FROM PACKING BOXES TO SALUTING AT CEREMONIES: SIGNS YOU DEFINITELY GREW UP A MILITARY BRAT
Being a military brat means you had a different and unique childhood. It’s one of those things that civilian kids can’t always understand.
Civilian kids often find themselves decorating the same bedroom for ten years straight, or more than, while you are unpacking your life every other summer. As a military brat, you've become accustom to figuring out how to make friends before the moving truck even leaves the street.
As a child of a military servicemember, you have to live in a constant loop of new beginnings and tough goodbyes. The bonus there is that you get to understand the inside jokes that only other military brats understand. And if you grew up with people in the military, you know the humor that comes from living life on the move.
Moving So Many Times You Forget Your Own Zip Code
PCS (Permanent Change of Station) is very familiar to you, and it isn’t some kind of event that you just go through. It’s almost like a personality trait.
Because by the time you’re a military teen, you’ve already collected more addresses than your parents’ Christmas card list.
You can pack your whole bedroom in record speed, you know which boxes should always be labeled “open first,” and you’ve stopped bothering to memorize your new zip code until at least you’re staying there for six months.
And we get it, but the funny and amazing part of moving? Your civilian friends gasp when they hear you’ve already moved five times.
But five? That’s amateur. Military brats swap stories like, “Oh, you’ve lived in seven states? That’s cool,” while they tell you next that they’ve had more schools than birthdays.
Most people don’t like moving, but you already know how to turn unpacking into a competitive sport. You’re probably one of those kids who can set up their posters the fastest, or who discovers the leftover packers’ tape first. You probably have an award for finding the best pizza place in a brand new town within a day or two.
Goodbyes Are a Seasonal Hobby for You
The saddest and hardest part of moving is saying goodbye. We all know that. By the time you’re a military teen, farewell events are so common that they almost feel like they’re already a part of the calendar year, along with the birthdays and school dances.
The beauty of this, however, is that military brats know how to savor the time they do have. You learn how to dive into friendship first, because you don’t have the luxury of waiting three years to finally talk to the kid in your math class.
You laugh harder, make memories faster, and become a pro in squeezing every ounce of fun out of the months before another move comes.
It sounds sad, and somehow, it stings. Civilian kids cry if their best friend moves across town. You? You would have hugged someone goodbye, knowing that you are moving thousands of miles across the ocean.
It teaches you a truth that most teens don’t realize until later—distance doesn’t mean you’re far away. It gives you a real connection, and you actually mean it when you say, “We’ll keep in touch.”
Your Accent Changes Faster Than Your Mailing Address
The funny side of moving between states and sometimes countries is that your accent is as flexible as your packing skills.
One year, you’re saying “y’all” like you were born in Texas, the next time, you’re tossing in “wicked” like you lived in Boston your whole life.
And sometimes, you’re in the awkward moment where you’re visiting an extended family, only to be asked, “Why are you talking like that?”
Just answer them, “Give me two weeks, and it’ll change again.” You see, your adaptability skills have changed, which is a good thing. It’s another way of blending in faster, and another trick you’ve picked up from years of being the new kid. And honestly? By adulthood, military brats sound like walking travel brochures.
The Airport Feels More Familiar
Moving leads us to one place: the airport. For most kids, airports are a stressful place. But for a military brat, they are practically a second home.
You already know which terminals have good food, and how to sleep in a chair without missing your boarding call. Flying solo isn’t as intimidating for you anymore, because you’ve been doing it since middle school.
Layovers? Don’t know that. Missing luggage? Just another PCS issue.
You’ve learned to live those in-between spaces, always moving forward, always adjusting, always ready for the next gate change. And we see you, all your sacrifices and hardships.
It’s not always easy, but you learn how to live a life with resilience and adaptability that will last a lifetime. So yes, you might not remember your childhood zip codes, your constantly changing accent might confuse your relatives, and you may have a deep love-hate relationship with airports. Still, the thing is, those are living proof that a military brat like you lived a thousand lives before you even turned eighteen. And that’s something to be proud of.
Read next:
- What Every Military Family Needs to Know About ICE, Green Cards, and Deportation Risk
- How to Rebrand Yourself as a Military Spouse in Today’s Job Market
- The Hidden Strain: Wellness Study Looks at Military Life’s Impact on Spouse Wellbeing
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