global Nomads. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002. ISBN 978-0-275-97266-0
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Suarez, Theresa Cenidoza. "The language of militarism: Engendering Filipino masculinity in the U.S. empire", ch. 4. University of California, San Diego, 2008. 130 pages, 3320357
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Cranston, CA. "Challenging Contemporary Ecocritical Place Discourses: Military Brats, Shadow Places, and Homeplace Consumerism". Indian Journal of Ecocriticism, V. 2, 2009. pp. 73–89. ISSN 0974-2840
  7. ^ a b c Enloe, Cynthia H. Maneuvers: The International Politics of Militarizing Women's Lives, p. 186. University of California Press; 1st edition, 2000. ISBN 978-0-520-22071-3
  8. ^ a b c "Forces children face time bomb". BBC News. 6 November 2009.
  9. ^ Hawkins, John P. Army of Hope, Army of Alienation: Culture and Contradiction in the American Army Communities of Cold War Germany. Praeger, 2001. ISBN 978-0-275-96738-3
  10. ^ a b c Holmes, Richard; ed (2001). The Oxford Companion to Military History. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-866209-2.
  11. ^ a b Eidse, Faith; Sichel, Nina. Unrooted Childhoods: Memoirs of Growing up Global, 1st edition. Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 978-1-85788-338-1
  12. ^ Caforio, Giuseppe. Kümmel, Gerhard; Purkayastha, Bandana (eds.) Armed Forces and Conflict Resolution: Sociological Perspectives. Emerald Group Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-1-84855-122-0
  13. ^ Bell, J. L. "Children Attached to the British Military" at Boston 1775 (blog), September 17, 2007.
  14. ^ a b Williams, Rudi. "Military Brats Are a Special Breed" 2011-06-08 at the Wayback Machine. Washington, D.C.: American Forces Press Service (US Department of Defense Publication), 2001.
  15. ^ Dear Fatty by Dawn French
  16. ^ Wertsch, Mary Edwards (April 23, 1991). Military Brats: Legacies of Childhood Inside the Fortress (1st hardcover ed.). Harmony. p. 350. ISBN 0-517-58400-X.
  17. ^ Musil, Donna. Brats: Our Journey Home (documentary film). Atlanta Georgia: Brats Without Borders Inc., 2005.

Further reading edit

  • Military Brats: Legacies of Childhood Inside the Fortress. New York: Harmony Books. 1991.
  • Ender, Morten G. (2005). "Military Brats: Film Representations of Children from Military Families". Armed Forces & Society. 32 (1): 24-43.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military brats.
  • Military Brats Registry, (Social media site for military brats)
  • BRATS: Our Journey Home (The First Documentary About Growing Up Military)
  • Brats Without Borders, Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
  • Military Brat Life, remembering a different life living on bases and posts in the U.S. and overseas.
  • ‘Military Brat:’ Do you know where the term comes from?

March 21, 2024
military, brat, this, article, about, international, term, several, english, speaking, countries, american, subculture, subculture, confused, with, children, military, military, brat, colloquial, military, slang, child, serving, retired, military, personnel, a. This article is about the international use of the term in several English speaking countries For the American subculture see Military brat U S subculture Not to be confused with Children in the military A military brat colloquial or military slang is a child of serving or retired military personnel Military brats are associated with a unique subculture 1 and cultural identity 2 3 4 5 A military brat s childhood or adolescent life may be immersed in military culture to the point where the mainstream culture of their home country may seem foreign or peripheral 2 3 4 5 In many countries where there are military brat subcultures the child s family moves great distances from one non combat assignment to another for much of their youth 2 3 4 5 For highly mobile military brats a mixed cultural identity often results due to exposure to numerous national or regional cultures 2 3 4 5 Within military culture the term military brat is not considered to be a pejorative as in describing a spoiled child but rather connotes affection and respect 2 3 4 6 War related family stresses including long term war related absence of a parent as well as war aftermath issues are common features of military brat life in some countries although the degree of war involvement of individual countries with military brat subcultures may vary 2 3 4 5 Contents 1 Life and culture 2 Use of term 3 Feelings of difference military brat identity versus civilian identity 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksLife and culture edit nbsp A military family reunion in UkraineA common pattern in these subcultures is a heavy childhood and adolescent immersion in military culture to the point of marginalizing or having significant feelings of difference in relation to one s national civilian culture 2 4 5 7 This is characterized by a strong identification with military culture rather than civilian culture 2 4 5 7 Another term for this is the militarization of childhood 2 4 5 7 In some countries where military brat subcultures occur there may also be an itinerant or modern nomadic lifestyle involved as the child follows their military parent s from base to base in many cases never having a hometown or at least going through very long periods of being away from one s home town 2 3 6 8 It also can involve living outside of one s home country at or near overseas military bases in foreign cultures or in regions within one s home country far from one s home region along with experiences of significant cultural difference in either case 2 6 9 Highly mobile military brat subcultures have also been described as modern nomadic or peripatetic subcultures 4 6 Use of term editThe term military brat occurs within military cultures in Australia 2 4 India also called Cantonment Kids 3 Canada also called Base Brats 2 4 Pakistan New Zealand 4 the United Kingdom 6 and the United States 2 Military dependent subcultures also known as camp followers citation needed have existed under various other names in many parts of the world for thousands of years 10 Feelings of difference military brat identity versus civilian identity editMany military brats report difficulty in identifying where they belong 1 8 11 due to a lifestyle of constantly moving and also immersion in military culture and in many cases also foreign cultures as opposed to the civilian culture of their native countries while growing up 11 and frequently feel like outsiders in relation to the civilian culture of their native countries 2 6 10 12 The home countries of a number of Military Brat subcultures have highly mobile modern Nomadic lifestyles or at least significant overseas or distant internal assignments for career military families and their children and adolescents while growing up including Canada 2 Britain 6 13 France India Pakistan the Philippines 5 Australia 4 New Zealand 4 and the United States 2 8 14 These military dependent subcultures are generations old 10 Some ex military dependents have found that their mobile upbringing has been massively influential in determining their eventual career in adulthood One example of this is British actress comedian Dawn French who discussed her childhood as an RAF dependent in an interview with Radio 4 She stated that she felt that the need to make new friends every few years was one of the reasons she discovered her talent for comedy She also discusses this aspect of her life in her autobiography 15 American military brats have also been identified as a distinct American subculture 14 16 17 See also editCamp follower historical term that described military dependent children and wives still has some contemporary use Military brat disambiguation page for several other uses of the term related articles Military dependent official government term in several countries for military brats Service Children s Education British Government Agency that administers overseas schools for UK military children The Great Santini film about American Marine brats Third culture kidReferences edit a b David C Pollock Ruth E van Reken Third Culture Kids Growing Up Among Worlds Revised Edition Nicholas Brealey Publishing 2009 ISBN 978 1 85788 525 5 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Wertsch Mary E January 2006 Military Brats Legacies of Childhood Inside the Fortress ISBN 0 9776033 0 X a b c d e f g h Chatterjee Smita Defense Kids In India Growing Up Differently Loving Your Child online magazine December 2010 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Ender Morton Military Brats and Other Global Nomads Greenwood Publishing Group 2002 ISBN 978 0 275 97266 0 a b c d e f g h i Suarez Theresa Cenidoza The language of militarism Engendering Filipino masculinity in the U S empire ch 4 University of California San Diego 2008 130 pages 3320357 a b c d e f g Cranston CA Challenging Contemporary Ecocritical Place Discourses Military Brats Shadow Places and Homeplace Consumerism Indian Journal of Ecocriticism V 2 2009 pp 73 89 ISSN 0974 2840 a b c Enloe Cynthia H Maneuvers The International Politics of Militarizing Women s Lives p 186 University of California Press 1st edition 2000 ISBN 978 0 520 22071 3 a b c Forces children face time bomb BBC News 6 November 2009 Hawkins John P Army of Hope Army of Alienation Culture and Contradiction in the American Army Communities of Cold War Germany Praeger 2001 ISBN 978 0 275 96738 3 a b c Holmes Richard ed 2001 The Oxford Companion to Military History Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 866209 2 a b Eidse Faith Sichel Nina Unrooted Childhoods Memoirs of Growing up Global 1st edition Nicholas Brealey Publishing 2003 ISBN 978 1 85788 338 1 Caforio Giuseppe Kummel Gerhard Purkayastha Bandana eds Armed Forces and Conflict Resolution Sociological Perspectives Emerald Group Publishing 2008 ISBN 978 1 84855 122 0 Bell J L Children Attached to the British Military at Boston 1775 blog September 17 2007 a b Williams Rudi Military Brats Are a Special Breed Archived 2011 06 08 at the Wayback Machine Washington D C American Forces Press Service US Department of Defense Publication 2001 Dear Fatty by Dawn French Wertsch Mary Edwards April 23 1991 Military Brats Legacies of Childhood Inside the Fortress 1st hardcover ed Harmony p 350 ISBN 0 517 58400 X Musil Donna Brats Our Journey Home documentary film Atlanta Georgia Brats Without Borders Inc 2005 Further reading editMilitary Brats Legacies of Childhood Inside the Fortress New York Harmony Books 1991 Ender Morten G 2005 Military Brats Film Representations of Children from Military Families Armed Forces amp Society 32 1 24 43 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military brats Military Brats Registry Social media site for military brats BRATS Our Journey Home The First Documentary About Growing Up Military Brats Without Borders Inc a 501 c 3 tax exempt nonprofit organization Military Brat Life remembering a different life living on bases and posts in the U S and overseas Military Brat Do you know where the term comes from Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Military brat amp oldid 1186344197, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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