Where did the term military brat come from?

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A "military brat" (and various brat derivatives) is a term for a person whose parent or parents have served full-time in the armed forces during the person's childhood. In conventional usage, the word "brat" used alone may be pejorative; in modern, especially American, usage; however, "military brat" is often not considered to be a derogatory term (and may in fact be seen as a term of endearment) Although the term is used in other English-speaking countries, it is exclusively in the United States that this term is ascribed to a collectively identifiable demographic (with extensive psychological research done on the group by U.S. Defense Department). Accordingly, this group is shaped by frequent moves, absence of a parent, authoritarian family dynamics, strong patriarchal authority, threat of parental loss in war, and a militarized family unit. While non-military families share many of these same attributes, military culture is unique due to the tightly knit communities that perceive these traits as normal. Although they did not choose to belong to it, military culture can have a long-term impact on brats.

jackson

Jeez these people are wordy. It just came about actually as a somewhat affectionate term.... these are my brats. The term was taken over by the kids themselves as a badge of honor.

You are correct about the force of habit. The force of habit comes down to know how to have flipplin manners. We are not perfect but know how to act and comport ourselves when needed.

I have read a bunch of books about brats having been one. I myself have been in the military forever and I have my own bunch of military brats.

Best guess anybody has every come of with was the moving kids around.... these are my brats (ie. around the 50s). So it is what it is.

As an aside... I am glad that I was a mil brat. When I went in myself it was like going home.

Rose

A "military brat" (and various brat derivatives)[1] is a term for a person whose parent or parents have served full-time in the armed forces during the person's childhood. In conventional usage, the word "brat" used alone may be pejorative; in modern, especially American, usage; however, "military brat" is often not considered to be a derogatory term (and may in fact be seen as a term of endearment).[2][3] Although the term is used in other English-speaking countries, it is exclusively in the United States that this term is ascribed to a collectively identifiable demographic (with extensive psychological research done on the group by U.S. Defense Department).[4] Accordingly, this group is shaped by frequent moves, absence of a parent, authoritarian family dynamics, strong patriarchal authority, threat of parental loss in war, and a militarized family unit.[5] While non-military families share many of these same attributes, military culture is unique due to the tightly knit communities that perceive these traits as normal. Although they did not choose to belong to it, military culture can have a long-term impact on brats.[6]

As adults, military brats can share many of the same positive and negative traits developed from their mobile childhoods. Having had the opportunity to live around the world, military brats can have a breadth of experiences unmatched by most teenagers. Regardless of race, religion, nationality, or gender, brats might identify more with other highly mobile children than with non-mobile ones.[7] Some can struggle to develop and maintain deep, lasting relationships, and can feel like outsiders to U.S. civilian culture. Their transitory lifestyle can hinder potential for constructing concrete relationships with people and developing emotional attachments to specific places, which may later develop into psychologically developmental disorders (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Avoidant Personality Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, etc.). But most assimilate quickly and well as they have to do so with each move.[8

john w

The military, like any 'community' of people who are basically separated from the community at large who have children seem to refer to those kids a "'enter name here' Brats". I've heard it used to describe X-pat Brat, missionary brat etc.,. How and why is a mystery to me to and yes, I was an Air Force/Army/Coast Guard/Navy Brat...

natalie

i'm totally guessing but.........
because kids who grow up in military families move from base to base. switching locations and schools often can often make kids seem and bratty because they never get to settle down and make a solid group of friends.. its a stereotype and probably outdated but that's my best guess.

Double A

ian24

I was one and have used the term myself, but I think its just military talk.

Coolkid123

well it came from other kids that werent in the miltary but as far as i know a miltary brat is someones kid that is in the miltary and moves around alot

RU Quazee

My wife's family was in the Air Force, traveled all over the USA. Seems the 'negative' of military brat came from the kids that didn't cope well with being uprooted every few years and shipped off somewhere new, having to make new friends, new schools, new bullies,etc. Those not fitting were 'brats' or so it's told.

soxbabe26

red sox will win be on top at the end of the season. not the yankees or the rays. hello. 22-4 at their own stadium? pathetic. douchebag.

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