LANSING – None of eighth-grader Justin Warchuck’s 28 classmates at school in Marysville share his situation. 

His father is a Michigan National Guard member and has been twice deployed overseas during times of war.

Unlike some military kids, Justin doesn’t live on a base where other children go through the same pressures.

“These times when we’re at war are scary,” said his mother, Lori Warchuck, a 4-H program assistant in St. Clair County. “He copes relatively well.”

“With only one parent, and going from having an involved, active dad, it’s a big difference,” she said. “It’s mostly civilian kids in school - he doesn’t have a buddy that can relate.”

Justin’s father spent 90 days in Kuwait and 90 days in Iraq.  He is now home.

The Michigan Army National Guard’s Operation Military Kids reaches out to children and families of members placed on active duty, said Tina Fleming, a 4-H military liaison for the program.

“This is a new population.  These kids are suddenly military and have no support systems in place,” said Fleming.

About 4,000 children statewide are affected by deployments, she said.

Families of Guard members live among civilians. 

“The families are separated from a central core unit, and while at school the kids are treated the same, but they aren’t - they’re now military,” Fleming said.

Warchuck said that although the program wasn’t available during her husband’s last deployment, it will raise great awareness so schools better understand the unique needs of National Guard children.  According to Fleming, the state’s Operation Military Kids program costs $2.5 million a year.

As part of the program, Justin received a backpack with letters from civilian children thanking him for his sacrifices, and military dog tags.           

Warchuck said she and Justin try to spend lots of quality time together when his father is deployed. 

“Lots of one on one time, we go camping or to breakfast,” she said.  “It’s not so bad when there’s not a war going on.”