THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, December 25, 1995 TAG: 9512210025
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A22 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Regarding ``Military life can wage war on a child's psyche'' (Commentary, Dec. 10): Christopher O'Kennon questioned whether the military is a good place for families or children. He based his opinions and arguments on his experience as a mental-health worker at Poplar Springs Hospital in Chester, Va. Mr. O'Kennon paints a picture of the military family, particularly the children, as being dysfunctional for a variety of reasons.
Having served for more than 11 years, I take particular offense at his insinuation that the military children will eventually find themselves in psychiatric care. I have a wife and two daughters, so I do not deny that military families face extraordinary challenges requiring extraordinary parental skills and support systems, but as Mr. O'Kennon admits, children are very resilient.
Mr. O'Kennon may have a great deal of experience working with teenagers from military families, but he is being prejudicial by attributing to all military families the traits of those children and families he works with.
Mr. O'Kennon's assumptions are faulty because he bases them solely on what he observes in his work environment. He does not take into consideration the families he never meets because they are healthy, normal families, and will never enter his work environment.
I expect that I have worked with more sailors that Mr. O'Kennon has worked with military families, and I feel confident in my belief that the families he works with are the exception and not the rule. I can say this because as an officer, I not only get to know my sailors, I also get to know their families; and when one of my sailors is having family problems I will eventually find out.
Military families face difficulties and make sacrifices no other families have to make. In spite of that, military children, resilient creatures that they are, can in fact grow up to be model citizens and leaders in society. If Mr. O'Kennon needs proof, I would direct his attention to the long and distinguished list of admirals, generals, presidents and congressmen in America's history who were also ``military brats.''
RAFAEL ESPINOSA
Norfolk, Dec. 12, 1995 by CNB