It’s that time of year again, nominations are now open for Operation Homefront’s 2026 Military Child of the Year® Awards! 

This is such a wonderful opportunity for our military kiddos.  

Now in its 18th year, the Military Child of the Year® Award reflects the positive impact that these impressive young people have made on their military families, their schools, and their communities.

ABOUT THE AWARDS

Seven national Military Child of the Year® (MCOY) Awards are presented to one outstanding youth from each service branch: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and the Space Force. The awards recognize the recipients for their scholarship, volunteerism, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and other criteria while facing the challenges of military family life.

All Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year Award recipients will be flown with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., and recognized at the April 2026 gala, during which senior leaders of each branch of service will present the awards. They also will receive $10,000 each, a laptop computer, and other donated gifts. The gala is usually held in April, the month of the military child, as a way to recognize the support and appreciation we provide to military families.

ELIGIBILITY

All applicants must meet each of the following eligibility criteria:

• Child must be a legal military dependent. Status confirmed by DEERS enrollment form.
• Military children must be between the ages of 13 and 18, at the time of nomination.
• Child and one adult guardian must be available to travel to the Washington, DC area April 21-24, during the month of the military child, for the Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year Awards Gala award presentation.
• Officers, directors, employees, and agents of Operation Homefront and its subsidiaries or affiliated organizations, and their immediate family members (parent, child, sibling, and spouse of each) and those living in the same households of each are not eligible to receive programs, services, grants, or donated goods intended for use by Operation Homefront’s clients.
• Previous Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year Award Recipients, including Innovation Award recipients, are no longer eligible.

In addition to the above eligibility requirements, if selected as a Semifinalist, must:

• Provide 2 letters of recommendation
• Provide form DD1172
• Be willing to participate in media and donor opportunities

WHEN TO NOMINATE

Submissions are OPEN for the esteemed Operation Homefront 2026 Military Child of the Year® Awards, the nation’s premier recognition of the outstanding achievements of our military children. Submissions will close on December 2, 2025 at 11:59pm CST.

HOW TO NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR A MILITARY CHILD OF THE YEAR® SERVICE BRANCH AWARD

Nominations can be submitted at www.militarychildoftheyear.org during the nomination period. Nominations can be made by anyone familiar with the child’s achievements, and the form will include when and how long a parent has deployed, number of family moves, Gold Star Family or EFMP status, whether a parent is a wounded service member, nominee’s volunteerism, and five short answers as to why the nominee is deserving.

NOMINATE TODAY!

#MCOY2026