Children in service families

I was about ten when dad was deployed. It was kinda difficult because we were obviously, you know, worried about him being in Afghanistan. It wasn’t exactly a safe place at the time… but it was nice that we were part of a community that’s very close-knit. We had a lot of support from friends and family, which was good. - Family Member

Due to the nature of the service, organizational expectations also impact the family, including the children. Service families are constantly navigating expectations to adhere to the values of the organization and often face similar expectations for conduct.

Although every family is unique, there are some features that may be common to service families:

• Strong community bonds based on shared experience.
• Emphasis on duty, responsibility, and sacrifice which are key characteristics of service culture.
• Expectations of service extending to spouses and children.

How families navigate these influences can vary. Some will strongly embrace service culture and the expectations placed on the family and will expect this from their children as well; others may view these factors as the unavoidable “work-related” reality that they live with. Children in RCMP families may face particular challenges and pressures if they are posted in a small community, where “everybody knows everybody.”