Operation Homefront Presents
2023 Military Child of the Year® Awards
Nominations Now Open!
ABOUT THE AWARDS
Seven national Military Child of the Year® (MCOY) Awards are presented to one outstanding youth from each service branch: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and the Space Force. The awards recognize the recipients for their resiliency, leadership, and achievement during their parents’ service. Each recipient receives a $10,000 cash award, a laptop computer, and are flown with an adult guardian and guest for a 3-night stay in Washington, D.C.
Recipients and their families will travel to Washington, D.C., April 11-14 for events, tours, and activities leading up to the Awards Gala. The gala will be held the evening of Thursday, April 13, 2023.
ELIGIBILITY
All applicants must meet each of the following eligibility criteria:
- Be a legal dependent of a service member or military retiree (Semifinalists must provide DEERS enrollment form)
- Be between the ages of 13-18 at time of nomination
- Be able to travel to Washington, D.C., to attend the MCOY Gala and other events April 11-14
- Provide letters of recommendation (if selected as a semifinalist)
- Be willing to participate in media and donor opportunities
WHEN TO NOMINATE
The nomination periods open September 6, 2022, and close December 4, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
HOW TO NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR A MILITARY CHILD OF THE YEAR® SERVICE BRANCH AWARD
Nominations can be submitted at www.militarychildoftheyear.org during the nomination period. Nominations can be made by anyone familiar with the child’s achievements, and the form will include when and how long a parent has deployed, number of family moves, Gold Star Family or EFMP status, whether a parent is a wounded service member, nominee’s volunteerism, and five short answers as to why the nominee is deserving.
QUESTIONS
Please visit our website, www.militarychildoftheyear.org, to view our FAQs. For further information, contact Jenny Valderas, Senior Director of Family Support Services, 210-760-7366 or Jenny.Valderas@operationhomefront.org.
