Brody and Macie Coyle > Air Education and Training Command > Article View

Each April, the Department of Defense recognizes the unique challenges military children face. In 2023, 39% of military personnel are parents, so that more than 1.6 million children experience a unique upbringing thanks to their parents’ military service. During Month of the Military Child, the Department of Defense partners with national, state and local governments, schools, military organizations and businesses to celebrate military children.

These resilient children include Brody and Macie Coyle, 11 and 9-year-old children of Lt. Col. Thomas Coyle, commander of Marine Corps Detachment Goodfellow, and Felicia Coyle. They were born in Hawaii while stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, and went through three moves and three schools in just five years. On average, military families move every three to four years. While this can cause significant stress, not only for the children but for the entire family, it presents a unique opportunity.

“These children have a friendly face all over the world and they are so developed. They have been able to experience so many different types of education and a variety of school cultures,” said Felicia Coyle. “Although it is a challenge, it is also an opportunity for them.”

Military children have the tools to experience many different cultures, meet people from all over the world, and learn from an early age how to adapt and be resilient in a number of ways.

Two challenges military children face are constantly adapting to new situations and learning to be flexible. As they adapt to new environments, children also face the challenges of making new friends and coping with prolonged and close family separation.

“I think it can create a lot of fear in their hearts and minds as they wonder, ‘When are we going to meet friends? What will our new neighborhood look like? Will we fit in at our new school?”, Felicia explained.

The Coyle family prioritizes communication with distant friends and family to combat these thoughts and reduce feelings of insecurity. With modern technology, keeping in touch is as easy as sending a text or calling people who are not so easy to see. Creating a whole-family support system for immediate support serves a similar purpose.

“We were in a unique situation when Felicia was pregnant with Brody. We were newlyweds with a child on the way while living in Hawaii, with no family physically there to support us. I had old family friends of my father’s who were retired from the Navy; they helped us a lot. They bought groceries, held babies and changed diapers,” said Thomas and Felicia.

Years later, they still tap into local resources and stay close to friends with similar dynamics. As a service member, spouse, or military child, there are many resources available regarding counseling, early childhood education, and employment.

“You’d be surprised how much help there is to navigate it. Maybe you’re in San Angelo for your first deployment, or you’ve been there for 19 years and you’re moving to Camp Pendleton for the third time, and there’s a new wrinkle in life and your spouse or child has a need. There are tools that you just have to dare to ask for; putting each other first,” says Felicia.

For Brody and Macie, leaving friends, going to new schools, long plane rides and learning to make new friends are some of their biggest challenges, but they know they have an abundance of support behind them, guiding them every step of the way and holding their little children. hands on the go. They have friends and family who are ready to help them when they need it, and teach them how to be there for others who are going through the same thing.

“Always be kind and help them, share school supplies and don’t be afraid,” Brody and Macie said, smiling.

Looking toward their future, Brody Coyle wants to be a Marine, “just like my dad,” he explained, and Macie wants to be a singer.

“We always say it’s not going to be a good day, it’s going to be a great day,” – Felicia Coyle.