MEET BLOOM: THE TEEN-LED MOVEMENT GIVING MILITARY TEENS A VOICE
If you’re a military spouse, you know the rhythms of military life—deployments, PCS moves, getting the kids registered at new schools, and constantly adjusting to… change.
But what about the kids living through it all, especially the military teens?
Military teens grow up navigating constant transition, with little to no control over the process. They change schools, make new friends, and adapt to new cultures and communities. They’re resilient—yes. But they’re also carrying a lot quietly.
While military families have a lot of options in terms of support, teenagers have lacked resources built for them—and led by them.
Enter Bloom.
Bloom is a nonprofit initiative, a platform, and most importantly, a community created by military teens, for military teens. It’s a space for connection, storytelling, and real conversation about what military life actually feels like for the teens navigating adolescence, packing up their lives every few years, and what comes next.
How Bloom Got Started
Bloom got its start in 2020, founded by Elena Ashburn and Matthew Oh as a way to connect military teens like them through virtual content illustrating the military teen experience. During the pandemic, when so many people felt isolated, it was a creative online space where they could share drawings, poems, and talk about military life in their own words.
“Bloom started out as a virtual space with blogs and artwork… a place where I could connect with the military teen community and connect with a lot of people who knew what I had been through,” said Kait Hsu, Bloom’s Senior Head of Communications.
Those blogs and artwork grew into a community, with teens supporting each other across duty stations and time zones.
The key part? Adults didn’t run it—teens did.
“Everyone that creates the content at Bloom… They are all military teens ages 13 to 18. Having an internal structure completely made by military teens ensures that every piece of content actually reflects the military teen experience,” said Hsu.
Bloom + NMFA
As Bloom grew, the team realized something important: military teens age out. They go to college, PCS, and move on to new passions.
That’s when Bloom linked up with the National Military Family Association (NMFA), an established nonprofit organization with a long history of advocating for and supporting military families.
Instead of taking over, NMFA protected Bloom’s teen-led heart, while giving it structure, support, and staying power.
“We wanted to bring Bloom in so that it benefited from the longevity and infrastructure of NMFA, but multiple generations of leadership could come through,” said Raleigh Smith Duttweiler, Chief Impact Officer at NMFA. “This is their space. This is their work,” she added.
Now, Bloom is officially part of NMFA, but is still led by teens—just with more resources behind them, allowing them to reach more of their peers and create even bigger impact.
What The Military Teen Experience Survey Is (and Why It Matters)
One of those big impact-makers—The Military Teen Experience Survey.
Instead of adults guessing what teens need, Bloom teens helped write the survey questions themselves.
“We met with a bunch of teens and said, what should we be talking about now?” said Smith Duttweiler.
The survey looks at real parts of teen life: mental health, belonging, food security, school, friendship, moves, and stress. And the results are eye-opening.
- Almost 40% of military teens report low mental well-being.
- Food insecurity is a concern in more military homes than people might expect.
- Military teens self-harm at over twice the rate of civilian teens.
The data doesn’t just live in a report. It’s used to improve programs, advocacy, school support, and policies that actually affect military families.
“We take the survey to get data that informs our programming and to build policies that can keep the problems from happening in the first place,” said Smith Duttweiler.
To put it simply: teen answers turn into real-world change.
Why Your Teen’s Voice Actually Counts
Military teens are great at adapting. They’re used to being the ‘new kid’ and typically roll with the changes this lifestyle brings. But that doesn’t mean they don’t feel it.
If teens don’t speak up, decision-makers fill in the blanks—and they usually get it wrong.
“Policymakers have no idea what you’re thinking. They’re not going to know unless teens tell them,” said Smith Duttweiler.
The survey gives teens a safe, simple way to say, “Here’s what military life really looks like for us.” Not just for your teen, but for thousands of others living the same lifestyle all across the globe.
How Teens Can Take the Survey
Who?
Any military-connected teen – active duty, Guard, Reserve, veteran family, or otherwise affiliated.
When?
The survey is open now – but closes February 15th. So make your voice heard ASAP!
Where?
Click the link here to take the survey.
How long will it take?
12-25 minutes
Is it private?
Yes. It’s anonymous and protected. Email is used only for validation and safety, not for marketing.
Every response helps shape better programs, stronger advocacy, and smarter support for military teens.
Letting Teens Lead
Military teens already carry a lot. Bloom gives them something powerful: a voice.
If you’re a parent, mentor, or a coach to a military teen, encourage them to take The Military Teen Experience survey at www.militaryfamily.org.
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BY TEAL YOST
Managing Editor at VeteranLife
Teal Yost is a Navy spouse, journalist, and managing editor of Military Brands, where she leads storytelling that connects and empowers the military community. With more than a decade of experience in military-focused media, her work blends journalistic excellence with a deep personal understanding...
Expertise
Teal Yost is a Navy spouse, journalist, and managing editor of Military Brands, where she leads storytelling that connects and empowers the military community. With more than a decade of experience in military-focused media, her work blends journalistic excellence with a deep personal understanding...
