Why Afterschool Programs Matter for Military Kids: Jonathan’s Story

Imagine being one of 17 teens chosen out of 200,000 to walk into the Pentagon and speak for military teens all over the world.

It sounds like something out of a movie. But that was my reality the summer before my senior year.

How did I get the chance to stand in front of top military officials and speak about the importance of teen after-school programs? Simple: it happened because of the support I received from my Boys & Girls Club-affiliated Youth Center.

Discovering My Inner Leader

My mom retired from the Air Force when I was around six years old. Since then, the only home I’ve known was in Oklahoma at the Tinker Air Force Base Youth Center.

Like every other kid my age, life changed when the pandemic hit. In March of 2020, I was sent home for an extended Spring Break and wouldn’t step foot in another school for nearly five years. During that time, I was homeschooled, but on weekdays from 3-8 p.m., you could find me at the Youth Center.

At first, I only had two goals during those hours after school: play sports and eat all the Takis my stomach could handle. But my priorities changed after I went to my first Keystone Club meeting.

I was nervous about joining the teen leadership club, but was quickly welcomed by a Club mentor who saw something in me before I saw it in myself: the ability to make a difference.

From then on, I spent my afternoons learning to lead. As Keystone Club president, I rallied my peers to support food drives during government shutdowns, restock the food pantry on base, and distribute meals to families. Through this work, I realized giving back is about more than organizing events; it’s about listening, caring and creating a better place to live for everyone.

When I went back to high school, my mentors encouraged me to believe in myself again. With their support, I tried out for the school basketball and track teams. Not only did I make both, but I got my first college scholarship offer through track. My Youth Center even helped me work through a difficult time in my life through music, using their recording equipment to create my first album.

But I didn’t stop there. I found more ways to represent military youth and our experiences. I attended the National 4-H Conference. I served on the U.S. Air Force Teen Council and the Joint Services Teen Council, led by the Office of the Secretary of War. And I became Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2026-2027 National Military Youth of the Year, a teen spokesperson advocating for hundreds of thousands of young people with families serving our country.

These experiences made me realize how essential after-school support is for kids in military families — and I made it my mission to let the U.S. Armed Forces know.

Why Every Military Kid Needs an After-School Program

The hardest part of being a military kid is having to say goodbye to the friends you’ve made when their families relocate. Sometimes, Youth Center staff move on too because of their spouse’s military service.

But even with all the people coming and going, the Tinker AFB Youth Center showed me time and again what happens when a community comes together.

That’s why while serving on the U.S. Air Force Teen Council, I was shocked to learn that 22 Youth Centers on Air Force bases had closed the previous year. When I heard this, I thought to myself, “We have to speak up.”

As part of the council, I helped present the top issues teens noticed on our military bases directly to the Pentagon: limited financial resources, lack of life skills programs, and few and far between Youth Centers.

I’m most passionate about military after-school programs not having enough financial support to keep their doors open. Many are at risk of being reduced or eliminated due to budget shortfalls, leaving thousands of military-connected kids without a safe, structured environment. This isn’t just an issue on military installations; but for after-school programs serving kids across the U.S.

My Youth Center helped shape me into who I am today. I can’t imagine other teens from military-connected families not having the chances to grow that I did.

Through Keystone Club, I learned that teens speaking up can make a bigger impact than you’d think. I started a teen council at my own Youth Center to talk to base leadership about the ways they can support us. One day, I hope all Boys & Girls Clubs and Youth Centers can come together and speak to the Pentagon as a united front.

Exploring All the Doors Open to Me

Sooner or later, all high school juniors get asked the same question: what are you doing after graduation? For a while, I wasn’t sure, but the staff at my Youth Center showed me that more doors were open to me than I had thought. After years in the program, they knew what I was passionate about. They helped me realize I could join the Air Force, go to trade school, or even work at the Youth Center after graduation.

Now, I’m enrolled at Rose State College pursuing my degree in early childhood education, on my way to becoming a Youth Director. I used to think I wouldn’t get to go to college. Now, I motivate younger kids at the Youth Center who have those same worries, helping them find their path forward.

My Youth Center empowered me to find my voice. My mentors guided me to discover my purpose. My experiences revealed the leader inside me all along.

All I want now is to help more kids from military families embrace their inner leader, too. I’ll start where every great leader does: at home.