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The Unspoken Military Brat Comradery

Military brats face many of the same struggles and experiences. As a military brat, constantly moving is almost always a given. Ever since I was one-year old, I've been constantly moving from place to place. Being the new kid is never easy, but as a military brat you get used to it and other military brats are used to having new kids; sometimes multiple in one year. Getting used to your new school can be challenging and trying to fit in and make new friends can be intimidating. Military brats usually have an easier time not just because we are used to it, but because between us all there is an unspoken comradery. We all know the struggle of being the new kid and we all have similar experiences, values and morals. Not only that, most of us are inviting and can make it seem like "the new kid" has actually been living there the whole time, like they are part of the family.
Most of my friends are people I've met at a military installations. All of my best friends are military brats just like me. I have had some of my friends for years and they are definitely like family to me and I know we'll have each other until we die. Beyond sharing things such as similar music taste, liking the same TV shows, and having the same sense of humor, we share something deeper. We get each other on a level that others outside of the military experience may not.
Military brats as a whole share the values of being responsible, respectful, independent, and the best you can be. We also share similar experiences and we know the struggles that come with being part of a military family. Military children can be a category all on their own and our uniqueness and strength make all of us all a big family.
I have non-military friends and love them just as much as my military friends, but there is a difference in our bonds. There are some things that my non-military friends can't understand, like being a third culture kid, and sometimes our world views and ideals differ. With my military friends there is an unspoken empathy in place and we understand the struggles we may be facing and we can relate to things my non-military friends may have no experience with. Being part of a military family exposes you to many experiences that other people may never have in their life and this makes us unique, but it can also make us hard to relate to. Despite this, though, my non-military friends and I still get along very well and I still love them all. There are just moments where I am able to tell that I definitely grew up in a different environment. I love all of my friends equally, but I will forever have a spot in my heart for my military childhood and friends.

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