Military Leader Resources

Military leaders recognize that family stress can impact service member readiness. You can learn about school refusal and the impact on families by reviewing the self-help resources posted on this site for service members and families. Military Leader Guides may offer additional resources to assist a service member and their family when a child is refusing to attend school.

United States Air Force Leader’s Guide for Managing Personnel in Distress
The purpose of the Leader's Guide is to help unit leaders (commanders, first sergeants, and supervisors) recognize distress related behaviors, provide support to individuals within the unit, and collaborate with helping agencies to meet the needs of individuals in distress. Although written for Air Force Commanders, information is relevant for other military service branches.

United States Navy Leader’s Guide for Managing Personnel in Distress
The focus of this guide is to assist leaders with awareness and intervention strategies before a Sailor has reached the threshold of debilitating distress, as indicated by emotional difficulties, violence or behaviorally linked accidents.  It provides guidance to leaders on giving emotional and material support to service members and their families if the need arises.

Leaders Guide for Managing Marines In Distress
Guidelines and tools for USMC Commanders for providing emotional and material support to service members and their families struggling with family stressors. Information is relevant for other military service branches.

Special Topic: Military Families on the Move

Moving is a part of military family life. Military families have to learn to deal effectively with frequent and sometimes abrupt relocations. Moving is often difficult on children, particularly if they have to relocate to a new school in the middle of a year. Children may be behind or ahead of other children academically. They also face the social challenge of making new friends. You’ll find resources here to assist service members and their families with relocation transition.

Military Student
Toolkit for military leaders about school-related issues, along with a number of other resources related to military families on the move. 

Military OneSource
Information posted under School Transitions/Changes may be relevant when a child or adolescent is having difficulty attending school.