Resources
Websites
Military One Source
This website is hosted by DoD to support military members and their families with a live chat and links to a range of useful information on military life including financial, parenting, exceptional family member, and relationship resources.
Grief Support
Tragedy Assistance Programs for Survivors (TAPS) is a nationwide nonprofit organization supporting people of all ages who have lost a military loved one. Its grief camp and survivor seminar have been helping people since 1994.
Soldiers Angels
SoldiersAngels.org is a nationwide non-profit providing support and recognition to active and veteran members of our Services as well as their families through care packages, food assistance, and comfort and caregiver support.
NMFA
The National Military Family Association supports military families through advocacy, scholarships, research, and family and children's activities.
USO
The United Service Organizations does a lot more than offer airport comfort. It provides military and family members entertainment and educational support wherever they are posted.
Roadside America
This offbeat site is a much loved resource for the KICB family when planning a roadtrip. Search for veteran related attractions like monuments, museums, and memorials to include on your next sight-seeing adventure.
Discounts
Veteran.com offers information on discounts, sales, and even free meal days for veterans and military families.
Foreign Service Youth
FSYF.org celebrates the resilient and adventurous spirits of the children of Foreign Service employees through contests, publications, community events, and workshops
Youth.gov
This federal government site offers visitors information and resources on about 30 youth-oriented health, safety, and wellness topics.
Glossary
Third Culture Kids
This phrase doesn't just refer to kids like us, it is a term to describe children who are raised in a culture different from their parents' or their own nationality during their developmental years.
Government Service
Military members are the most recognizable members of government service, for sure, but our community includes children whose parents and guardians serve in agencies like the Department of State, USAID, Department of Justice, FBI, DEA, Secret Service, civilian employees of the Department of Defense, the National Park Service, and many other federal agencies. Some of these kids move regularly around the country or the world in support of their family member's career and service.
Kids in Combat Boots
We do not love the term "dependents" or "eligible family members" (EFMs) used by the military, State Department and other government services, so we coined our own phrase to highlight the hard work and challenging situations of the youth family members of service people and government employees.
The Department of Defense is the world's largest employer with almost 6 million service member and civilian employees. The DoD is the head of all national security and armed forces branches and is headed by the secretary of defense who reports directly to the president.
Indirect Service
KICB don't wear uniforms and don't have official duties, but their sacrifices, the expectations placed on them, and the support they give their family enhance the service of the military or government member.
PCS and TDY
PCS is a noun, a verb, and a way of life for KICB families. When a service member and family move from one long-term military assignment (usually 2-4 years) to another they complete a permanent change of station (PCS), in contrast to a temporary duty assignment (TDY). A PCS is either inside the continental U.S. (CONUS) or outside the continental U.S. (OCONUS).