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Maxine “Angela” Kuesters, a psychology technician with Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, plays a board game with Rosemary Pando, daughter of Reyna Pando and Air Force Sgt. Christopher Pando, assigned to the 18th Weather Squadron, during a session focused on building connection and emotional resilience in military children.
(Photo Credit: Jean Graves)
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Col. Patrick Miller, commander of Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, shares a moment with his son, Bennet, during a Month of the Military Child event at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk.
(Photo Credit: Jean Graves)
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Lt. Col. Ashley Cesar, deputy commander for clinical services at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, embraces her son, Ashton, during a Month of the Military Child event at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk. Ashton also served as the voiceover narrator for the BJACH Month of the Military Child video.
(Photo Credit: Jean Graves)
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Elsie and Dylan, children of Capt. Crystal Absher and Command Sgt. Maj. Rob Absher, pose with their parents during a Month of the Military Child event at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk.
(Photo Credit: Jean Graves)
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Aubry, daughter of retired Capt. April Williams, supervisory clinical nurse for the OB/GYN Clinic at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, participates in a Month of the Military Child event at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk.
(Photo Credit: Jean Graves)
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Alyanna and Meli, daughters of Sgt. 1st Class Andre Ellison and Sgt. 1st Class Michelle Ellison, pose with their father during a Month of the Military Child event at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk.
(Photo Credit: Jean Graves)
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Retired Sgt. 1st Class Rico Williams, director of safety for the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, carries his daughter, Aubry, during a Month of the Military Child event.
(Photo Credit: Jean Graves)
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Leyton and Gabriella, children of Staff Sgt. Julaina Rivera, patient administration noncommissioned officer at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, interact with Sunny, the facility dog, in the mental health waiting area during a Month of the Military Child event.
(Photo Credit: Jean Graves)
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Staff Sgt. Daniel Halcon, noncommissioned officer in charge of Healthcare Technology Management at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, lifts his son, Hurricane, during a Month of the Military Child event at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk.
(Photo Credit: Jean Graves)
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Gabriella, Christopher A. Barnes II and Jensen Sonderman participate in filming a Month of the Military Child video at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, highlighting the resilience and spirit of military children at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk.
(Photo Credit: Jean Graves)
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Rosemary Pando holds a pillow with an image of her father, Air Force Sgt. Christopher Pando, who is currently deployed overseas, during a Month of the Military Child event at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital.
(Photo Credit: Jean Graves)
FORT POLK, La. — Military children grow up in a world defined by change, from new duty stations to new schools and routines. Through each transition, they develop resilience that sets them apart.
Those moments of laughter, connection and quiet strength often go unseen, but they shape the foundation of military Families.
This April, Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital is highlighting the strength of military-connected youth and the care that supports them.
Maxine Kuesters, a psychology technician at BJACH, sees that strength every day in her work with children and families.
Kuesters said many military children learn to navigate change early, but that experience can look different for each child.
“Frequent moves can disrupt stability and make it difficult to maintain friendships,” she said. “During deployments, older children may also take on additional responsibilities at home, sometimes placing their own needs second.”
Dr. Ruth Graupera-Frain, a board-certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist at BJACH, said constant change is one of the most significant factors affecting military children.
“The main constant is change,” she said. “Not only are kids developmentally changing, but their environment and support system does too. Everyone needs a constant.”
Graupera-Frain emphasized the importance of treating mental health with the same priority as physical health.
“If you had a seizure, you would want to see a neurologist,” she said. “If you have a mental health issue, you should want to see a mental health provider.”
She added that treatment is most effective when it is comprehensive.
“Medications are only part of the treatment for some,” she said. “They never stand alone.”
For providers across BJACH, supporting military children means caring for both their physical and emotional well-being.
Capt. Kiara Schien, a pediatrician in the Patient-Centered Medical Home, said building relationships with her patients is central to that mission.
“I genuinely care for and want the very best for them and am committed to their wellbeing,” Schien said.
She said one of the most rewarding parts of her role is helping military children grow and thrive despite the challenges that come with military life.
“Getting to know my patients and their families and having the gift of playing a role in helping our military children be happy and healthy,” she said.
Capt. Benjamin Tan, chief of pediatrics at BJACH, said his role often involves advocating for children who may not yet be able to advocate for themselves.
“I want to advocate for patients that are unable or unwilling to advocate for themselves,” Tan said.
He said pediatric care is not just about treating illness, but about identifying risks early and advocating for children at every stage of development.
“From well-child to sick visits, each moment is an opportunity to educate and guide,” Tan said. “We educate and counsel hoping to prevent the worst.”
At BJACH, supporting military children extends beyond individual appointments. Through a coordinated system of care, providers work together to address emotional, behavioral and environmental needs while strengthening family support systems.
Marguerite Wilcox, a clinical social worker with Child and Family Mental Health Services, said connecting families to resources is a critical part of that support.
“We connect families to services both on and off post to help build strong support networks,” Wilcox said. “By bringing together those resources, we’re able to promote long-term wellbeing and resilience.”
Anna Pinkelman, a behavioral health consultant in primary care, said early engagement and prevention are key to long-term well-being.
“Being a part of a team that supports readiness from a mental health perspective is often undervalued,” Pinkelman said.
She emphasized the importance of normalizing mental health care within families.
“Mental health is not scary and is rewarding work,” she said.
Pinkelman encourages families to focus on what they can control during times of uncertainty.
“Control your controllables,” she said.
Providers say small, consistent actions can make a significant difference. Maintaining predictable routines, setting aside time to connect and helping children identify and express their emotions can reduce stress during transitions. Modeling healthy coping strategies, such as problem-solving calmly, taking breaks when overwhelmed and engaging in simple family activities, also helps build confidence and emotional stability.
For BJACH, the Month of the Military Child is more than a celebration. It is a reminder of the strength military children carry every day and the importance of supporting them along the way.
Because behind every ready Soldier is a Family, and within every Family is a story worth telling.