When a service member deploys, it affects everyone in the family. Students, especially, may be most impacted by the sudden change, as it can evoke powerful feelings and disrupt the normal home operations/routines, which can produce negative effects in school. Fortunately, there are a number of resources available for military-connected students (including homeschoolers):
Deployed Parent Dolls
Before the deployment, parents can contact the Minot Public Schools (MPS) Foundation to request one or more parent dolls for their student(s). Each doll is about three feet long and displays a picture of the deployed parent. To request a parent doll, please contact the MPS Foundation at 701-857-4555 or minotfoundation@gmail.com.
United Through Reading
Before the deployment, Parents can contact this 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which helps service members record and share storytime videos with their children in their lives—regardless of where they’re currently serving in the world.
This parent comment on the United Through Reading website showcases the value of this service: “The program was a game changer for my girls when my hubs was deployed. We would record him reading their favorite books before he left on deployment each time. I kept the books he read in a basket near the TV. Whenever the girls were having a hard time, I’d ask them if they wanted to read with Daddy, and they would run to the books and plop down in front of the TV in anticipation. Not only did they get to see him and hear his voice, which kept them connected, but it also fed their love of reading” -The Baumer Family
To learn more, please visit: https://unitedthroughreading.org/.
Anchored4Life Videos and In-person Peer Support
Anchored4Life’s mission is “to provide proven resources and strategies to children so they can become resilient, confident, and resourceful, to create a better world for themselves and others.” Their purpose is “to design educational products that change youth lives by helping them become happier, healthier, and more confident.” Their vision is to create “a world where children feel heard, their feelings are validated, and they become confident self-advocates, regardless of their situation” (https://anchored4life.com/).During the deployment, parents looking for ways to support their child(ren) can visit the Anchored4Life website and scroll down to their E-Learning Series. Here, they can click on any fun and engaging activity of interest to help build their student’s resiliency.
What’s more, if a student is fortunate enough to attend Erik Ramstad Middle School, he/she can receive targeted peer support through their new Anchored4Life Club.
Military and Family Life Counseling
Before, during, and/or after the deployment, parents can contact Military and Family Life Counselors to support their students and themselves. MFLC stands for Military and Family Life Counseling, a program that provides free, short-term, non-medical counseling to service members, their spouses, and immediate family members.
CYB-MFLCs support families. They provide support on a variety of topics affecting young people, including anger and aggression, bullying, conflict resolution, divorce, feelings, self-esteem, separation, sibling and parental relationships, time management and more. They are located at Military and Family Support Centers, child development centers, DoWEA schools (including all three schools on Minot AFB), youth centers, and military treatment facility pediatric clinics.
If interested, please contact Ms. Erin Park, CYB-MFLC at the Child Development Center/Youth Center/Homeschool Students at 571-376-0703; Ms. Megan Armenta, CYB-MFLC at Minot Air Force Base’ Schools and for Off-installation School Support (Pending Approval) at 571-320-7162; or Ms. Jessica Stringfield, Adult MFLC, at 701-425-7905.
Children under 18 must have written parental consent to receive CYB-MFLC support. If you would like a parental consent form, please contact mafb.school.liaison@us.af.mil.
Excused Absences
Before, during, and/or after the deployment, parents can contact their Local Education Agency (LEA) or school regarding the provision of excused absences to foster parent/student connection, according to the Military Interstate Compact:
“SEC. 5.105 Absence as Related to Deployment Activities
(a) A student whose parent or legal guardian is an active-duty member of the uniformed services, as defined by the Compact, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, shall be granted additional excused absences at the discretion of an LEA superintendent or head of school to visit with his or her parent or legal guardian relative to such leave or deployment of the parent or guardian. Notwithstanding the above, an LEA superintendent or head of school may provide a maximum number of additional excused absences.”
The Military Interstate Compact is an agreement between all 50 states and the District of Columbia that is accepted by public schools and “addresses key issues encountered by military families: eligibility, enrollment, placement, and graduation” (https://mic3.net/background/). The goal is to provide consistency for military-connected students who transition often from different school districts in different states, to ensure they continue making strides in their educational careers without falling behind or missing out on opportunities.
To obtain a copy of the Compact Rules, please contact the School Liaison Office at mafb.school.liaison@us.af.mil.
Operation Heroes Event
The Military & Family Readiness Center is hosting an Operation Heroes event in the Youth Center on Saturday, September 12th, 2026 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. This event will be a hands-on deployment line experience for children, exposing them to the intricacies involved in easy-to-understand language, and end with a “Welcome Home Party” in which helping agencies and programs will provide deployment resources, support, and/or activities. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to this event to teach them about the deployment cycle, increasing their understanding of this event and reducing their fear of the unknown.
These six local opportunities offer families valuable connection and support before, during, and after deployments. Please contact me with any questions or comments regarding these resources at mafb.school.liaison@us.af.mil.
The information in this article is provided as a resource and does not constitute endorsement by Minot AFB, the United States Air Force, or the Department of War of the external website, or the information, products, or services contained therein.
