Life as a military child can be a wild ride, full of adventures and challenges, as well as new friends, new schools, new cities and new countries. Here at the USO, we want to know what YOUR military life has been like and what makes it unique so that we can share your story with the world.
Whether you express it by art or in writing – via painting or sketches, essays or poems – we want military kids to answer one question:
What does being a military kid mean to you?
Showcase Categories
There will be 3 categories for this creative showcase:
- Writing -Youth (Ages 12 and younger)
- Writing -Teen (Ages 13-18)
- Visual Art (All kids ages 18 and younger)
Eligibility
The USO Military Kid Creative Showcase is open to any U.S. military child of an active-duty, Reserve or National Guard service member. Participants must be ages 18 or younger.
Showcase Rules
- Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on April 30, 2024.
- One submission per category.
- Open to children of currently serving active duty, reserve and National Guard service members
- The online submission form must be completed by a parent or legal guardian of the minor and sent via the online form. Parents/legal guardians must fill out the submission form to provide consent for their minor’s participation in the showcase.
- For visual artwork entries, simply take a picture of your child’s artwork or scan and upload. For writing entries, please upload your submission as a Word document or PDF.
- Writing -Youth submissions must be approximately 75-500 words.
- Writing -Teen submissions must be approximately 500-1,000 words.
- English language requirement for writing.
- Only original art and writing will be accepted.
As part of the USO’s Military Kids Creative Showcase, we offer a downloadable artwork canvas for kids to express themselves freely. Please note that the use of these frames is entirely optional, allowing children to showcase their creativity in any format they prefer.
The submission period for the USO Military Kids Creative Showcase has now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Check out a few of our military kids' submissions!
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Jase M., Age 10
“Being a military child means I get hugs from my own hero at bedtime.”
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Bayley L., Age 12
“Being in a military family is hard, but I’m proud to be in one. My bonus dad serves our home country protecting us all, and I’m proud to be his daughter and proud to be in a military family. My artwork represents our country and the men and women who serve in the military protecting us all. The flag will always wave thanks to our heroes.“
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Analynn M., Age 11
“Being a military kid means my daddy is sometimes far away in distance but never in my heart.“
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Emaleigh M., Age 11
“I’m proud to be a military kid. My daddy is the best Army man and I’m proud of him!”
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Yemi E., Age 6
“Being a military child for me means going to visit my Daddy on his ship and walking up the ladder stairs to see his work office.”
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Murphy T., Age 8
“My daughter Murphy was really excited at the chance to create a drawing. Art is her happy space,” her mother explained. “I love this drawing because she has really owned being a ‘military brat’ and reclaiming the term to mean all the spoils of being a military kid and what it means to her. And she really wanted to include just her and her dad in his uniform.”
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Shaw T., Age 6
“When I asked my son Shaw about his drawing, he described being a military kid as just him being happy,” said Shaw’s mother. “We often talk about the tough parts, like moving or missing family and friends, but we relish all the good, like getting to see places we would never have the chance to, and having a community ready for us wherever we go. He’s very proud of his dad’s service and is quick to tell his new friends that his daddy is a soldier.”
