2023/Liam-

My family may not actively be serving in the Armed Forces, but I am still a part of DoDEA. My parents are teachers for the elementary school next door to my high school. DoDEA allows teachers to move around the world and teach kids on military bases. You may ask how did this happens?

While my dad was serving in the Air Force 20 years ago, my older brother was born in Okinawa. Based on their experience in Okinawa, my parents fell in love with Japan and its culture and promised to return one day. That day happened about 14 months ago. My brother had just turned 18. After my dad’s retirement from the military, my parents became teachers and discovered that they could return to Japan as teachers and bring the whole family.

My parent applied for jobs through DoDEA. Although they did not get their jobs right away, they interviewed for jobs in Germany and Italy. Then finally, my dad got an interview for a job in Iwakuni, Japan. We picked up our whole life to move to a foreign country for who knows how long. I had to leave my friends and family. My dog had to stay back in the States, too because she had to be quarantined for rabies. I have been here for more than a year now. I am currently in 9th grade, and I love it here. It was worth moving my life to a foreign country. I know I don't have it as hard as some military children. They are forced to move around just after they start to know people. As a child of DoDEA teachers, I have input in where we move next because every two years my parents decide if they want to stay or move back to the States.

In the end, I'm not a military child, but my parents are here in support of the members of military and their families. After all, we spend most of our time on a base in Japan. I know that moving across the world is not for everyone but I am so thankful for this opportunity.