'BRATS' tell their story Published Oct. 30, 2009 By Airman Matthew Varga 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- It's often said that when someone joins the military, they aren't the only ones serving. Husbands and wives offer support, but recently another group gained recognition when an organization produced a film telling the story of military children. Operation Military BRAT presented the movie "BRATS: Our Journey Home" Oct. 19 at Hirschi High School in Wichita Falls, Texas. It is the first film to document growing up in the military. The free screening of the film is part of a 50-city national outreach tour. "'BRATS: Our Journey Home' is the first nonfiction film about this little-known American subculture," said Timothy Wurtz, co-producer of the film. "It is based on seven years of research that is now the largest qualitative database on the long-term effects of growing up in the military." Brat, which is a time honored reference to military children based on the acronym "British regimental attached traveler," are oftentimes forgotten amongst the rest of the military. They're merely the silent followers of their parents and their travels around the globe, said Donna Musil, writer, director and producer of the film. Military brats make up an estimated 5 percent of the American population, according to the Operation Military BRAT Web site. Cumulatively, there are more than 15 million adult military brats. Currently there are 1.5 million military brats spread across the globe. "We need to know where we're from and who we are, and that's part of why I decided to make this movie," Ms. Musil said. Ms. Musil said she moved 12 times in 16 years and has moved another 19 times in the past 20 years. No one is talking about the effect multiple moves has on brats. "Our hope is this movie and Operation Military BRAT will raise awareness in communities across the U.S. to the presence of military brats in the hope they combine their efforts to come together and help give the children of the military some stability and a sense of belonging," Ms. Musil said. Mr. Wurtz said the movie is designed to help families understand what it is like to grow up in the military. Understanding the situation makes it easier to help people. There are very few organizations that currently take a special interest in acting as a safety net for military brats; however, they are growing. "Adult brats, like me, are starting to speak about the issue and changes are slowly being made," Ms. Musil said. Airman 1st Class Matthew Sharp, an 82nd Communications Squadron airfield systems apprentice, attended the screening and was surprised at how well the film mirrored his experience of growing up in the military. "The film really depicted how it is to grow up with parents in the military," Airman Sharp said. "No one really thinks it's a big deal, or you feel alone in the experience. It is a cool opportunity to see that other people either have gone through it or are going through it." For more information visit www.Bratsfilm.com or www.operationmilitarybrat.org.