10 Signs You're a Military Brat
When you go out of your way to check off signs you're a military brat, you're definitely a military brat.
Being the child of a military member isn't easy. In fact, it's an experience you can only really understand if you've been there. Though it's a rare way to grow up, it's an amazing experience that will end up enriching your life, and help you appreciate the way you live.
Most aspects of life in the military are pretty similar to civilian life as a kid. You'll still play Nintendo, you'll still read the same books, and you will most likely go to school.
If you've ever hung out with people from civilian families, though, you'll quickly notice that there are serious differences between your life and typical kids' lives. Believe it or not, it's easy to figure out who's a military brat and who isn't.
As much as you might not be interested in a military career, it's unmistakable how deeply the military lives your parents lived impacted you. Make no mistake about it—if you display any of these traits, they are major signs you're a military brat.
You remember moving around from state to state, or from country to country.
Ah yes, PCS'ing. If there's any sign you're a military brat that's more obvious, we're not sure what it could be. Every military brat has experienced the need to up and move houses at least once or twice in their lives.
It's tough to uproot yourself constantly, but you've mastered it. It's in your veins at this point. Heck, at this point, you could give tips for new military wives on how to make the most of your move.
PCS. Greenies. Lance. FUBAR. SNAFU. Whiskey Foxtrot Tango!
You know them all, you know what they mean, and you probably use them in your daily routine. If you're not a military member and can say this, you're a military brat.
You somehow have ties to some other foreign country.
As you might know, a pretty high number of military brats are born in Germany or some other far corner of the world in a random military base. You might even have dual citizenship as a result of this issue.
If your mom or dad was deployed while they raised you, chances are that you became pretty well-versed in at least one foreign language and got used to having friends from different countries.
One of the biggest perks for military brats who have a penchant for fitness is access to free state-of-the-art gyms on military bases. The idea of paying $20 a month for access to weights probably makes you laugh.
Oh, and personal training for $100? That's downright hilarious, since you can just train with real Marines. Sure, some might only want to work with you if you want to join the Army, but you can always just fib unless that is a goal of yours.
Discipline is something your family takes *very* seriously.
In many civilian families, parents let their kids run amok. If you're a military brat, this concept might be about as foreign to you as it can humanly be. Military families are known for being disciplinarian and not putting up with BS.
While most kids would skate by with getting B's and C's in school, chances are your parents would put you through hell if you got the same kinds of grades. Oh, and if you get a call home from a teacher? You might as well prepare your own funeral.
A pretty decent number of kids who grew up in the military end up choosing a military career for their own lives, too. If your family has a lot of military members or traditions, chances are that they've at least skated the idea past you.
If your family has asked you to join, it's almost guaranteed you're a military brat. Many civilian families would balk at the idea of having their kids go into combat and therefore wouldn't react well to the news.
"Your parents scare me."
Is this sentence something you've heard a date say? Did your father casually clean his gun while talking to him? Though this isn't a surefire sign that you're a military brat, it's definitely a sign that you might have some military connections to you.
This isn't always something that is intentional on your parents' end, either. A lot of people tend to get scared by the military vibe.
Respect is one of the cornerstones of military culture, and is one of the reasons why saluting the flag is so important. If you're a military brat, chances are that you've had the importance of respect drilled into you from Day One.
A military family will hear a lot of "yes sir's" and "yes ma'am's" coming from kids. You also will be expected to dress respectfully when you're around your parents and their friends. When you hear taps or the national anthem, military brats will be the ones who are instantly on their feet.
The scariest word in your language is "deployment."
Surviving deployment is difficult for every military family, but it's especially rough on kids. Not only do you end up missing out on family time, but you also could end up losing your mom or dad to war.
If your biggest fear is hearing the word "deployment" come up in conversation, you're a military brat who cares about your family. Military kids have it rough when this happens—especially when they're stuck in the United States without a way to contact their parent.
When you're a military brat, your first ID came about when you were 10 years old—and you were so proud of it. You already memorized your numbers, you flaunted it to others, and, of course, quickly learned to carry it with you everywhere.
Admit it. Having a military ID is still pretty cool and useful, even when you're a lot older. Those military discounts definitely make things easier, don't they?
About the Creator
Buddy Brown
Detroit-born Buddy Brown is a 80s hair metal fan who loves cars, games, and sports. When he’s not drinking PBR while listening to Downtown Brown, he’s playing Grand Theft Auto or working on his El Camino.
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