BRATS tell their Story

  • Published
  • By Airman Matthew Varga
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  It's often said that when someone joins the military, they aren't the only ones serving as husbands and wives are providing support behind the scenes. But another group and their struggles gained recognition recently when an organization produced a film that tells the story of military BRATs. 

Operation Military BRAT presented the movie "BRATS: Our Journey Home" Oct. 19 at Hirschi High School in Wichita Falls, Texas. It is the first film to document what it is like to grow up in the military. The free screening of the film is part of a 50-city national outreach tour. 

"'BRATS: Our Journey Home' is the first non-fiction film about this little-known American subculture," said Timothy Wurtz, co-producer of the film. "It is base on seven years of research that is now the largest qualitative database on the long term effects of growing up in the military." 

Military brats make up an estimated 5 percent of the American population, according to the Operation Military BRAT Web site. Cumulatively, there are more than 15 million adult military BRATS. Currently there are 1.5 million military brats spread across the globe. 

BRAT, which is a time honored reference to military children based on the acronym "British Regimental Attached Traveler" are often times forgotten amongst the rest of the military. They're merely the silent followers of their parents and their travels around the globe, said Donna Musil, writer, director and producer of the film. 

"We need to know where we're from and who we are, and that's part of why I decided to make this movie," she said. 

She said she moved 12 times in 16 years and has moved another 19 times in the past 20 years. No one is talking about the effect multiple moves have on brats. 

"Our hope is this movie and Operation Military BRAT will raise awareness in communities across the U.S. to the presence of military BRATS in the hope they combine their efforts to come together and help give the children of the military some stability and a sense of belonging," Ms. Musil said. 

Mr. Wurtz said the movie is designed to help families understand what it is like to grow up in the military. It makes it easier to help people if the situation is understood. 

There are very few organizations that currently take a special interest in acting as a safety net for military BRATS. However, they are growing. 

"Adult brats like myself are starting to speak about the issue and changes are slowly being made," Ms. Musil said. 

Airman 1st Class Matthew Sharp, 82nd Communications Squadron airfield systems apprentice, attended the screening and was surprised at how well the film nailed down his experience growing up in the military. 

"The film really depicted how it is to grow up with parents in the military. No one really thinks it's a big deal, or you feel alone in the experience and it is a cool opportunity to see that other people either have gone through it or are going through it," Airman Sharp said. 

For more information visit www.Bratsfilm.com or Operationmilitarybrat.org.