The fifth annual Our Military Kids® Courageous Kids Contest honors military children and teens from across the country throughout April’s Month of the Military Child. We are now accepting nominations through March 9, 2025!

Family, friends, coaches, teachers, and other community members are encouraged to nominate a child or teen (ages 1-18) who has demonstrated extraordinary courage, resilience, and strength in their local communities, within their families, at school, and/or in their extracurricular activities and served as a leader and/or role model for their peers over the past year, while also having a parent who:

• Deployed with the National Guard or Reserve in 2024, OR 

• Underwent treatment for post-9/11, combat-related injuries, illnesses, or wounds in 2024. 

Up to 13 Courageous Kids Contest winners will be selected representing each branch of U.S. military service, plus a Hidden Helper Hero — a special additional category highlighting a child or teen who has been impacted by caregiving duties for a wounded, ill, or injured military parent.

Winners* will each receive a $300 cash stipend, an award certificate, and have their story shared on the Our Military Kids website, social media channels, newsletter, and pitched to local media outlets. Winners may also receive additional donated prizes.

*Winners may be nominated as individual children or as a sibling group. Nominees do not need to have previously received an Our Military Kids extracurricular activity grant to be eligible to win.

Courageous Kids Contest Nomination Form

Nominations are open through March 9, 2025.

Your First and Last Name *

Your Email Address **PLEASE NOTE: We only accept one nomination per person, per child. You may, however, invite others to submit their own nomination for this child.

Military Kid's First and Last Name *

Military Kid's Birthdate *

Military Kid's State *

Nominee's Parent or Legal Guardian's Email Address *

What is your relationship to the nominee? *ParentGrandparentLegal GuardianAunt or UncleSiblingTeacherCoach/MentorFamily FriendOther

If other, please specify:0 / 160

In which branch of service did/does the nominee's parent(s) serve? Please check all that apply. *U.S. Army National GuardU.S. Army ReserveU.S. Navy ReserveU.S. Air National GuardU.S. Air Force ReserveU.S. Marine Corps ReserveU.S. Coast Guard ReserveU.S. Army (Wounded Veteran)U.S. Navy (Wounded Veteran)U.S. Air Force (Wounded Veteran)U.S. Marine Corps (Wounded Veteran)U.S. Coast Guard (Wounded Veteran)

Which situation applies to the nominee? Please check all that apply. *Their parent or legal guardian deployed overseas or activated stateside with the National Guard or Reserve in 2024.Their parent or legal guardian underwent treatment for post-9/11, combat-related injuries, illnesses, or wounds in 2024.They served as a "Hidden Helper" caregiver for a wounded, ill, or injured military parent in 2024.

How or in what ways has the nominee exhibited courage, strength, and/or resilience during their military parent’s treatment or deployment? *

How has the nominee been a leader and/or role model for others throughout their military parent’s treatment or deployment? *

OPTIONAL: If this nominee received an Our Military Kids activity grant in 2024, how have they been a role model, exhibited leadership, sportsmanship, kindness, resilience, etc. in that activity?

Please share photo(s) of the nominee — with their military parent, in their community, and/or in their activities, etc. *

Drag and Drop (or) Choose Files

By checking this box, you confirm that you have permission from this child's parent or legal guardian to submit this nomination, and consent to Our Military Kids sharing this child's story and/or any submitted photos or videos on its social media channels, website, newsletter, and other media outlets.

Our Military Kids never shares any personal information. Read our Privacy Policy here.

Submit Nomination

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