4-H Military Families

Welcome to Operation: Military Kids!

Operation: Military Kids (OMK) is a program providing ongoing community support for the children of servicemembers in the National Guard and the Army Reserves. When families such as these live in civilian communities and have a parent deployed, additional supports are needed but are often inadequate or unavailable. Special challenges occur pre-deployment and post-deployment as well, and OMK is here to assist throughout these transitions.

We are a coalition of organizations that have come together with our various skills and resources to form OMK. The organizations represented in Illinois OMK are: University of Illinois Extension and 4-H, Boys and Girls Clubs, The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary, The Illinois National Guard, The Army Reserves, Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, and the Supporters of Military Kids Foundation.

Our mission: Provide a state and local community support network, which delivers a wide range of recreational, social, and educational programs for military youth living in civilian communities, and to educate the public on the impact of being military.

Our vision: Make Life Better for Military Youth, One Family at a Time.

Click on an option below to explore our 4-H Military Families resources.

  • Activities and Outreach Operation: Military Kids is reaching out to children and families in several ways.
  • Upcoming Events Learn about events for military families on the Operation Military Kids website. (Link will open a new window/tab.)
  • Community Service Here are ways that you can support the continuing efforts of Operation Military Kids!
  • Photo Gallery View photos from Operation: Military Kids activities.
  • Resources Resources and websites related to Operation: Military Kids.