What is it Like Growing Up in a Military Family?

Six Army cadets from across the counties share their experiences of growing up in military families – and reveal how it’s shaped them and their plans for the future.

Joseph Carroll, 14

Heaton Detachment, Northumbria ACF

‘Growing up in a military family (my dad, mum and older brother are all in the Army Reserves) definitely gives you a different perspective on life. When I go on holiday to places like Cyprus (where both my parents have attended annual camps), I view it differently to those who haven’t had a military upbringing.

‘My parents have also taught me the importance of keeping fit: I train regularly in the gym and as a family we’ve completed the Great North Run several times to raise money for The Army Benevolent Fund, a charity we’re all passionate about.

‘Having a good routine is a life skill I’ve learnt from them and I’ve also been taught about the importance of military history – it’s proved quite useful at school. ‘I’ve been a cadet for three years and it’s been a great way to make new friends, learn new skills and do fun stuff like shooting competitions. I’m definitely going to follow in my family’s footsteps and join the Army Reserves when I’m old enough.’

Hannah Hopkins, 15

Bedworth Detachment, Warwickshire & West Midlands ACF

‘My dad, a regimental sergeant major, recently left the Army after 23 years in the Royal Signals.

‘I’ve lived in more places than I can remember as his job has moved us around the UK, but it’s been a great way to meet new people and I’ve made some lifelong friends along the way.

‘Living on barracks introduced me to other children whose parents were serving in the military and it was comforting to speak to others who knew how I felt when my dad was away on tour. It was tough not being able to speak to him every day. ‘The experience has taught me to be quite independent: my siblings and I had to do a lot of things for ourselves. Moving from school to school has also made me confident about speaking to new people.

‘I definitely want to join the forces in the future – I’d like to be an officer in the Medics. My dad has always been very supportive and encouraged me to go on to bigger and better things than him, so I’d like to do a degree before I join.’

Harvey Stone, 17

Rossett Detachment, Clwyd and Gwynedd ACF

‘My parents met in Portsmouth when my mum was a Navy nurse and my dad was in the Army in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REMEs). Although my mum retired when I was born and my dad passed away when I was one, I feel like our family and friends have instilled a military mindset in me. For example, I know that if you want to do something it’s you who has to put in the work and learn how to do it – no one else is going to do that for you.

‘I’ve been told lots of stories about my dad’s time in the Army and he’s inspired me to also join the REMEs – I’m going through the application process at the moment and it’s both exciting and nerve-racking. My friends and family have told me tales – good and bad – which have helped me prepare and know what to expect.

‘While I’ve never had to move around, I’ve had a lot of friends who’ve left because their families are in the military and that was really tough. When I have a family in the future, I’m not sure I’d want to bring up children on a camp or make them move away from their friends.’

Amelia Sinclair, 14

Limavady Detachment, 1st (Northern Ireland) Battalion ACF

‘There are positives and negatives to growing up in a military family. My dad’s job (as a WO2 in the Royal Logistic Corps) meant we moved every two years to a new country or a new area, which was

hard. I had to make new friends and it was difficult to keep in contact with the ones I left behind.

‘When Dad was away on deployment, we’d often spend time with my family in Germany, which made the experience easier. When we first moved to Northern Ireland I had to keep my dad’s job secret and that was tough.

‘However, it’s been great to travel the world and experience living in different places. We’ve been in Northern Ireland for five years now and I feel really settled. I joined the Cadets two years ago and it’s been a great way of making new friends and learning life skills: spending time in the wilderness taught me how to cope with being alone.

‘I’m definitely leaning towards a career in the military, although I wouldn’t want to be on the frontline – I’d rather do something with radio. ‘I’m very proud to be part of a military family and get a great sense of pride when I wear my Cadet uniform on Armed Forces Day and Remembrance Sunday.’

Dafydd Ashton, 17

Bovington and Purbeck Detachment, Dorset ACF

‘Growing up in a military family ingrains certain attitudes and teaches helpful life skills you may not acquire in a non-military family. My dad (who is a WO2 with The Royal Welsh Regiment) taught me the importance of routine and how to present myself by ironing my clothes, maintaining good posture and using good manners. I know how to hold myself in difficult situations which is an invaluable skill.

‘I’ve always wanted to go into the Army (I’ve been a cadet for five years) and being able to talk to my dad about his experiences has given me an insight into what my career might look like – I think it can be a bit of shock for people who join without any prior knowledge. I’ve lived on camps which, at times, was quite isolating as there weren’t many children my age, but now I know what to expect if I live on one again. Being part of the Cadets has also shown me the different routes my career in the Army could take me in the future.’

Ashlynne Downie, 14

Cottingham Detachment, Humberside and South Yorkshire ACF

‘Both my parents have a military background: my dad was in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers until 2013 (he’s now in the Reserves) and my mum was in Phase 2 training when she fell pregnant with my sister.

‘I’ve lost count of the number of places we’ve lived as, when I was younger, we moved quite regularly. We’d often live on barracks with other families where there were lots of children my age, so it was easy to make friends; it felt like a proper community.

‘In 2008 my dad was deployed to Afghanistan for seven months and that was really tough for us, especially my mum who had just had my little sister. We couldn’t call him but we were able to send letters which we did as regularly as possible to keep his spirits up.

‘Growing up in a military family teaches you to look at things more logically – in school I often observe how someone is doing something and question why they would go about it in that way. I’ve known for a long time that I’d also like to join the military (as a vet – I prefer animals to people) and my parents are really supportive.’