Military Child of the Year Award
Scholarship Sponsored by Operation Homefront
Now celebrating its 18th anniversary, the Military Child of the Year® Award by Operation Homefront is a testament to the remarkable contributions made by these extraordinary young individuals to their military families, educational institutions, and local communities.
Understanding the Awards
These annual accolades honor exceptional youths aged between 13 and 18. Each recipient embodies a branch of the armed forces — the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Space Force — demonstrating scholarship, volunteer work, leadership, extracurricular activities, and other attributes while navigating the complexities of military family life.
All awardees of the Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year Award will be flown, along with a parent or guardian, to Washington, D.C., for recognition at the April 2026 gala. At this event, high-ranking officials from each military branch will present the awards. Each recipient will also receive $10,000, a laptop computer, and other gifts donated. The gala typically takes place in April, known as the month of the military child, as a gesture of gratitude and support for military families.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- The child must be a legal dependent of a military member, as verified by the DEERS enrollment form.
- The age of the military children must be between 13 and 18 at the time of nomination.
- The child and one adult guardian must be able to travel to Washington, DC, from April 14-17, during the month of the military child, to attend the Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year Awards Gala.
- Operation Homefront's officers, directors, employees, and agents, as well as their immediate family members (parents, children, siblings, and spouses) and those residing in the same household, are not eligible to receive programs, services, grants, or donated goods intended for Operation Homefront’s clients.
- Previous recipients of the Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year Award, including those who received the Innovation Award, are not eligible for future awards.