Military Family Month dedicates November to military families around the world. The observance recognizes the commitment and dedication these families make to their service members. Their sacrifices make it possible for our military to remain organized and strong.

While their service men and women are actively serving, deployed or training, their families provide a vital foundation at home that allows confidence in the field. Spouses and children are often separated from their service member for long periods of time and over great distances. Communication can be patchy and under stressful conditions. And they frequently move, uprooting children and jobs. But, military families are adaptable.

During November, the country honors the military families who make the U.S. Armed Forces strong.

HISTORY

The Armed Services YMCA along with the U.S. Government established Military Family Month in 1996 by expanding Military Family Week. Each year, the President declares the month through a signed proclamation.

Explore More…

• Armed Forces Day
• Memorial Day
• Army Birthday
• Navy Birthday
• Air Force Birthday
• Marine Corps Birthday
• 4th of July
• Independence Day
• Patriot Day
• V J Day
• National Guard Birthday
• Armistice Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans Day
• Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
• Military Spouce Appreciation Day
• Maritime Day
• Gold Star Mothers Day
• Flag Day
• POW/MIA Recognition Day
• National Airborne Day
• Loyalty Day
• Remembrance Day
• National PTSD Awareness Day
• USO Birthday
• Coast Guard Reserve Birthday
• Navy Reserve Birthday
• National For get me not day
• Hug a G. I. Day
• Seabees Birthday
• Rosie the Riveter Day
• Medal of Honor Day
• Vietnam War Veterans Day
• Gold Star Spouces Day
• Former POW Recognition Day
• Airforce Reserve birthday
• Purple Up For Military kids Day
• Army Reserve Birthday
• National Military Brat’s Day
• Military Appreciation Month
• Silver Star Service Banner Day
• V E Day
• D Day
• Freedoms Ring

HOW TO OBSERVE

Thank a veteran, active duty, reserve or national guard service member or family member for their service by giving back. Ask your military families how you can support them. Many will not ask when they need it. In many cases, through deployments or other circumstances, military families will band together. But even then that may not be enough. Adopt a military family for the holidays. Offer to run errands for military spouses who may have their hands full with their children or even their pets. Volunteer or donate services to military organizations.

Use #MilitaryFamilyMonth to post on social media.