MCEC® supports all military-connected children by educating, advocating, and collaborating to resol
MCEC® delivers programs, services, and professional development to meet the needs of military-connected students, parents, and professionals.
06/10/2026
Military kids are amazing. But they deserve more than grit; they deserve systems built for them.
MCEC’s President and CEO Mary Bier speaks TODAY on “Empowering Military Families to Thrive” at the Military Thriving Change Forum on June 10, live from Georgetown.
Watch it live SOON!
https://www.youtube.com/live/RCrQl4E14LA
Tuesday, June 10, 2026
9:00 AM – 1:30 PM ET
06/08/2026
Join us live this Wednesday!
MCEC President & CEO Mary Bier will be speaking at the ZeroMils 3rd Annual Military Thriving Change Forum on June 10, and we'd love for our community to tune in.
Our panel, "Empowering Military Families to Thrive," starts at 9:30 AM ET. The event is free and open to everyone — no registration needed, just click the link to watch.
Watch here: youtube.com/live/RCrQl4E14LA
06/07/2026
Military kids are amazing. But they deserve more than grit; they deserve systems built for them. MCEC’s President and CEO Mary Bier speaks on “Empowering Military Families to Thrive” at the Military Thriving Change Forum on June 10, live from Georgetown.
Watch it live on 6/10: https://www.youtube.com/live/RCrQl4E14LA
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
9:00 AM – 1:30 PM ET
3rd Annual Military Thriving Change Forum at Georgetown University The 3rd Annual Military Thriving Change Forum, organized by ZeroMil...
Not a hot take: moving schools shouldn’t stall students academically.
But far too often, it does.
For many military-connected students, moving to a new school doesn’t just mean adjusting socially...
it means their credits don’t transfer cleanly,
they find out they’ve missed key curriculum requirements, and
they’re repeating courses they’ve already completed.
And when graduation requirements vary from place to place, the knock-on effects becomes even greater.
These challenges are rarely talked about outside military-connected communities.
Not for lack of care, but for lack of awareness.
For these students, every delay, every administrative barrier, and every inconsistency creates additional roadblocks in their academic career…
… on top of the host of other challenges that come with moving and being a military child.
Which raises an important question:
Are our systems truly designed for student mobility?
At MCEC, we believe supporting military-connected children requires more than acknowledging their resilience.
It requires creating systems that move with them.
And ensuring students don’t fall behind simply because their family received new orders.
Military-connected students already adapt constantly.
Let’s not make it harder for them.
If you've experienced a school transition, as a student, parent, or educator, what's one thing you wish schools did differently?
06/01/2026
Mark your calendars for our upcoming June webinars!
Basic Financial Management Skills 💵 | Tuesday, June 2
Learn practical ways to help military-connected children build healthy financial habits through everyday conversations about saving, spending, budgeting, and planning ahead.
Keys to Academic Success 🎒 | Wednesday, June 3
Explore seven practical ways families can support academic success at home — from routines and organization to communication and healthy habits.
Helping Your Child Navigate Daily Stress 💜 | Tuesday, June 9
Discover strategies to help military-connected children recognize stress, build healthy coping skills, and develop resilience through everyday challenges.
Creating Strong Military Families 🫂 | Wednesday, June 10
Learn ways to strengthen family connection, navigate transitions, and support one another through the unique experiences of military life.
Helping Your Child Thrive When a Parent Is Away 🎖️ | Tuesday, June 30
Explore compassionate strategies to help children stay connected, feel supported, and navigate separation and reintegration during military service.
All webinars are presented live at Noon EST.
Sign up for FREE here:
Webinars MCEC Webinars: Timely topics, trusted experts, real support for military families.
05/29/2026
Applications are open for the Frances Hesselbein Student Leadership Program!
This is a scholarship-based leadership experience for S2S sophomore and junior students at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, October 25–30, 2026.
Selected students spend six days alongside cadets and S2S leaders from across the country, building the skills and tools to strengthen their programs back home. Travel, lodging, meals, and activities are fully covered by MCEC.
Student and advisor applications are due September 10, 2026. Visit the link in our bio or scan the QR code on the flyer to apply.
Questions? Contact [email protected].
On average, military-connected students move 6–9 times throughout their K–12 journey.
Surface level, it may just look like some new classrooms.
But in reality, it’s skipped subjects, disrupted social groups, navigating a new environment, and the challenge of starting over again and again.
These impacts don’t always show up immediately, but they can compound on a person – especially someone in their formative years.
Meanwhile, education systems are under more pressure than ever to deliver better results in these unpredictable environments.
So the question becomes: how can one create consistency within that reality?
That’s where we come in. We focus on equipping educators and communities with the tools to ensure these transitions don’t become setbacks.
Because behind every move is a student trying to stay on track. That should never be forgotten.
Earlier this month, MCEC's Student 2 Student program brought together nearly 90 students and staff from 14 Arlington Public Schools for a full day of peer leadership training hosted at Washington-Liberty High School.
Student leaders and advisors worked through strategies for building inclusive school communities and supporting military-connected students as they navigate new schools and new environments.
APS has already committed to bringing S2S back next school year, and that kind of investment is exactly what military-connected kids deserve. We're proud to partner with districts like Arlington that take this work to heart!
Learn more about our S2S program at militarychild.org
For MCEC President & CEO Mary Bier, this work isn't just professional, it's personal.
As an Army family, she and her children know firsthand what it means to navigate military life. That's the heart behind everything MCEC does. This was the core of her message to the Military Family Readiness panel, where Mary represented MCEC at the Association for Defense Communities annual conference.
Learn more about how you can support our mission at militarychild.org.
05/27/2026
Robert Gonzalez built something remarkable right here in San Antonio, and we are proud to welcome him to the GTS 2026 stage!
A retired Naval Officer and educator at Nimitz Middle School, Robert created the Junior Cadets program from the ground up in 2016. What started with 80 students has grown to more than 250, built entirely on his original curriculum focused on leadership, life skills, and personal success. He also introduced MCEC's Student 2 Student program to Nimitz in 2021, where it has become a cornerstone for welcoming military-connected students.
Learn more at MilitaryChild.org/GTS