Some 2,800 Iowa National Guard soldiers are deploying for duty in Afghanistan. But that’s not the whole story — and no one understands that better than their kids. That’s why the Speak Out for Military Kids (SOMK) team educates the public about the challenges military families face throughout the deployment cycle.
Many of these kids have faced multiple deployments, said Chris Gleason, project director for ISU Extension 4-H’s Operation: Military Kids (OMK). “These young people have strong voices and it’s important that we listen to them.”