Military Families: "Pride and Honor"

by: AJ Kavlick, class of 2023

Veterans Day is about honoring the sacrifices of those who have served in the United States military. Being part of a military family requires sacrifices as well, such as moving around often and acclimating to new environments. Both of my parents served as colonels in the United States Air Force, as well as my grandfather, and my great grandfather, who served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Saint James not only has a significant military community, but much of our student body is made up of military “brats.”

These are students who have had to jump from school-to-school, state-to-state, and even between countries after their parents’ reassignments. Many students at Saint James have had the privilege of staying in one city and going to one school kindergarten through graduation. Military children don’t have this type of stability. I, for one, can speak from experience. I first came to Saint James in the 3rd grade, having previously lived in Washington D.C. Before I could establish myself in this school, I moved abroad to Greece. In Greece, my dad served as the Air Attaché in the Embassy, representing the U.S. Air Force overseas. Living in a foreign country came as a shock for me, and it was not long before I missed my life in the U.S. However, I learned some valuable lessons while in Greece.

First and foremost, I learned how to adapt to new environments, even though I knew that my time there was limited. But more importantly, I gained a newfound appreciation of my country, which many of us might take for granted. I was glad to have returned to Saint James, which offered me some sense of stability after an exciting, but turbulent year. Even though I had begun to develop roots in Montgomery, I took up the offer to live another year overseas, this time in Azerbaijan. I could have stayed in Alabama,

“Being part of a military family was no longer a mere inconvenience, but a source of pride and honor.”

— AJ Kavlick, STJ junior

where I would not have to risk starting from scratch again. Even to this day, I ask myself whether I should have stayed behind. Yet, I was honored to be an “ambassador” for America in a country that most Americans cannot find on a map. This time, my father was representing the entire military as the Defense Attaché. This gave me a sense of responsibility, since my classmates’ impression of me would inevitably be their impression of the United States. From that moment on, I sought to better understand the United States’ relations in the world. Through my experience with Azerbaijani culture, I learned how to refine my own. By the time I arrived back home, I was changed for good. Being part of a military family was no longer a mere inconvenience, but a source of pride and honor. The next time you thank members of our military, also take the time to thank a military “brat” for the sacrifices they’ve had to make. You could even learn a thing or two about their unique experience. After all, it takes a team for the military to protect the freedoms we know and love.

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