North Carolina 4-H is proud to support the more than 123,622 active duty, reserve and guard troops who call our state home. Particularly during this time of global deployment, these soldiers need to know that their families here at home are surrounded by supportive citizens, offering a cadre of services and resources to help ease the stress of pre-deployment, deployment and post-deployment. Approximately 109,375 military youth from the ages of 0 to 18 (17,220 Guard and Reserve and 85,898 Active Duty) call North Carolina home.

Several programs and partnerships are offered and managed through North Carolina 4-H both on installations/bases and in the geographically dispersed areas from which guard and reserve troops are deployed. Local Extension Centers have information and staff members ready to assist.

Mission:

Creating awareness and understanding of the issues and stresses faced by military families and youth while building community partnerships to increase capacity for youth and families.

What is Operation: Military Kids (OMK)

Key elements of our program include:

• Operation: Military Kids Volunteer Training
• Speak Out for Military Kids (SOMK)
• Ready, Set, Go! (RSG!) Trainings
• Mobile Technology Lab (MTL)
• Hero FAMILY Packs
• North Carolina's Operation: Military Kids Visual Arts Contest

Press Releases

Military Youth Honored at Wolfpack Baseball Game

NC OMK State Team Members 2012-2013

NC OMK Upcoming Events:

         2013 Calendar of Events  Events scheduled from April through September 2013

• NC Operation: Military Kids (OMK) State Team Meeting (Fae-to-Face) - 14 May 2013. Mrs. Linda Gore, Moore County 4-H Agent will host the meeting.  Contact Scott Enroughty for more information
•  
• Teen Career Exploration Retreat for Military Youth - 28-29 June 2013 (Asheville Armory, Asheville, NC) FLYER     REGISTRATION FORM       REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 21 June 2013

NC OMK STATE TEAM Meeting Schedule:

• 11 June 2013 - Conference Call
• 16 July 2013 - Conference Call
• 13 August 2013 - Face-to-Face Meeting hosted by American Red Cross, U.S. Army Reserve CYSS, Cumberland County 4-H and Community BluePrint
• 10 September 2013 - Face-to-Face Meeting hosted by Wayne County 4-H

NC OMK Trainings:

• OMK Tech Discovery Training
• Ready, Set, Go! (RSG!)
• Mobile Technology Lab (MTL) Trainings
• Speak Out for Military Kids (SOMK) Training Opportunities
  • M.T.E.S.T. (Military Teens Engaged in Service through Technology) Registration
• Yellow Ribbon Kit Training

OMK Reporting Forms:

• Monthly Reports are due by 12:00PM (noon) on the 5th of each Month
• Monthly OMK Report Form (click and download desired report form)
  • OMK Cover Sheet   (A Cover Sheet must accompany each report when submitted)
  • OMK State Team Meeting
  • OMK Local Community Meeting
  • OMK Ready, Set, Go! (RSG!)
  • OMK Informational Briefing
  • OMK Military Youth-Focused Program
  • OMK Hero FAMILY Packs
  • OMK Mobile Technology Lab (MTL)
  • OMK Speak Out for Military Kids (SOMK) Youth Presentation
  • OMK Speak Out for Military Kids (SOMK) Youth Training
  • OMK Contributors
  • OMK Other Military Youth-Focused Program (OMYFP)

Other Military Outreach Projects and Resources:

• NC Operation: Military Kids(OMK) Visual Arts Contest:
  • 6th Annual NC OMK Visual Arts Contest Guidelines 2013
  • 6th Annual NC OMK Visual Arts Contest 2013 – RESULTS
  • 5th Annual NC OMK Visual Arts Contest 2012 – RESULTS
  • 4th Annual NC OMK Visual Arts Contest 2011 – RESULTS
• NC OMK Community Partners Program:
  • Application
  • Reimbursement Form
• Mobile Technology Lab(MTL):
  • MTL Availability
  • MTL Request Form
  • MTL Feedback Report Form
  • http://go.ncsu.edu/omkmtl
• OMK Tech Discovery Kit:
•             Kit Request Form
•             Tech Discovery FEEDBACK Form
• Hero FAMILY Packs:
  • Request Form
  • Feedback Report Form
  • http://go.ncsu.edu/omkheropack
  • Hero FAMILY Pack Wish List
  • Wish List for Service Members Care Packages
  • How to Make a Handmade Draw String Hero FAMILY Pack Instructions

NC OMK Events, Activities, and Program Suggestions:

• Activity Ideas for OMK Projects
• Events, Activities, and Program Ideas
• Celebration: Memorial, 4th of July, Veteran’s Day Ideas
• Purple Up! For Military Kids – 15 April
• Month of the Military Child (MOMC) Activities

Celebration Months and Dates to Remember:

• April – Month of the Military Child (MOMC)     2013 Press Release  North Carolina Cooperative Extension Celebrates April's "Month of the Military Child"
• Purple Up! For Military Kids – 15 April
• May – Military Appreciation Month
• November – Military Family Month
• Handmade Hero FAMILY Pack Instructions

Training Resources and Materials:

• Deployment: It’s Not a Game – Request Form
• Deployment: It’s Not a Game – Feedback Report Form
• Manuals to Download
  • 4-H 101 Manual
  • Experience Operation: Military Kids Activity Manual

NC OMK Gift Form:

• Camp Scholarship Form
• Hero FAMILY Pack Donation Form

Outstanding Support of Military Childern of North Carolina Recognition Program:

• Extension Professional Recognition and Adult Volunteer Recognition Form
• Club or Group Recognition Form
• Award Recipients

Camping Opportunities:

• Camp Corral

NC 4-H Military Clubs:

• Locations and Contacts

Military Youth Per County in North Carolina:

As of May 2012, there are a total of 109,375 military youth (0-18 years old) who call North Carolina home.  To learn how many military youth reside in your county select the link : All Branches

Partners of Operation Military Kids:

• National Partners
• State, Regional and Local Partners & Supporters

For more information about NC OMK please contact:

NC OMK's NC Zoo Snooze PSA (30 sec)

NC OMK's NC Zoo Snooze PSA (60 sec)

NC OMK's NC Zoo Snooze PSA (90 sec)

National Operation: Military Kids (OMK) Website  

North Carolina OMK Page