Operation: Military Kids (OMK)

Operation Military Kids is the U.S. Army's collaborative effort with America's communities to support the children and youth impacted by deployment. Operation: Military Kids is part of the 4-H/Army Youth Development Project. Through a network of community partners, OMK provides youth with program opportunities and connects them to local support resources. Through OMK, California 4-H clubs in Alameda, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Ventura, Bakersfield, Orange County, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Imperial have provided 4-H club project activities for military children. Projects in environmental education, animal science, and photography have been offered at mobilization briefings and local military family events. California is one of 49 states implementing this program.

Partners of this national program include Army Child and Youth Services; National 4-Headquarters; USDA; National Guard Bureau; Army Reserve; Military Child Education Coalition; YMCA; Boys & Girls Clubs of America; National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies; and The American Legion and the Legion Auxiliary.

Main Point of Contact:
Berney DeLaCruz
CA Operation: Military Kids Coordinator
(661) 868-6227
bdelacruz@ucdavis.edu

For more information about Operation: Military Kids, please visit our national OMK website.

Join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CAOMK

OMK Core Projects

Speak Out for Military Kids

In the Speak Out for Military Kids Project, 4-H youth can learn how many military youth there are in California. 4-H members help create presentations that speak out on behalf of military kids. 4-H youth can present this information to friends and families, on presentation days, or at other 4-H events. This project is fun and provides recognition opportunities.

Hero Packs

In the Hero Pack Project, 4-H members learn about the contents of a hero pack. 4-H clubs can then assemble hero packs, which provide support for military children. The packs often include information about 4-H clubs. Operation: Military Kids support staff will help 4-H clubs get into contact with a military unit to distribute these packs to kids.

Hero Pack Guidance at a Glance

Hero Pack Request Form

Hero Pack Appreciation Letter Sample

4-H Babysitter Training

The 4-H/Army Child & Youth Services Babysitting Training is an exciting project that utilizes the expertise of our 4-H staff members through training events. The California 4-H Partnership Program has offered this training to 4-H teens, military teens and other OMK community partners in many counties across California. Teens learn many skills, such as safety, playtime activities, diapering, discipline, nutrition, emergency preparedness, child development, cpr/first aid, and the business of babysitting.

Mobile Technology Lab

Mobile Technology Lab (MTL) trainings assist kids with communicating with their deployed loved one. Youth can use the lab’s resources to create family photos and greeting cards for family members and soldiers who are or about to be deployed. MTL Youth programming events are held in conjunction with military family programming events year round. MTL is also used by military and community partner youth to create projects to better educate the general public about the lives of military youth and their familes.

Request a Mobile Technology Lab (MTL) by contacting Crystal O'Hara, 4-H Military Partnership Program Representative, at the 4-H State Office (530) 757-8968 OR fill out a checkout survey under the Request Mobile Technology Lab (MTL) tab.

Ready, Set, Go! Training Events

4-H county offices can host a "Ready, Set, Go!" training event in support of the Operation: Military Kids program. Sessions are presented on military culture, the deployment process, and its impact upon children and families, as well as the roles of all OMK partner organizations.

Citizenship Support Opportunities

4-H clubs can support additional local military events by volunteering to conduct 4-H project presentations at these events. Military children from all branches of the service benefit from these efforts. 4-H clubs have an opportunity to build relationships with the military community and increase enrollment in their clubs.