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97-506: Nürnberg American High School ( NAHS ) was a Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) system school located near Nürnberg , Germany. One of DoDDS original five high schools in Germany , the school served the children of American military, government and civilian personnel from 1946 until its closing in 1995. In October 1946, only a year and a half after the Allied forces defeated

194-521: A "duty roster" on the refrigerator, parent-conducted room inspections, and children who say "yes sir/ma'am" to adults. Eighty percent of Cold War-era brats described their father as "authoritarian" or desiring to exercise complete control over their lives. They described their military parent as rigid in discipline, inflexible, intolerant of dissent, disapproving of non-conforming behavior, insensitive to their emotions, and not accepting of personal privacy. A Cold War era military psychologist , publishing in

291-495: A German hotel, the Kaiserhof, whose food freshman Bub Kale described as “mostly just to look at – it looks good but doesn't always taste that way.” Conditions were much improved with the move to Fürth in 1947. The dormitory students lived about three blocks from the school in two large three-story private homes, two to four persons to a room depending on the size of the room. They had a common social room and meals were served in

388-464: A break-even expense to support military families. While there are typical environmental changes that may affect any child's educational performance such as divorce, and relocation, there are some that are systemic with military children. Relocation is frequent and parents may be deployed from home. A study was done focusing on parental absences during the time of the military deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan between 2002 and 2005. The study reports

485-511: A car, was expected to stop their activity and stand at attention. Uniformed personnel salute and non-uniformed people place their hand over their heart. During and prior to the early 1990s, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited every morning, and patriotic and militaristic songs may have been sung at Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) overseas and Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) within

582-603: A clearly negative or positive trait, studies also show that many adult military brats report difficulty settling down in one geographic location and also report a desire to move (relocate) every few years; many adult military brats call this "the itch". However, some adult military brats report the opposite tendency and relate refusing any and all pressures from spouses or employers to ever move again. Many former military brats report struggling at some point in their lives with issues related to perfectionism and learning how to let go in areas of personal performance (perhaps due to

679-406: A college degree (60% v 24%) and possess an advanced degree (29.1% v 5%). While these rates are higher than the general U.S. population, they are lower than those of other non-brat third culture kids (84–90% college degree and 40% graduate degree). United States military brats are the most mobile of the "third culture kids", moving on average every three years. Brats move frequently between bases in

776-428: A culture of resilience and adaptivity, constant loss of friendship ties, a facility or knack for making new friends, never having a hometown, and extensive exposure to foreign cultures and languages while living overseas or to a wide range of regional cultural differences due to living in a variety of different American regions. Additional influences include living in a series of military bases serving as community centers,

873-474: A fairly consistent picture of how the lifestyle tends to influence the population (on average) in various aspects of life. These studies look at overall patterns and individual experiences may vary widely: Some strong positives that have been identified in studies of military brat populations are a high occurrence of very resilient personalities, exceptional social skills, a high level of multicultural or international awareness, proficiency in foreign languages, and

970-435: A fire in a metal waste can in an effort to keep warm.” The boys were later moved into a private residence. The girls lived in a private residence. Junior Peggy Segur Misch remembered the bitter cold of that first year. "Getting hot water for bathing was a problem. A gas heater had to be turned on to heat the bath water. Because there was danger of asphyxiation from the heater, the window in the bathroom had to be wide open while

1067-423: A higher rate than the civilian population and divorce at a lower rate. On the negative side, studies show that some former military brats struggle to develop and maintain deep, lasting relationships, and can feel like outsiders to U.S. civilian culture. The transitory lifestyle can hinder potential for constructing concrete relationships with people and developing emotional attachments to specific places, as can

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1164-499: A kind of extra-adaptability and assimilate into new situations quickly and well, as they have done with each move to a new military base, town or country. Yet paradoxically, long-term feelings of being an outsider in relation to civilian (non-military) culture are common to a majority of military brats. A significant percentage of military brats report difficulty in forming strong relations with people or places, but very often do form strong connections with (or in some cases aversion to)

1261-405: A lower threshold for misbehavior in their children; secondly, the mobility of teenagers might make them less likely to attract attention to themselves, as many want to fit in and are less secure with their surroundings; and thirdly, normative constraints are greater, with brats knowing that their behavior is under scrutiny and can affect the military member's career. Teenage years are typically

1358-465: A military brat are generally greater than for civilian children. A military person's career and social identity can be dashed in seconds by a willful or careless child. For example, when a military brat gets in trouble, the authorities may call the parent's Commanding Officer or the Base Commander before, or instead of, calling the brat's parents. If the commanding officer or base commander

1455-499: A part of the 20th century, some bases had two Boy Scout and two Girl Scout troops—one for officer children and one for enlisted children. These differences are not merely external, but a core aspect of military life. Children of enlisted personnel often believe that children of officers receive specialized treatment because non-officers are afraid to upset the officers. The physical separation and differences between available activities make it very difficult. Most military brats on

1552-433: A part of the military brat lifestyle. Bases do form communities, but due to most of them experiencing frequent 100% turnover in just a few years, an adult military brat can never return and find old friends, neighbors or even former teachers, on bases where they grew up. Base schools usually have an even higher turnover rate, reaching 100% turnover in as little as two years. Due to revocation of base privileges upon reaching

1649-462: A pattern (for those military brats who do not choose military service) of work that is more independent (self-employment / avoidance of direct subservience to authority figures) and along those lines also favoring creative and artistic professions that offer more independence. She also reported that for those military brats who did choose military service there was a tendency to go through a phase of bucking or testing authority during military service, or

1746-640: A pattern of resenting authority, represented in her study population. However, military brats who become soldiers also tend to do well overall in the profession. As adults, military brats can share many of the same positive and negative traits identified in other populations that experienced very mobile childhoods. Having had the opportunity to live around the world, military brats can have a breadth of experiences unmatched by most teenagers. Regardless of race, religion, nationality, or gender, brats might identify more with other highly mobile children than with non-mobile ones. Military brats also graduate from college at

1843-593: A period when people establish independence by taking some risks away from their parents. When the teenager lives in a "fish-bowl community," a small self-contained community such as a base, challenging boundaries may be more difficult. Brats know that misbehavior or rebellious activity will be reported to their parents. Brats are sometimes under constant pressure to conform to what military culture expects; this means they are sometimes seen as being more mature in their youth than their peers. If they grow up overseas or on military bases, they might have limited opportunities to see

1940-416: A personal level do not let this affect their social interactions, and in most cases it is frowned upon to treat others by their parent's pay grade or rank. The separation by rank has the intended purpose of maintaining military discipline among service members. According to the U.S. Uniform Code of Military Justice, it can be illegal for an officer to fraternize with an enlisted person because it would erode

2037-448: A price. Rather than develop problem-solving skills, there is a temptation to simply leave a problem without resolving it. If a person does not like somebody or gets into a fight, they know that in a few years somebody will move and the problem will disappear. On the other hand, when brats marry it is generally for life; over two thirds of brats over 40 are married to their first spouse. Studies show that many brats become very adaptable as

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2134-449: A result of the mobile lifestyle, but there is also a higher than average incidence, among a minority of military brats, of avoidant personality disorder and separation anxiety disorder . Moving during the summer months can be challenging. Courses students have taken at their old schools may not fulfill the graduation requirements at their new school. Moving during the winter holidays or mid-year, however, has traditionally been viewed as

2231-444: A statistically very strong affinity for careers that entail service to others. Studies show that ex-military kids end up pursuing service-related careers in very high numbers: military service, teaching, counseling, police, nursing and foreign service work being highly represented in military brat career statistics (in comparison to statistics on non-military brat patterns of employment choices). Mary Edwards Wertsch also identified

2328-502: A third of the remaining 75% of students move); social groups that existed one year cease to exist as new groups emerge. The brat learns to adapt quickly to fit into this ever-changing environment. Highly mobile children are more likely to reach out to a new student, because they know what it is like to be the new student. Recent studies show that, although brats move on average every 3 years, they do not grow accustomed to moving. The constantly changing environment and openness to others has

2425-640: A tradition that was to continue for several years. Eight students graduated that first year in a combined ceremony with Munich American High School held at the Haus der Kunst in Munich. In the fall of 1947, the school moved to 19 Tannenstrasse in Fürth, a town approximately 6.5 miles from the Nürnberg main railway station, and changed its name to Nürnberg American High School. A former German girls school built in 1906,

2522-873: A warrior code of honor and service, frequent exposure to patriotic ideas and symbols, experience of free medical care, and military discipline). Military brats receive Tricare until they reach the age of 23 or age 25 (if Tricare Young Adult is purchased). While some non-military families may share some of these same attributes and experiences, military culture has a much higher incidence and concentration of these issues and experiences in military families as compared to civilian populations, and by tightly-knit military communities that perceive these experiences as normal. Studies show that growing up immersed in military culture can have long-lasting effects on children, both in positive and also some negative ways. Military bases are often small cities, sometimes with 10,000 or more people, and are self-contained worlds where military culture

2619-578: A wide range of role models in different professions. Strict discipline can have the opposite effect: brats may rebel or behave in adolescent manners well beyond what is normally considered acceptable. Others develop psychological problems due to the intense stress of always being on their best behavior. Military life is strictly segregated by rank ; the facilities provided for officers and enlisted personnel differ dramatically. The officers' housing will generally be more accessible to base activities, larger in size, and better landscaped . On larger bases,

2716-485: Is also true on military bases within the U.S.; as the diverse and more integrated military base community is isolated from the off-base community, and seen as the primary community, outside communities being secondary, military dependents are less likely to resort to racist notions. The bonds of the military community are normally seen by military dependents as being stronger bonds than the differences of race. Because military brats are constantly making new friends to replace

2813-455: Is contacted, the brat's behavior may become a part of the military member's record , and adversely affect his or her ability to be promoted or the duty assignments (particularly overseas) that lead to advancement. Research into military brats has consistently shown them to be better behaved than their civilian counterparts. Sociologist Phoebe Price posed three possible hypotheses as to why brats are better behaved: firstly, military parents have

2910-408: Is known in U.S. military culture as a term of endearment and respect. The term may also connote a military brat's experience of mobile upbringing, and may refer to a sense of worldliness. Research has shown that many current and former military brats like the term; however, outside of the military world, the term military brat can sometimes be misunderstood by the non-military population, where

3007-453: Is not limited to the physical trappings, but can be fortified via some of the consistent rituals common to them. When moving around the world, these rituals can help brats feel at home in their new community. Even though the faces and geography change, the "base" can remain recognizable because the rituals are often uniform. The underlying principle of these rituals is consistent: to promote patriotism. It has been claimed by Samuel Britten on

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3104-640: Is primary and civilian culture is secondary. Military families do not always live on base, but often do. Military towns, the areas immediately surrounding a base, are also often highly influenced by military culture. While the general public uses the term base to refer any military installation, within the US military the term base primarily applies to Air Force or Navy installations while Army installations are called posts . Military brats grow up moving from base to base as they follow their parent or parents to new assignments. Sometimes living on base, sometimes off,

3201-460: Is the standard of the U.S. military. Military brats are raised in a culture that stresses LDRSHIP, Duty, Honor, and Country. Their strict (outward) adherence to military values is what separates most from their civilian peers. Children of military personnel often mirror the values, ideals, and attitudes of their parents more than children of civilians. Marine General Peter Pace , the Chairman of

3298-475: The American Journal of Psychology , reviewed the parents of patients who came to his clinic, and concluded that 93% of patients came from military families that were overly authoritarian. Disciplinary expectations extend beyond the military family. Family members know that their actions and behavior can have a direct impact on the military service member's career. The consequences of misbehavior for

3395-559: The Deutschlandvertrag the occupation ended, and Germany and the U.S. became allies. For the students at NHS the change in status meant a new school building. The requisitioned building at 19 Tannenstrasse was returned to the Germans, and the U.S. built a brand new school at 30 Fronmüllerstraße, complete with an adjacent dormitory. It opened January 3, 1952. At the same time, American dependents began to leave their housing “on

3492-607: The Joint Chiefs of Staff , said in a 2006 interview, "There's no way, in my mind, that you can be successful in the military and have a family unless that family does, in fact, appreciate your service to the country." Pace also wrote in an April 2006 letter honoring the Month of the Military Child: "You [military children] are American patriots and role models for us all." The stereotypical military family might have had

3589-612: The Vietnam and Korean wars. As the Cold War came to an end, the role of the United States Armed Forces changed. The U.S. military realized that there was distinct correlation between the quality of life and retention and operational effectiveness. To this end, the military started to change the living standards that most Cold War brats grew up with. The demographics of the military changed. The modern military has

3686-735: The 1936 Olympics; and Stein Castle, requisitioned from the Faber-Castell family. It was the scene of the Junior-Senior Prom. A German-American Youth Club encouraged interaction with the local populace. At one program in the Nürnberg Opera House, junior Don Hilty recited to a full house a speech given by Abraham Lincoln to a group of Germans in Ohio in 1861. Other programs included general knowledge quiz contests between

3783-407: The 1990s, the army officially adopted what have come to be known as "The 7 Army Values", which are summarized with the acronym " LDRSHIP ". LDRSHIP stands for Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. While this acronym is relatively new, the ideas it represents have been at the heart of military service for generations. Similarly, the motto "Duty, honor, country"

3880-514: The Americans and Germans and visits to each other's schools. Enrollment remained low with approximately 70 students in grades 9-12. In June of its second year (1948) only four seniors graduated at the Haus der Kunst. During the next three years while enrollment hovered around 100, interaction with the German populace continued to be a fairly important part of school life. The Nürnberg Opera House

3977-420: The Cold War, such as Pat Conroy 's The Great Santini . In the 1980s and 1990s the U.S. military focused on the issues of abuse and alcoholism. The impact on the military's efforts remains inconclusive. Some studies report higher rates of abuse in military families, while others report lower rates. The studies that conclude abuse is a bigger problem in military families than civilian families attribute this to

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4074-524: The Department of Defense Dependent Schools was created for dependents of military members of the armed forces in overseas areas. After World War II, the increased demand for American education overseas was a result of the government's decision to allow soldiers to bring their families when deployed. By 1949, almost 100 schools were being operated separately by the Army, Navy, and Air Force in countries around

4171-567: The German Third Reich, American dependents of high school age in the Nürnberg area began school in a former private residence in Erlangen , a university town nearby. The freshmen met in the dining room, the sophomores in the living room, and the juniors and seniors had classes upstairs in bedrooms, according to Ed Thompson, who was there as a freshman student. About 70 students were enrolled. After Thanksgiving, classes were moved into

4268-470: The Science Building at Erlangen University. Though textbooks and supplies were hard come by, the faculty of eight and a teaching principal offered the core curriculum of the time. The students responded to their straitened circumstances by writing a constitution for their student council, organizing student assemblies, and holding a number of dances, including that staple of American high schools,

4365-419: The U.S. Defense Department reported that there were currently 2 million American children and teenagers who have had at least one parent deployed in a war zone in the then-current Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Over 900,000 have had a parent deployed multiple times. Most of the research into military brats has been conducted on the long-term effects on adults who grew up during the Cold War and also during

4462-513: The U.S. military to provide direct and indirect services to students with special needs. Not all levels of special education services are available at all schools and base locations. DoDDS range from kindergarten to 12th grade, and some universities are accredited by the Department of Defense. In addition to operating retail facilities on overseas military installations, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service provides four million school lunches each year in overseas Department of Defense schools at

4559-440: The U.S., exposure to foreign languages and cultures, and immersion in military culture . The military brats subculture has emerged over the last 200 years. The age of the phenomenon has meant military brats have also been described by a number of researchers as one of America's oldest and yet least well-known and largely invisible subcultures. They have also been described as a "modern nomadic subculture". Military brat

4656-759: The U.S., the DoDDS system is the tenth largest of American school systems. All schools in the DoDDS system operate outside of the states of the United States and the District of Columbia . There are also some schools that operate on military installations within the United States, but those are grouped in a separate organization within DoDEA, the Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS). DoDDS has superintendents for two districts: Europe and Pacific. The DoDDS Pacific schools are, for

4753-922: The United States and typically spend at least three years abroad. Sociologist Morten Ender conducted the largest scientific study to date exclusively on career military brats (those who had at least one parent in the military from birth through high school). He interviewed and sent questionnaires to over 600 brats who belonged to various brat organizations and responded to his newspaper and internet ads. His study revealed that 97% lived in at least one foreign country, 63% in two, 31% in three. They averaged eight moves before graduating from high school and spent an average of seven years in foreign countries. Over 80% now speak at least one language other than English, and 14% speak three or more. Ann Cottrell's work with third culture kids, however, shows slightly lower results, but her results did not specify career brats. Sociologist Henry Watanabe showed that military and civilian teenagers share

4850-722: The United States. Patriotic ideals often form the basis for church sermons . Protestant and Catholic worship services may include militaristic hymns . Prior to movies at base theaters, patrons and staff stand for the National Anthem and often another patriotic song, such as " God Bless the USA ". As of 2023, policy for schools in the Americas run by the Department of Defense Education Activity states that: "The Pledge of Allegiance or National Anthem will be incorporated into

4947-534: The active lifestyle, some for only part, although military family issues, dynamics and influences may continue nevertheless. Also, not all military brats grow up moving all the time, although many do. Military brats have been studied extensively, both from the perspective of social psychology and as a distinct and unique American subculture, although less so in terms of long-term impact of the lifestyle. There are also some gaps in studies of more recent (post- Cold War -era) military brats. Collectively these studies paint

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5044-475: The adverse effects of deployment especially with long deployments or deployments that occur during the month of academic testing. Effects can continue and can be detrimental for children's academic achievements. For the European branch of DoDDS, there are three districts: The Pacific branch, officially DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam, has three DoDDS districts and one DDESS district: The Kaiserslautern District has

5141-606: The age of 21 (or 23 if one attends college), access to bases to reminisce or reconnect with one's places of growing up can also be difficult. Although no exact figures are available, the U.S. Department of Defense estimates that approximately 15 million Americans are former or current military brats, including those who spent all or part of their childhood and/or adolescence in the lifestyle. This population includes an age range from less than 1 years old to over 90 years of age, since there have been military brats for generations. Many military brats spent all of their growing up years in

5238-453: The base in both cases is often the center of military brat life, where shopping, recreation, schools and the military community form a string of temporary towns for military brats as they grow up. Studies show that the culture on military bases is perceived by most current and former military brats as significantly different from civilian culture. It is widely experienced as being pervaded by military cultural norms and expectations, as well as

5335-449: The base, which can be very different from local, state or national laws, regulations and customs. Military language also has differences from standard American English and is often peppered with military slang and military acronyms . There are many words and phrases that are unique to the military world and which make up a part of everyday conversation on bases. For example, time is measured in 24-hour rather than 12-hour segments as in

5432-423: The basement of the school building. Both dormitories had supervisors, adults hired to keep order. Freshman Sara Davis Rodgers remembered her dorm supervisor vividly, Miss Margaret Mason, an English lady. She was known for insisting on open windows no matter the weather and a rigid bath schedule with each bather allotted “a certain time, in a certain amount of water, and for a specified time.” The morning get up call

5529-511: The basis of anecdotal evidence that life on military bases is associated with comparatively greater patriotic sentiments. For example, honoring the American flag is expected. At the end of the business day, on a military installation, the bugle call " To the Color " is played while the flag is lowered. While no longer universal, formerly anybody outside, even if participating in sports or driving

5626-408: The best in the United States. Though the U.S. Army was still the army of occupation and MPs guarded the school doors and often rode buses and trains when American youth traveled to and from school, American young people moved about freely and without fear, so reports one NHS alumnus who was there in the 1950–51 school year 1952 was a transforming year for the Americans in Germany. With the signing of

5723-575: The building on Tannenstrasse offered facilities superior to those in Erlangen. It had a gymnasium, a large assembly room, and a large basement with a dining hall and a combination library and study hall. Nearby requisitioned three-story private homes served as dormitories. Other facilities available to the students were a Teen-Age Club housed in the Fürth Opera House; Linde Stadium, an ice skating and swimming facility built by Nazi Germany for

5820-441: The child's military family is customarily transferred to new non-combat assignments; consequently, many military brats never have a home town. War-related family stresses are also a commonly occurring part of military brat life. There are also other aspects of military brat life that are significantly different in comparison to the civilian American population, often including living in foreign countries and/or diverse regions within

5917-590: The children of military overseas. The intent was to ensure an American educational experience for the American student. Therefore the children, teachers, and educational program were and are American. It then cost $ 10 to enroll a child ($ 156 in 2023 dollars). The schools would get operational funds from profits made by Class VI stores (alcohol) . It now can cost as much as $ 20,000 for enrollment for non-Command Sponsored military families, or Command Sponsored Contractors, and increases approximately $ 800 annually. In 1946,

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6014-617: The civilian world, and distances, primarily on stateside Army posts or on many U.S. bases of all services overseas, often described in meters and kilometers (or clicks in military slang) instead of yards or miles. Consequently, many military brats report feelings of cultural identity that have a military flavor and a feeling of difference from local civilian culture, even on bases in the United States. These feelings of difference can also be made more complex by virtue of having absorbed varying degrees of overseas cultures and also different regional American cultures while living in different places as

6111-576: The culture of the student's host nation are offered throughout high school. DoDDS schools operate with two structures in terms of grade levels: As a result of IDEA 2004 , students with special education disabilities attend schools within DoDDS. These students are in pre-K (preschool or early childhood) through high school. The infants-toddlers special education program exists overseas on U.S. military bases, though not coordinated through DoDDS. School psychologists are directly employed by DoDDS and civilian employed clinical child psychologists are employed by

6208-417: The demanding nature of military culture). Paradoxically, a majority of those very same military brats who report having struggled with perfectionism and performance control issues also describe themselves as being successful in their lives, indicating a resilience that also surfaces in overcoming or learning to manage those issues in the long run. Overall a majority of military brats report having developed

6305-577: The economy” and move into newly built housing around schools or U.S. bases. By 1955 the Kalb Community had grown up around NHS, and the campus boasted five additional buildings, including a new gymnasium. After this year, interaction with the native populace became a minor part of school life and remained so throughout the rest of the time NHS was open. Throughout the first decade of its existence, NHS enrollment averaged 120 and an average of 19 seniors graduated. In 1956-57 enrollment went over 200 for

6402-470: The first time (207) and there were 27 graduates A year later the enrollment had jumped another 100 students to 312. In June 1995, the last graduating seniors were awarded their diplomas from Nürnberg American High School, and the school closed 49 years after its opening. The Cold War was over; American troops were being withdrawn from the Nürnberg area. The communities served varied from year to year as military bases and schools opened and closed. In 1946–47,

6499-444: The individual children have attended civilian schools near base and socialized with their peers, this perceived difference may have reduced to varying degrees. Patriotism may come to mean different things for different ex-military brats, but nevertheless figures strongly in the upbringing, language and thinking of many who grew up in military families. The comfort, or sense of restriction, (or both) that can be found on military bases

6596-587: The junior-senior prom. Beginning in January 1947, the students had a weekly mimeographed newspaper and ended the year by publishing a mimeographed yearbook. During the spring some students had an unusual educational opportunity in that they took field trips to sessions of the Nürnberg War Trials. In June, all the seniors in the five high schools in Germany (about 100) were given a cruise down the Rhine,

6693-649: The larger school. Recent studies, however, show that mobility during the school year may be less traumatic than summertime moves. DoDDS schools overseas and DDESS schools in the United States tend to be smaller than many public schools. Students and teachers often interact in a more social manner with one another. When returning to civilian schools, the lack of camaraderie with the faculty can be an unexpected obstacle for many highly mobile families. Military brats have lower delinquency rates, higher achievement scores on standardized tests , and higher median IQs than their civilian counterparts. They are more likely to have

6790-700: The long hours, frequent disruptions in lifestyles, and high degree of stress. They point out that military families may be more reluctant to report issues of abuse because of the potential impact on the service member's career. Other studies, however, argue that military families have a smaller problem than civilian families because military culture offers more accessible help for victims of abuse. Military families have health care, housing, and family support programs often unavailable to lower income civilian families. Abusive family members are more likely to be ordered (by their commanding officer or base commander) to obtain treatment, thus reducing reoccurrences of abuse. In 2010,

6887-668: The military and mandating equality of treatment and opportunity. It outlawed segregation in the military and made it illegal, per military law, to make a racist remark. Fifteen years later, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara issued Department of Defense Directive 5120.36 . "Every military commander," the Directive mandates, "has the responsibility to oppose discriminatory practices affecting his men and their dependents and to foster equal opportunity for them, not only in areas under his immediate control, but also in nearby communities where they may gather in off-duty hours." The directive

6984-447: The military communities served were Amberg, Ansbach, Bad Kissingen, Bamberg, Bayreuth, Giebelstadt, Grafenwohr, Kitzingen, Nürnberg, Regensburg, Schweinfurt, Straubing, Weiden, and Würzburg. In 1957-58 the communities served were Amberg, Ansbach, Bamberg, Bayreuth. Crailsheim, Erlangen, Fürth, Grafenwohr, Herzo, Hohenfels, Illesheim, Nürnberg, Rothenberg, Schwabach, Schwäbisch Hall, and Vilseck. Any student who lived more than 50 miles from

7081-401: The military hierarchy. This is often conveyed to the children of military personnel. Two brats whose parents have a subordinate-supervisory relationship can cause problems for both their parents. To a lesser degree, military classism also includes the branch of service to which the military parent belongs. If asked to name "the best branch of service," military brats will almost invariably name

7178-532: The morning announcements. Participation is not mandatory, but all students are expected to show respect." The military family knows that the service person may be killed in the line of duty, but may accept that risk because they understand the values of duty, honor, and country. The mission is one in which the brat shares by extension through his military parent. Military law requires commanding officers and those in authority to demonstrate virtue , honor , patriotism, and subordination in all that they do. In

7275-506: The most DoDDS schools worldwide, and serves over 5,000 students. Beginning with the 2007–08 school year, Kaiserslautern High School merged with a neighboring elementary school. Students from Landstuhl Middle School and other students living in select areas were redistricted to Kaiserslautern starting with the 2008–09 school year. Current elementary students will attend Vogelweh Elementary. Therefore, KHS's student population will increase from 650 students to about 900. For every sports season,

7372-822: The most part, in the Far East on installations in South Korea and Japan . Schools on military bases in Guam are under DDESS jurisdiction, but are administered by DoDDS Pacific (presumably for administrative convenience). Turkish DoDDS schools are served by the European branch. Schools on the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba fall under the jurisdiction of DoDDS, but are administered by DDESS. Schools on bases in Puerto Rico are under DDESS. Although

7469-402: The notion of a military base and the communities in which they find themselves. This is because the knowledge, experience, values, ideas, attitudes, skills, tastes, and techniques that are associated with the military can sometimes differ from civilian culture. Military bases are miniature, self-contained, government- subsidized towns that promote conformity. Military families shop at some of

7566-636: The officers' housing may be broken down into different categories, with senior officers receiving larger and more opulent housing; sometimes, the highest-ranking officers live in a row of large houses often referred to as "Colonels'/Captains' Row" or "Generals'/Admirals' Row," as the case may be. The Officer Clubs are more elegant than the Enlisted Clubs. Officers have cleaner, more elaborate recreational facilities than their enlisted counterparts. Historically, base chapels and movie theaters would have designated seating for officers and their families. For

7663-582: The one to which their parent belonged. They will be able to articulate many reasons why "their" branch of the service is the best. These biases are maintained well past the time they cease to be military dependents . When brats grow up, these boundaries are replaced by a shared identity based upon that of being a military brat. While a class hierarchy is reflected in stratified housing structures, military classism differs from traditional class structures in some significant ways – namely, schooling and access to quality healthcare. Children of military personnel attend

7760-529: The ones that they have lost, they are often more outgoing and independent. On the other hand, the experience of being a constant stranger can lead them to feel estranged everywhere, even if later in life they settle down in one place. According to the largest study conducted on nearly 700 TCKs , eighty percent claim that they can relate to anyone, regardless of differences such as race, ethnicity, religion, or nationality. A typical military school can experience up to 50% turnover every year (25% graduate while

7857-400: The pervasive military culture on those bases, the absence of a parent due to deployments, the threat of parental loss in war , stresses associated with the psychological aftermath of war (living with war-affected returning veteran parents) and the militarization of the family unit (children being treated to some degree like soldiers and being subjected to military regimentation, inculcation into

7954-604: The presence of military police or their other military security forces equivalents, armed guards, high security zones and some degree of surveillance. Some bases also contain unique features, such as air bases with numerous aircraft and attendant noise, or seaports with large numbers of naval vessels. Balancing this are extensive areas which are more relaxed in character, for on-base housing, shopping, dining, recreation, sports and entertainment, as well as base chapels which host diverse religious services. However, military regulations, laws and social codes of conduct are in force throughout

8051-427: The same base schools regardless of rank, creating peer cultures that are usually not class-based, and providing equal access to educational resources. Similarly, all military personnel receive the same quality of healthcare by the same providers. In 1948, nearly 20 years before the civil rights movement swept through the non-military segments of U.S. society, President Truman signed Executive Order 9981 integrating

8148-578: The same concerns and desires, but that growing up in a mobile community offers opportunities and experiences generally unavailable to geographically stable families. A sociological study of overseas American military communities in Cold War Germany also showed some transformational effects on those communities due to foreign exposure. Two of the common themes in Wertsch's book are abuse and alcoholism . These are echoed in other literature of

8245-437: The same stores, whose discounted merchandise is regulated to prevent unfair competition, so they can often end up with the same clothes and products. Male brats were, at one time, likely to get the same "military haircut" at the base barbershop, but this has changed over time. To a child growing up on a military base, in a homogeneous culture, the individuality of civilian life was once thought to be completely foreign. However, as

8342-468: The school lived in nearby residence facilities during the school week and went home for the weekend. Facilities for resident students were primitive that first year. According to freshman Ed Thompson, the boys lived in an old barracks at the Erlangen Air Force base, sleeping on GI cots. They had hot water but no other heat. During this time, senior Sherrill Fetzer became “renowned for starting

8439-432: The schools are primarily for dependents of military personnel, U.S. government employees are allowed to enroll their children in the schools on a space-available basis. As all of these schools are situated overseas, a concerted effort is made to immerse the children in the local culture. Language and culture courses are offered as early as elementary school, while advanced language courses and opportunities to intimately view

8536-774: The schools compete in the DoDDS Championship, held at various locations. Military brat (U.S. subculture) In the United States , a military brat (also known by various "brat" derivatives ) is the child of a parent(s), adopted parent(s), or legal guardian(s) serving full-time in the United States Armed Forces , whether current or former. The term military brat can also refer to the subculture and lifestyle of such families. The military brat lifestyle typically involves moving to new states or countries many times while growing up, as

8633-614: The stresses of having a parent deployed to a war zone and also the psychological aftermath of war in dealing with returning veteran parents. In some cases there is also the loss of a parent in combat, or a drastic change in a parent due to a combat related disability. A military brat may personally know another child or teenager, or even a few other peers, whose parents have become war casualties (wounded or killed). A significant minority of ex-military brats may exhibit symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder , avoidant personality disorder , separation anxiety disorder , etc. Although neither

8730-499: The water was being heated – so it was hot water but cold air." She said the girls bathed only twice a week. Meals were also problematic. At first the resident students had their meals in the U.S. Army mess hall at Erlangen. Ed Thompson said, “The girls sure did get the once-over by all the GIs ....” Music for dining was often provided. At his first meal there, Thompson said a German girl sang “Sentimental Journey.” Later, meals were eaten in

8827-413: The word brat is often a pejorative term. Studies show that this group is shaped by several forces. A major influence is the fact of frequent moves, as the family follows the military member-parent (or in some cases, both parents who are military members) who is transferred from military base to military base, each move usually being hundreds or thousands of miles in distance. Other shaping forces include

8924-803: The world. In 2011 there were 120 schools. With the closing of Heidelberg High School in 2012, all of the original high schools opened in post World War II Europe are now closed, although many other DoDDS high schools have opened since then. The original six were Berlin, Bremen, Frankfurt , Heidelberg, Munich and Nurnberg . All six American High Schools opened in Germany in September/October 1946. DoDDS also operates Kubasaki High School on Okinawa, Japan , Nile C. Kinnick High School in Yokosuka, Japan (formerly Yokohama High School), and W.T. Sampson High School in Cuba. Although operating outside

9021-432: The worst time to move. The student is forced to join classes that have already begun. Social groups become even more difficult to break into, and activities that the student enjoyed may be barred to him or her. For example, an athlete may not be able to join his or her sport because they missed tryouts and the season had already begun. A student who excelled at their old DoDDS or DDESS school suddenly feels inadequate at

9118-408: Was co-ed. Boys were housed on one side of the building, while girls were on the opposite side. The areas were separated by a large room with couches, stereo speakers, pool and foosball tables. The following alumni were killed in the course of military service. Class of 1959 Class of 1960 Class of 1962 Class of 1965 DoDDS DoDDS started operating schools October 14, 1946, for

9215-413: Was especially memorable. The National Anthem was played over loudspeakers at full volume. “If your feet hadn't hit the floor and you weren't in an upright position immediately, Miss Mason was in your room berating you: 'Stand up you unpatriotic daughter of a rich American Army officer.' The loudspeakers then played 'I'm Looking over a Four Leaf Clover.'” Later, the dorm was located on the school campus and

9312-444: Was issued in 1963, but it was not until 1967 that the first non-military installation was declared off-limits to military personnel due to its discriminatory practices. While these directives did not eliminate all racism in the military, they continue to affect the culture in which children of military personnel grow up. When families go overseas, minority students rarely experience overt racism from their expatriate neighbors. This

9409-583: Was the scene of a dance of 500 German and American youth and a forum discussing "World Federation." The Nürnberg Special Services, assisted by a number of NHS boys and girls, presented a musical production, “Rhapsody in Rhythm,” in a full opera house. By the end of its fifth year, the Dependents School Service was able to claim that the courses of study, textbooks, and teaching supplies in the American schools in Germany compared favorably with

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