November is designated “National Veterans and Military Families Month.” All families are unique and, arguably, military families are even more so, given their distinct challenges and mission successes. Whatever situation defines each family or “a group of persons united by the ties of marriage, blood, or adoption, constituting a single household and interacting with each other in their respective social positions, usually those of spouses, parents, children, and siblings,” they are deserving of recognition and support (“family,” Britannica, 2025).

According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), “November was first declared as Military Family Month in 1996. Since then, November has been a time to acknowledge the tremendous sacrifices our military families make. They contend with separation from their families and make adjustments to new living situations and communities.” Twenty-nine years since the founding of Military Family Month, Minot Air Force Base recognizes our military families this November in a special way.

But before I divulge our Minot Air Force Base initiative, I would be remiss to share this wonderful all-year-long resource available to military families and I encourage you to use it: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/. “Military OneSource is a DOD-funded program that is both a call center and a website providing comprehensive information, resources and assistance on every aspect of military life. Service members and the families of active-duty military; National Guard and reserve (irrespective of activation status); Coast Guard members when activated for the Navy; DOD expeditionary civilians; and survivors are eligible for Military OneSource services. These services are available worldwide 24 hours a day, seven days a week; they are free to the user” (Vergun, 2021).

In November 2025, four on-base organizations—EFMP, FAP, MFLC, SL—one off-base stakeholder—Pathfinder Services of North Dakota—and the Minot Air Force Base library, come together to present hands-on activities to support Minot Air Force Base families with tips and tricks to successfully manage a number of different transitional happenings unique to our military families in one all-day “Mission: Transition – Strengthening Our Military Families” Workshop on Wednesday, November 5th, 2025 at the Jimmy Doolittle Center on Minot Air Force Base. Through careful analysis of specific trends occurring at MAFB, all presenters share their best advice for success!

Structured in one-hour increments, our workshops respect both your time and autonomy. Feel free to come to one, two, or all!
Providing hands-on activities each hour ensures active engagement, which helps facilitate learning and understanding of all material presented. This provision promotes memorable experience.
Bestowing a take-home item associated with each activity thanks each participant for their time and offers a useful tool for future transitions.

This unique Minot Air Force Base family workshop supports military family success, which then champions retention and readiness. NCTSN affirms, “Care of military families and children sustains our fighting force, and strengthens the health, security, and safety of our nation’s families and communities.” Additionally, “The Defense Department recognizes that military families have important roles to play in supporting a strong and ready force” (Vergun, 2021). Thank you, military families, for your service and please save the date for this event: a service for you!

Barnard, Alan John. “Family.” Britannica Website, 20 Jun 2025, www.britannica.com/topic/family-kinship. Accessed 13 Jul 2025.

“National Veteran and Military Families Month.” The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Website, www.nctsn.org/resources/public-awareness/military-family-month#:~:text=November%20was%20first%20declared%20as,new%20living%20situations%20and%20communities. Accessed 13 Jul 2025.

Vergun, David. “DOD Celebrates ‘National Veterans and Military Families Month.’” DOD News Website, 29 Oct 2021, www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2826192/dod-celebrates-national-veterans-and-military-families-month/. Accessed 13 Jul 2025.

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 Defense of the external website, or the information, products, or services contained therein.